Ella Chay

I Saw You in a Dream

Opening Friday, October 3, 7-9pm
Show run, Oct 4-19, 11-4pm
Artist Talk October 5^th, 1pm

I Saw You in a Dream explores the connection between dreams and memories, using painting and sculpture to build imaginative, surreal worlds. Working with materials like acrylic paint and paper mache clay, Chay creates images that feel both familiar and strange. The pieces blend time periods, places and objects in unexpected ways, challenging how we understand space and reality. This collection reflects the unpredictable nature of the subconscious mind, where memories are deconstructed and reassembled, and familiar imagery appears in unfamiliar contexts. I Saw You in a Dream invites viewers to step outside of their everyday realities and into new, dreamlike spaces.

About the Artist

Ellay Chay is a contemporary artist based in Victoria, BC, known for her vibrant mixed media paintings and sculptures that explore themes of world-building and identity. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts with Honours from the University of Victoria in 2022, where she began blending two-dimensional paintings with three-dimensional sculptures. She also holds a minor in Film Studies, drawing inspiration from films ability to transport viewers outside of their everyday existence.

Her work has been exhibited in several galleries include a solo show at arc.hive Artist run Center (2024) and a duo exhibition at Fortune Gallery (2024). In 2023 she collaborated with the City of Victoria for their annual Commercial Alley Project.

Alongside her studio practice, Chay is an experienced floral designer with over seven years in the industry. She currently works out of Rockslide Studio, Victorias’ largest arts hub, where she continues to expand her interdisciplinary practice.