Is This Working? is a week-long, independent group exhibition and public activation taking place in Vancouver’s Strathcona neighbourhood. In a renovated, architecturally compelling warehouse rarely accessed by the public, this project brings together community, creativity, and cultural relevance.
Through a curated lineup of creative and multidisciplinary collaborators, this group show will explore the tensions, absurdities, and poetics of productivity, value, and the invisible structures that shape how—and why—we work. Expect a full spectrum of provocative and creative responses that embody the space between design, art, fashion and wellness—offering a moment of pause within the rhythm of the 9 to 5.
The exhibition is free and open to the public daily from 10:00 AM — 4:00 PM,
with additional events and activations throughout the week.
Exhibition Dates
18 — 24 September 2025
Location
828 East Hastings, Vancouver, BC
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Date: 18 September 2025
Time: 6—9pm
Tickets: $20
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Date: 20 September 2025
Time: 9:30am—12:30pm
Tickets: $75
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Date: 24 September 2025
Time: 6—8pm
RSVP
The vision for Is This Working? has been made possible by the generosity of an incredible group of community + values aligned Partners.
Presenting Partners.
Community Partners.
Event Partners.
Is This Working? is an independent exhibition co-curated by Laura Melling, Renske Werner, and Jody Phillips—three longtime contributors to the West Coast design and culture scene.
The exhibition invites artists, designers, and the public to explore how we think about work, value, and productivity today—and to do so with curiosity, care, and a healthy dose of questioning. The intention is not to present a single answer, but to hold space for diverse voices and experiences to be shared.
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Art & Experience,
Naut’sa mawt Resource GroupJody is a strategist and cultural producer with a decade-plus of shaping exhibitions, programs, and design experiences from Vancouver to abroad.
Formerly at the helm of IDS Vancouver, she now leads the Art & Experience department at Naut’sa mawt, working at the intersection of culture, place, and community. She’s also pursuing graduate studies in Urban Studies at SFU, deepening her commitment to creative, community-driven city-building.
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Founder & Creative Director,
Melling Studio
Laura is a designer and creative director whose work explores the intersection of space, feeling, and the human experience—drawing on principles of neuroaesthetics and sensory design.Her studio practice blends warm minimalism with nature-inspired materials, resulting in environments that are both grounded and expressive. Guided by optimism, curiosity, and collaboration, Laura approaches each project as an opportunity to connect people through thoughtful design.
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Artist & Illustrator
Renske is an artist and illustrator working across illustrated maps, animations, editorial pieces, and large-scale murals. Her practice spans both public and client-based work—rooted in a desire to create approachable, uplifting experiences.With a foundation in writing and publishing, Renske brings a narrative lens to her artwork. Just like stories, she believes that art has the power to prompt reflection, spark emotion, or simply add moments of delight to the everyday.
Aileen Lee
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Minahil Bukhari & Mustaali Raj
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Ghislain Brown-Kossi
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Shora Parvaresh
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Mahatta Price
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Sarah Lesher
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Motiv Architects
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Adele Tetangco
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Aileen Lee — Minahil Bukhari & Mustaali Raj — Ghislain Brown-Kossi — Shora Parvaresh — Mahatta Price — Sarah Lesher — Motiv Architects — Adele Tetangco —
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Noble Architecture and Interiors is a Vancouver-based practice founded by Shora Parvaresh in 2018. With roots in industrial design, architecture, and management studies at Harvard, Shora brings a multidisciplinary approach to the built environment. The studio works across custom residential and multi-family projects, with a focus on light, material, and the lifecycle of spaces. Noble’s mission is to create architecture that balances beauty, value, and social responsibility in shaping better cities.n text goes here
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Mustaali Raj and Minahil Bukhari are Vancouver-based artists working at the intersection of design, visual art, and interdisciplinary practice. Mustaali, an award-winning designer and visual artist, centers his work on community building, social good, and questions of belonging shaped by his experience as a third-culture kid. Minahil, a Pakistani-Canadian artist with an MFA from Simon Fraser University, works across installation, sound, digital media, and sculpture, with exhibitions and residencies in Canada and internationally. Together, their practices explore identity, diversity, and connection across boundaries.
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Sarah Lesher is an artist and creative director whose practice spans painting, printmaking, objects, and brand design. Rooted in minimalism and material exploration, her work draws on interiors, architecture, and the sensory impact of natural materials, from limewash and hempcrete to stone. Alongside her art practice, Sarah has been collaborating with founders since 2013 to launch and grow thoughtful brands, blending creativity and strategy with an ethos of simplicity and calm.
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Aileen Lee is a Vancouver-based designer and founder of Vestige, a studio known for its versatile, multi-wear garments and accessories. Drawing inspiration from global travel and her Hong Kong heritage, she designs pieces that blur the line between function and poetry, from transformable bags to silk scarves and coats that adapt across seasons. Through Vestige, Aileen explores how design can carry stories of movement, identity, and adaptability, while connecting everyday wear to broader cultural narratives.
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Motiv Architects is a Vancouver-based practice founded in 2017 by Asher deGroot and Tracey Mactavish. With a focus on housing, learning spaces, and food-centric projects, the studio sees the intersection of these pillars as vital to thriving communities and a sustainable future. Motiv’s process is deeply collaborative, engaging clients and end users as active participants in the design and construction of their spaces. The result is architecture that connects people, strengthens communities, and advances holistic sustainability.
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Adele Tetangco is a Vancouver-based entrepreneur with over two decades in the fashion industry. She co-founded Garmentory, building it into a global platform for independent designers and boutiques, and is also the co-creator of the ethical womenswear label et Tigre and a founding partner of the BIPOC Craft Fair In Todo. Today, she leads Snack Size, a creative collective supporting fashion and lifestyle brands. Her work blends community building, creative strategy, and a passion for design.
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Mahatta Price is a K’ómoks First Nation artist and an emerging voice in weaving with cedar. Introduced to the craft as a child, she has since studied under mentors Toni Frank and Pamela Mitchell, completing works ranging from baskets and hats to a wool and cedar cape. Alongside her weaving, Mahatta is pursuing Metal Jewellery Design at North Island College, expanding her artistry while grounding her practice in cultural tradition and contemporary expression.
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Ghislain Brown-Kossi is a contemporary artist based in Vancouver whose practice explores memory, belonging, and cultural identity through symbols, textiles, and mixed media. Rooted in French culture and his Ivorian heritage, he describes his visual language as “Archaeological Pop Art,” a dialogue between ancient cultural references and contemporary forms. His work has been exhibited in Canada and internationally, including a solo exhibition at LouiSimone Guirandou Gallery in Abidjan. In 2025, he is a finalist for the Salt Spring National Art Prize and will undertake a residency at Fonderie Darling in Montreal in 2026.
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Khorshid Naderi-Azad is a registered architect and academic whose work explores architecture as a medium for collective experience. A graduate of Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design, she is a Lecturer in the Master of Architecture program at UCLA and an Adjunct Professor at UBC. As CEO of WallyWool, she has reimagined the 38-year-old legacy business into a modern design and manufacturing firm, producing custom interiors and architectural textiles from its Richmond, BC, factory and showroom.