[BCMA] [MEDIA RELEASE] ‘The Marginalized’ opens at Kelowna Art Gallery

[Moderated BCMA subscriber listserv]

For Immediate Release


‘The Marginalized’ opens at Kelowna Art Gallery


Roland Samuel: The Marginalized

March 29 to June 1, 2025



March 27, 2025 – Kelowna, BC: This weekend offers Okanagan audiences something new to see at the Kelowna Art Gallery. The Marginalized showcases the MFA thesis project of Roland Samuel, who is a candidate at UBC Okanagan.



Through the assemblage and repurposing of found objects, Roland Samuel creates richly detailed sculptures that symbolize the discarded and overlooked materials, which he says “mirror the experiences of marginalized groups worldwide.” The exhibition is a personal one for the artist—it draws on his own background growing up as an Igbo child in southeastern Nigeria. The exhibition highlights the emotional and psychological toll of being excluded and offers a powerful commentary on segregation and societal alienation.



Visitors will be able to explore the exhibition space that features salvaged car doors mounted on walls where they might expect to find paintings. The car doors become works of art when laced with the beautiful patchwork of textiles, diverse materials including wicker, and intricately carved narratives that the artist has imbued within the sculptures. In the middle of the exhibition stands Njirimara (“Identity” in Igbo), a figurative sculpture meant to represent the artist himself. A large, colorful fabric covers its head and torso, symbolizing the concealment of his true identity.



Roland Samuel says, “This work aims to empower those who face similar struggles, giving a voice to the silenced and shedding light on the impact of marginalization.”



The Marginalized runs from March 29 to June 1, 2025.



Roland Samuel is an artist, environmentalist, and musician currently based out of Kelowna. He earned a BFA from Olabisi Onabanjo University in Ago-Iwoye, Nigeria, and is currently pursuing his MFA at UBC Okanagan. Samuel is the recipient of the 2024 Audain Foundation travel award.



The Kelowna Art Gallery is located at 1315 Water Street in the heart of Kelowna’s Culture District. For more information visit kelownaartgallery.com or call 250-762-2226.



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Image Credits



Installation progress photographs of Roland Samuel working on The Marginalized at the Kelowna Art Gallery.



Resources



           Exhibition Webpage: https://kelownaartgallery.com/the-marginalized/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kelownaartgallery

Roland Samuel’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/rolandsamuelstudio/

Interviews with artist Roland Samuel can be arranged. Contact: Josh Desnoyers, Marketing Coordinator.



About the Kelowna Art Gallery



The Kelowna Art Gallery engages, inspires, and enriches the community it serves through the exhibition, collection, and interpretation of visual art. Work by Canadian artists, both historical and contemporary, are presented in five distinct exhibition spaces. The Kelowna Art Gallery is invested in the idea that art helps to bring people together; and that life is simply better with art in it. Programs for people of all ages and backgrounds help to instill confidence in ones’ creativity and to foster meaningful dialogue on matters important to Canadians.



For additional high-res images, or to arrange an interview with Roland Samuel, please contact:



Joshua Desnoyers (he/him)

Marketing and Events Coordinator



Kelowna Art Gallery

1315 Water Street, Kelowna, BC V1Y 9R3

250-762-2226 ext. 305

josh at kelownaartgallery.com<mailto:josh at kelownaartgallery.com>

www.kelownaartgallery.com<http://www.kelownaartgallery.com>
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