Mar González Palacios

Mar González Palacios is an artist and librarian living on the shared, unceded, ancestral territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations also known as Vancouver. Originally from Mexico, Mar worked as an architect before emigrating to Canada. In Vancouver, Mar studied art following a life-long interest in processing and expressing ideas through making things by hand. As an art student, Mar worked in libraries, which eventually led to pursuing a master’s degree to become a librarian. What at first seemed a purely practical means to a steady income that would allow enough time to make art, turned out to be a complex field not only rich in opportunities to learn but also a profession deeply connected to social justice and intellectual freedom. As a librarian, Mar strives to amplify marginalized voices and perspectives through building and stewarding diverse and inclusive collections. As an artist, Mar has worked in a variety of media, including drawing and printmaking, sculpture and installation, embroidery, woodworking, and ceramics. Often combining technology and craft, Mar’s art practice is informed by their experience as an immigrant and how this has shaped their understanding of race, culture, and community. Mar’s work explores ideas of space and the passage of time, and identity and belonging.