Diyar Mayil, Concordia’s 2022 Bronfman fellow
Mayil remembers the summer before she started her MFA program at Concordia. She was living in London, England, immersed in the logistics of opening a new restaurant.
“I had less and less time to devote to my art. At this point, I said to myself, okay, I’m going to finish this project and quit all this. I’m going back to school to focus on my art.”
The Concordia MFA program proved to be transformational. Mayil quickly rediscovered her artistic focus with the support of faculty, technicians and her peers.
“I’m so grateful for the support I received at Concordia. We have gifted teachers and technicians,” she says.
“I feel so fortunate to have met my peers and mentors and I hope to have a lifelong solidarity with them, continuing to support each other on our separate journeys.”
Graduating with a Bronfman fellowship, Mayil says she feels ready to follow through with the momentum she gained during her MFA studies and fully participate in the contemporary art world.
“The Bronfman fellowship grants me all I need to create and succeed,” she says.
“I feel great about where I am at. I am ready to move on to the next step. It eliminates so many obstacles for me.”
As one of the most generous fellowships available to emerging Canadian visual artists, this is a highly competitive award, Gérin adds. “I congratulate Diyar; she is incredibly deserving of this honour, and I know she will continue to have a positive impact on Montreal’s art world.”
