About April Mansilla - Expressive art professional established artist in Hamilton, Ontario.

ABOUT APRIL

April Mansilla is an established professional artist from Hamilton, Ontario who has a strong focus on mental health issues. This recurring theme appears in many aspects of her work in the visual arts, and she is a vocal advocate for mental health awareness and wellbeing, most recently giving talks on the subject with ArcelorMittal Dofasco, and at the International Bipolar Foundation.

 She has collaborated on wellness-related art initiatives with ArcelorMittal Dofasco, Brock University, McMaster University, St. Joseph’s Healthcare, Dundas Valley School of Art, Centre3, Bell Let’s Talk and the Glenn Close Bring Change 2 Mind Organization.

The ultimate goal of April’s teaching is for her students to attain self-confidence on and off the page. Through art-making, she teaches an accessible creative process and the importance self-expression provides in mental wellness. She believes that in recovery and art, it is crucial to meet people where they are at, and when you show care and belief in others, that fosters a belief in oneself.

She is an award-winning artist for her Portraits of Hope and earned the St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton Spirit of Hope award for her advocacy of art and mental health in the community.

April’s own art practice is wide-ranging and includes self-portraiture, figurative work, Surrealism, expressive landscapes, art journaling, and photography. She often includes text in her pieces to make her intentions of meaning clear. April strives to make a strong, emotive connection with the viewer’s own life journey, thematically extending the work she has done as a mental health survivor and advocate.

She writes: “In a beautiful narrative of the human condition, I create my art, a visual representation of what many of us struggle against and the unbelievable levels we reach in overcoming the hardships life throws our way.

View Curriculum vitae

Art in the Workplace November 2023
Community Psychiatry clinic  August 2023
Pink Panther Magazine 2023
Artist Connection DVSA Gallery July 2023
Art In The Workplace June 2022
Pink Panther Magazine March 2022
Art In the Workplace March 2022
Dundas Valley School of Art Auction – 2005 to present

Sort Of TV Series 2021
Pink Panther Magazine- 2021
INBF -2021
Dofasco Mural -2019
Brock Mural -2019
Black Fox Magazine- 2019
International Bipolar Foundation 2018
It’s Just All in Your Head Gallery 1051 2018
The Mighty 2018
Party for pain 2017
Hush, You Me Gallery May -2017
Black Fox Literary Magazine -2016
West 5th show bell let’s talk -2015
Combustus Magazine- 2013
The Glenn Close Organization Bring Change 2 Mind- 2012
Touched by Fire -2012
Hamilton Spectator -2011
Pie Magazine-2011
Touched by Fire- 2011 Award
Mental health, Addiction show 2011
Combustus Magazine- 2011
Prism Magazine -2010
Art Gallery of Hamilton- 2009 to 2014
Art Gallery of Hamilton-Art sale-April 2009
Homewood Featured Artist -2009
Spirituality and Sex-2009
The Surreal Life Sunrise Gallery- 2008
The Karger Gallery –Elora-2008-2009
Hammered Out- 2008
Various festivals around southern Ontario