Justine Gustafson: Agawaatebiigisin (it is reflected in the water)

Water naturally flows, but when a lake or river is still, it mirrors the surroundings, becoming a reflecting pool. Agawaatebiigisin (it is reflected in the water) is the debut solo exhibition by Thunder Bay artist Justine Gustafson. In the gallery space, new beaded works by Gustafson shimmer and glint, nibi, in Anishinaabemowin, like light on water. The exhibition is named after a new major commission of the Gallery by the artist, a double-sided hide bag with a beaded design that is mirrored on the front and back panels. Each side of the bag reflects the other.  This commission was made possible by the Elizabeth L. Gordon Art Award. On view for the first time with new works, including The Water Dress (2025), a beaded blue velvet gown, Justine’s work creates astonishing depths of emotion and meaning. Her pieces overflow with life and beauty. 

Artist Bio: 

Justine Gustafson is an Anishinaabe kwe from Whitesand First Nation, ON, based in Thunder Bay. Justine is a youngemerging Indigenous artist who works full-time as a beader, revered for her creative talent by artist peers, curators, fashion designers, and master bead workers. She comes from a family of artists, the Gustafsons, whose work was showcased in the internationally touring exhibition Piitwewetam: Making is Medicine (2021–2024), co-curated by Jean and Leanna Marshall, a commemorative exhibition honouring their late son and brother, Jessie Gustafson. Her work has also been exhibited as part of the large-scale, internationally touring show of contemporary beadwork Radical Stitch (2023-present). This marks the artist’s first solo exhibition. The beaded bag, Agawaatebiigisin (it is reflected in the water) (2025), now in the collection of the Thunder Bay Art Gallery is her first major commission. 

Image Credits: Justine Gustafson, Agawaatebiigisin/Reflections, 2025, front and back. Images by: Chondon Photography