CURATORIAL MANAGER

Sara MacLellan brings extensive experience to Aartplace as an art historian, researcher, and curator with a background in public art programming, commissioning, policy, and community engagement. Her work is rooted in community-led and land-based approaches to art and culture that reflect the complexities of place. She is of Polish, Ukrainian, Irish, and French settler ancestry, and for the past nine years has lived and worked as an uninvited guest on the unceded homelands of the Musqueam, Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh, and Kwikwetlem Nations.

Sara advocates for equity, decolonizing practices, and artist-led processes, working relationally with artists and partners to help shape more inclusive public art landscapes. She pursued doctoral studies in Art History at McGill University (ABD), researching intersections between art, medicine, and the body before centering her practice in public art and community engagement. In addition to her role at Aartplace, Sara works as a Public Art Project Manager with HOST Consulting, serves on the Board of Directors at Or Gallery, and served as Chair of the Vancouver Public Art Committee from 2023–2026.

At Aartplace, Sara serves as Curatorial Manager, providing strategic curatorial leadership on selected public art projects. She supports project planning, artist procurement and selection processes, engagement frameworks, and continuity across project phases, working closely with the Principal to shape and deliver client-facing outcomes. Her experience in municipal and institutional environments strengthens Aartplace’s capacity to navigate complex governance structures while maintaining artistic integrity.

Select Aartplace Projects:

- Art Program for Kelowna International Airport, Kelowna, BC

- City of Burnaby, Capital Projects Public Art, BC, Canada

RESEARCH & CURATORIAL ASSISTANT

Miret Rodríguez brings a grounded and culturally diverse perspective to Aartplace through her experience as a curator, researcher, and educator. She studied and worked in Paris for five years, completing a Master’s degree at L' École Supérieure de Commerce de Dijon in Paris with a focus on advances in the online art market and urban art. Over the past decade, she has contributed to museums, galleries, and public art programs in Canada, Germany, France, and Mexico, cultivating a deep knowledge of contemporary art and its social contexts.

Beyond Aartplace, Miret co-founded Curated Tastes, a curatorial platform focused on accessible art experiences, and served as Vice President of the Vancouver Latin American Cultural Centre Society, helping establish Canada’s first cultural centre dedicated to Latin American arts.

At Aartplace, Miret supports research, writing, and artist and community liaison across projects—bringing analytical depth and cultural awareness to each context. Her work helps shape curatorial frameworks and approaches that root every project in place, history, and community.

Select Aartplace Projects:

- 2110 W5 Public Art, Vancouver, BC

- City of New Westminster Public Art Plan, New Westminster, BC

- Beachlands (formerly Royal Beach) Public Art Masterplan, Colwood, BC

- Royal Bay – Latoria South Public Art Masterplan, Colwood, BC

- 9800 Van Horne Public Art, Richmond, BC

- 6615 Telford Public Art Plan, Burnaby, BC

DESIGN & VISUAL COMMUNICATIONS LEAD

Camilla Coates brings nearly two decades of experience in design, storytelling, and strategic communication to her work with Aartplace. She has led creative projects across agencies, editorial teams, and in-house creative departments, helping institutions, non-profits, and universities translate complex ideas into clear and meaningful visual experiences. Her design approach centers on accessibility and connection—ensuring ideas are communicated with clarity and purpose.

Alongside her role at Aartplace, Camilla is a Senior Designer at the University of the Fraser Valley, where she leads major design initiatives in student recruitment, donor and alumni engagement, and institutional identity, and also maintains a freelance practice supporting values-driven organizations.

At Aartplace, Camilla leads design and visual communications across all project phases, shaping how art integration, architectural coordination, and engagement processes are translated into clear, compelling visual materials. She develops presentation packages, design reports, integration documentation, and engagement summaries, and collaborates closely with the project and curatorial teams to ensure visual consistency and clarity. Camilla plays a central role in aligning visual systems with project intent—ensuring materials are accessible, cohesive, and reflective of Aartplace’s commitment to thoughtful integration across disciplines and audiences.

Select Aartplace Projects:

- BC Children’s Hospital centre for health complexity

- Art Program for Kelowna International Airport, Kelowna, BC

- Downtown Van BIA Public Art Strategy, Vancouver, BC

- City of New Westminster Public Art Plan, New Westminster, BC

We research and analyze your project, vision, and goals.

We define and strategize how art will support your vision, tell your story, and integrate with your spaces and/or city.

We curate, select, and coordinate the procurement of artworks.

We coordinate and support artists and consultants through the detailed design development process.

We coordinate the artworks’ documentation, production, and fabrication process.

We oversee the delivery and installation of artworks on site.

We provide a Final Art Book documenting the details of all the artworks, including longevity and maintenance considerations.