ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: EMMA RACH-SYSLAK

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ARTIST SPOTLIGHT

Our ongoing goal is to connect discerning collectors with singular works that enrich their collections and reflect a deep appreciation for art and design, through our curated online auctions in Calgary.

Our ARTIST SPOTLIGHT turns our attention to a local artist or artisan whose practice enriches our community. We are proud to champion artists who have taken the time to refine their vision, deepen their craft, and cultivate an artistic sensibility that reflects the creative spirit of Alberta.

In the month we introduce a new artist, we present a carefully chosen selection of their work and endeavour to share the stories behind each piece and at the same, the person behind the work. In doing so, we invite our community to engage with the artist’s work, to see it as part of our shared cultural landscape, and to consider supporting their work.

Continue below to explore the work and story of our current featured artist.

EMMA RACH-SYSLAK

Emma Rach-Syslak, Venus. Photo and set design by Artefact Auction, 2026.

Emma Rach-Syslak is an emerging Canadian fine artist specializing in still life and portraiture. At 24, she is a graduate of the Florence Academy of Art and has studied under a number of acclaimed artists, including Cornelia Hernes, Stephen Bauman, Jordan Sokol, Amaya Gurpide, and Rachel Personett. Emma held her first solo exhibition in Canada in 2019 and has since participated in private exhibitions and shown her work in galleries internationally.

She has received multiple awards for her work, including the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal for Visual Arts from the Alberta Foundation for the Arts (2021), the RI Young Artist Award from the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours (2024), and the Best Portrait Award from the Canadian Portrait Society (2024).

Emma’s paintings intrigue and illuminate, exploring connections and narratives surrounding people, places, and objects. She is currently honing her practice through continued exhibition, teaching in Canada, and traveling internationally in search of inspiration.

Portrait of Emma Rach-Syslak. Photo courtesy of Emma Rach-Syslak.

SEE MORE OF EMMA'S WORK ON HER WEBSITE

FOLLOW EMMA ON INSTAGRAM

In the Studio with Emma

Marcie Brown

January 16, 2026.

I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Emma Rach-Syslak twice over the past few months, though in many ways it feels like our paths were meant to cross long before then. We were first introduced to her work last spring through the Heritage Park Auction, back when our Artist Spotlight series was still just an idea taking shape. When I learned that the painter behind some of the works showing up in our marketing photos was a young, local artist, I knew immediately she belonged in this series. My team had the opportunity to meet her in person during those early weeks, and the response was unanimous: Emma impressed us all with her professionalism, openness, and quiet confidence.

A natural jet-setter, Emma was soon off to Sweden and Florence, but the moment she returned to Calgary, we began planning how best to share her work and her story with you. Our conversations unfolded over phone calls and FaceTime, each one revealing a deeper sense of purpose and passion. Still, it wasn’t until last week, when Emma invited Rio and me into her studio, that everything came fully into focus.

Emma lives with her artist parents, and from the moment we stepped inside their home, we were met with warmth and genuine encouragement. Her mother welcomed us with tea, poured from a loose-leaf canister adorned with Emma’s own artwork, created through a collaboration with The Naked Leaf in Kensington. It felt like a perfect prelude. Emma then led us downstairs to her studio: a generous corner of their unfinished basement that has quietly held years of dedication and creative exploration.

The space is distinctly Emma, equal parts intuitive and disciplined. Two painting stations anchor the room, surrounded by neatly arranged brushes, pigments, aluminum composite panels, and works in progress. There’s no excess here. The art takes center stage, exactly as it should.

We spent the afternoon filming a long, thoughtful interview. Emma and I in conversation. Rio capturing the in-between moments as we unraveled ideas at a pace only fellow art lovers understand. What stayed with me most was her clarity. Emma spoke about trusting her instincts, pursuing rigorous classical training, and honoring the guidance of mentors she respects. Portraiture drew her in early, and once she committed to that path, there was no turning back.

Emma Rach-Syslak, Three Sisters. Photo and set design by Artefact Auction, 2026.

"When you look into someone’s eyes, you get a glimpse into the human spirit and search for

connection. Capturing modern-day people in traditional portraiture is a way to connect the old

with the new, building upon the foundations of the past while pushing the boundaries of the

present. My work is an intense perceptual study of the mosaic of what it means to be human."

EMMA RACH-SYSLAK

Her reverence for tradition is tangible in her process. Like the masters before her, Emma begins at the very beginning, sourcing raw pigments and grinding her own paints using a frosted glass slab and muller. She describes the ritual as meditative, intentional. It grants her complete control over tone, texture, and depth, and it shows. She often pairs this meticulous approach with thrifted antique and vintage frames, cutting her aluminum composite panels to fit each one precisely. For Emma, the artwork is conceived as a whole, from surface to frame, from first gesture to final glaze.

She prefers aluminum composite panels over canvas, a choice increasingly embraced by her generation for its durability, smoothness, and subtle luminosity. Ever mindful of longevity, Emma values that these works are built to endure. Less fragile, more permanent, and kinder to future conservators.

Her subject matter is as expansive as her skill. Portraiture remains her signature, but landscapes, still lifes, florals, and plein air studies flow effortlessly from her hand. A half-finished bighorn sheep rested nearby during our visit; florals leaned against the wall; mountain studies shimmered with atmosphere. Emma paints what inspires her, and that freedom is what keeps the work alive. Yes, she does commissions, too, something her mother would be happy I mentioned.

Emma Rach-Syslak, Stampede Spirit. Photo and set design by Artefact Auction, 2026.

Emma is only 24, just at the beginning of her career, and yet she carries herself with the assurance of someone deeply grounded in her craft. Being in her presence, surrounded by her work, it’s impossible not to feel that spark. The rare combination of natural talent, discipline, humility, and genuine curiosity. I don’t know exactly where her career will lead, but I am certain it will be somewhere remarkable. The works included in our upcoming auction feel like a snapshot of what promises to be a long and luminous journey.

Emma Rach-Syslak, Birch Tree. Photo and set design by Artefact Auction, 2026.

Emma Rach-Syslak, Dahlia. Photo and set design by Artefact Auction, 2026.

FEATURED IN OUR CURRENT AUCTION

The following artworks by Emma Rach-Syslak will be included in our 2026 Valentine's Auction catalogue.
Bidding will open on January 27 and will close on February 1.