Vern Martin-Ivie is a collage and digital artist based on Anishinaabe land. They create to connect to their body and inner self, and often use themes of gender, disability, religion, and mental health in their art. Their work has been exhibited in multiple group exhibitions and showcases, and in 2023 they exhibited their collages for the first time individually, in their art show, BODYS. They host collage workshops occasionally, and participate in their arts community regularly, as a board member, a facilitator, a market vendor, and through activism work.
Photo by Michael Ricco.
Vern Martin-Ivie loves to connect to the world through creativity. They desire a world where the arts are entirely equitable and inclusive to all identities, with no barriers for those who are historically marginalized. They are a proud advocate for queer and transgender rights, as well as an artist, arts administrator, and aspiring community educator. Vern's interests start in collage, and extend to all sorts of disciplines and mediums, including poetry, beadwork, printmaking, and digital art. Their work reflects their experiences as a disabled, fat, trans and queer person, and often carries themes like nostalgia, gender, religion, disability, and mental illness.They are studying Applied Museums Studies at Algonquin College. They also work as an administrative assistant with the Ottawa Arts Council and are a member of the Ottawa Art Gallery Youth Council.
Commission Info
I do collage by commission for anything you would like custom collage work for! To inquire about commissions, please email me at:
vernmartinivie @ gmail.com Commissions cannot be discussed through Instagram direct message in order for me to ensure recording of conversation and agreements.My current estimate for a finished piece is: 1 week.
I ask for respect and understanding on requests that may take more effort and communication to complete as I balance school, work, and health.Commissions I have taken in the past
- Event posters
- Portrait/couple collages (great gifts for friends, family, or partners)
- Collages based on song lyrics or movie quotes
- Merchandise designs for bandsWhat you receive when you commission me
- years of experience and training in the arts with a concentration on poetry and visual art
- excellent customer service and attention to detail
- a draft design before the collage which can be reworked twice at no additional cost (+$5 for every additional redraft)
- high quality scan of your collage sent to you in .png formatMy hourly rate is: CAD$15/hour + consideration of the size/detail of piece
For a collage similar to the examples below, it takes approximately 2 hours of work.
There is an additional mailing fee if you would like the original physical collage delivered to you.
I offer a 10% discount for folks who are Black, Indigenous, or Racialized.Payment Info
I can receive payment via Interac E-Transfer (Canada only) or via PayPal (International). I can only mail original physical copies to Canada or the USA.Terms
You must pay a $15 deposit at the start of our work together, and pay the remainder upon completion in order to receive your artwork file. I reserve the right to refuse a commission if the request is out of my capabilities, or the subject matter is against my morals or beliefs. I will not do any work for exposure. My prices are non-negotiable. If at any point during our work together I have found myself being disrespected or treated inappropriately, or if at any point you do not respond within 2 business days of a question regarding your commission, I will cease creation of your commission. Your deposit will be refunded if I decide to cease your commission before I have begun the collage. There will be no refund of your deposit if your commission is ceased or cancelled after I have already begun your collage.When commissioning me, I will confirm that you have read and understand all the details and terms of working together before you make your $15 deposit.
Examples of my work
- Movie quote collage
- Song lyric collage
- Couple portrait collage
- Shirt design for the band Demonica
- Event poster for uOttawa Queer Connection 2023
- Event poster for Frabjous Events' Leather N' Lace
- Event poster for Frabjous Events' Cool Kid's Club
Check out my portfolio for more examples!
What Does Your Body Tell You?
November 2023
Collage, 14x18 inchesWhat Does Your Body Tell You? is a deeply personal love letter to living, change, and disability. It serves as the documentation of renewal; a transition into a new chapter of my life where I've embraced self-advocacy, and the pursuit of a more meaningful existence.In early-mid 2023, I went through a huge transitional period in my life that coincided with a very traumatic experience, which I am still recovering from. Collage, my artistic refuge, became a vessel for my negative emotions, overshadowing the joy it once brought. This piece marks a turning point, coinciding with my decision to be my own advocate and rebirth my passion for creating art while learning to manage being disabled and battling mental illness.In this artwork, I unearth the shame, isolation, pain, and challenges of living with disability, unmasking the struggle I've endured in my body. I express this through bright and colourful, yet unsettling visuals, accompanied by lyrics from AJJ's songs 'Body Terror Song' and 'My Brain Is a Human Body.' These lyrics emphasize the story I tell through this harsh imagery. My hands delve within myself to expose the deep fear I've felt guilty for having, and the pain that is grotesque, raw, unsightly and at times, disturbing.
