Aggie Armstrong
Aggie Armstrong is a celebrated multimedia artist whose work delves into female consciousness, influenced by her experience as a Third Culture Individual—a person shaped by living in a culture different from their parents’ during formative years. Through bold compositions, vivid colours, and hand-stitched embroidery, her work explores themes of identity, belonging, and the intersectional female experience.
In 2023, Aggie was commissioned to make the official poster for The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto, Canada.
In August 2024, Aggie became co-owner of ARTWRK Co, an online platform supporting emerging artists across North America. Her work as an artist and creative leader continues to shape the art community.
Born in Manila, Philippines, Aggie moved to Canada with her family in 1990. Aggie, who received her BA in Visual Arts from Western University in London, Canada, is a full-time artist and continues to draw inspiration from her multifaceted upbringing for her creative practice. Aggie’s numerous works are held in private collections nationally and globally, including the Chateau d’Orquevaux Artist Residency in France.
Contact
aggiearmstrong.com | artwrk.ca
hello@aggiearmstrong.com
@aggie_armstrong
Interview
What inspires your art practice and keeps you motivated?
My influences span artistic movements and cultural backgrounds, with figures like Pacita Abad, Frida Kahlo, Henri Matisse, Coulter Fussell, and Raymond Saa shaping my evolving aesthetic. The bold colour schemes in Abad’s hand-stitched trapuntos, the deeply personal storytelling of Kahlo, and the abstracted forms of Matisse all leave a lasting mark on my practice. These inspirations—layered with my lived experience—form a visual language that feels both contemporary and deeply rooted in tradition.
How does your mission as an artist influence the work you create?
My work is closely tied to my experience as a Filipino-Canadian navigating layered cultural identities. As a Third Culture Individual, I draw inspiration from the ways migration, heritage, and self-definition continue to intersect and evolve. I combine textured fabrics, abstractly painted forms, and hand-stitched embroidery to tell visual stories that resist singular interpretation—opening up an ongoing conversation about what it means to live between worlds.
Can you share a key part of your creative process that helps you stay focused?
Maintaining focus is essential in a home-based studio practice, especially when distractions are always nearby. I often wear ear loops to block out ambient noise—even when it’s quiet—unless I’m tuning into a podcast or blasting music to get into flow. I also set daytime studio hours so that when my daughter comes home from school, she has my full attention. It’s not a rigid schedule, but building in that rhythm helps me meet deadlines for shows, art fairs, and Artwrk Co. without burning out—at least that's the goal.
What mindset tip do you rely on to overcome challenges in your art career?
It’s easier said than done (especially in an art career where creative output and financial reward don’t always align), but I try to measure my growth against my own past goals—whether from a year ago, three, or five. It helps me see how far I’ve come, rather than getting lost in comparison. I remind myself that I’m building something long-term. This isn’t a sprint—it’s the work of a lifetime.
How do you hope your art impacts the world or your community?
I dream of expanding my practice beyond the studio by creating a brick-and-mortar gallery that serves as both a home for my work and a space for community connection. This imagined space would offer opportunities for other artists to exhibit, collaborate, and lead workshops—a creative hub where art and education meet. My hope is to foster artistic dialogue and real, in-person connection in a time when we’re all craving something more grounded and meaningful.
