About The Artist

My artistic development started over 30 years ago in Poland, through the Commercial Art College and Sacred Art College (Christian Symbolism in Visual Arts). In 1987, along with my husband and one and the half year old daughter, I became a political refugee escaping from the regime of Communism. At first, we resided in Greece, where we went through the two years legal process of being permitted to enter Canada. We had three interviews with the organizations for the refugees and emigration. After detail interview with the Canadian Ambassador in Athens, we were granted Canadian residency based on our professional credentials, knowledge and skills. In Canada, I became a mother for a second time, giving birth to another wonderful daughter while my husband started to work professionally as mechanical engineer. While taking care of my family, I continued to create and had numerous exhibitions in Ontario region. I also wrote, co-produced and co-directed a few multi-media performances, based on visual and performing arts, which involved multicultural artists and audiences. In 1996, my husband was offered great engineering position in USA, where we have moved and resided for nearly five years. While in Colorado, I strengthened my education and graduated with Magna Cum Laude from the University of Colorado Fine Arts, Studio Arts program. I also had successful individual art shows at the Canaan Gallery in Denver. After my return to Canada, in 2001, I established ArtVeritas Visual Arts Studio where I continued to create and offer art programs to people of all ages. In 2004, I attended York University for the full time Teachers College program and I earned a bachelor degree in Education, specializing in Visual Arts and Social Sciences. After that, I was teaching in several international schools in Ontario, where I developed the entire visual arts departments and programs for grades 9-12. I also had the opportunity to teach a Visual Arts summer program in Italy to high school students. In 2011, my husband died unexpectedly during our trip to Greece, where I was invited to a sponsored, four weeks long Painters Symposium, to paint along with eleven European artists. This sudden tragedy was life changing and put on hold my artistic plans and activities. Eventually, I have moved to Niagara region, was remarried and reestablished my ArtVeritas Visual Arts Studio in Niagara-On-The-Lake. Several years ago I also became dance instructor which allows me to fulfill my deep passion for music and creative movement. I teach Beats By Beata fitness based dance in a local community center, and continue to create and to offer art-programs for children, youth and adults. I show my work through solo and group shows in a local galleries as well as my ArtVeritas studio. Links https://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/news-story/9040940-bringing-creativity-to-the-community/ and https://www.niagarathisweek.com/community-story/9039884-beata-s-bringing-art-to-the-community/ https://shopvida.com/collections/beata-oconnell?page=2 http://www.westofthecity.com/people-and-events/artist-profile-beata-goik/ http://www.westofthecity.com/article/100670/ARTIST-PROFILE:-Beata-Goik (West of the City magazine: further bio and information)