We are excited to introduce you to the What The Pop! Selection Committee, a jury of 5 local leaders in the arts and business community. The submissions were outstanding and the selection committee is busy going through the over 150 applications we have received from artists all over Quebec.
Selected artists will be revealed soon!
In the meantime, meet the members of the selection committee:
Marta Barnes
Author & Illustrator, Studio Barn Owl
Marta Barnes of Studio Barn Owl is a Montreal author & illustrator. A graduate of Concordia’s Honours in English & Creating Writing program, she has independently published two books and one zine, the most recent being a series of interconnected microfictions about misunderstood monsters called The Found Book of Losst. Combining her degree in literature and creative writing with lifelong artistic pursuits, she weaves visual storytelling techniques into a patchwork aesthetic inspired by her travels. Her work celebrates the curiosities of our world through colourful naturalist watercolour and gouache paintings and independent publications.
Austin Henderson
Arts Programming and Communications Manager at Museum of Jewish Montreal
Austin Henderson is a cultural worker, writer, and artist based in Tiohtiá:ke/Montreal. He currently serves as the Arts Programming and Communications Manager at the Museum of Jewish Montreal. Austin‘s work is attentive to how popular visual culture is intertwined with queer identity, nostalgia, memory, and community-building. He has shown his work in Canada and the United States and has participated in residencies with Momus and the New York Academy of Art. His writing has appeared in various publications, including Esse arts + opinions and Visual Arts News. Austin holds an MA in Art History from Concordia University and a BFA in Visual Art from Queen’s University.
Brooke Rutner
Curator, Photographer, Communication Strategist
Brooke Rutner is a freelance curator and photographer. She is the founder and current director of a nonprofit art gallery, Gallery Parfois. Parfois’ mission is to redefine the notion of an art gallery. Through its nonprofit structure, it aims to create an inclusive space for art-making and art engagement for everyone.
It holds various community-building activities such as art exhibitions, workshops, and weekly life drawing sessions.
Iso Setel
Filmmaker, Interdisciplinary Artist
Iso Setel is a filmmaker and interdisciplinary artist based in Tiotià:ke/Montreal since 2017. Utilizing moving images, text, and textiles, their work addresses questions of visibility, sense, and memory in documentary film. Their current research focuses on ritual technologies and eruvin as an installation of Jewish life and queer orientations in urban space. Originally from Buffalo, New York, Iso received a BA in Political Studies and Electronic Media Arts from Simon’s Rock in 2017, and an MFA in Film Production from Concordia University in 2021.
Alyssa Stokvis-Hauer
Artistic Director & Curator at Museum of Jewish Montreal
Alyssa Stokvis-Hauer (she/her) is a curator, researcher, and museum programmer, working at the intersection of contemporary art, cultural heritage, and history. In her current role as Artistic Director of the Museum of Jewish Montreal, she has worked with and mentored a wide variety of local and international artists, researchers, and emerging creatives across varied disciplines to bring their projects to the public. In her work and practice, she seeks to emphasize storytelling, research-creation, interdisciplinarity, and inclusive community building. Alyssa holds an Hons. B.A. in Art History and Political Science from the University in Toronto and an M.A. in Art History from Concordia University.
This project is funded by:
Media partner: 