ABOUT CHRYSTAL

Chrystal Sparrow is a Musqueam Coast Salish artist. She was born in 1983 and lives in Vancouver, BC, Canada on the unceded Coast Salish Territory.

Chrystal comes from a long line of Coast Salish artists, weavers and three generations of carvers. Her late father Irving Sparrow was a master carver that passed down the tradition to Chrystal and her brother Christopher. As a child, she was given the privilege to be traditionally taught Coast Salish art and carving skill sets that would giver her the status to become a female Coast Salish artist.
Chrystal is a traditional and contemporary artist that has her own unique feminine designing style representing simplicity and elegance within Coast Salish art. Currently, she is creating new designs with color elements from her Cree and Shuswap heritage in beading and abstract paintings. Chrystal works in mediums of red and yellow cedar, metal, leather and acrylics.

Chrystal was the first Coast Salish artist to work in the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh (MST) Cultural Residency in Stanley Park from July 2018 to 2019. In 2018, the Vancouver School Board commissioned a 20’ Female Welcoming House Post. In 2017, Starbucks Canada, 150pluswishes with collaboration Broadway Youth Center commissioned 7’ by 3’ red cedar panel. In 2016, Vancouver City Hall, Council Chamber commissioned a 7’ by 3’ red cedar panel in respect to reconciliation.

Chrystal has a great honor for her father Irving Sparrow in passing down Coast Salish art and believing she would be another great Coast Salish artist. She believes her privileged role as an artist is to continue learning Coast Salish art as a language through designing, storytelling and experimenting in new mediums. She hopes to pass down the tradition to family as a living legacy one day.