The Emotional Diary

Krista Acheson transforms personal trauma into provocative, unflinching art

Krista Acheson’s artistic practice emerged from an instinctive need to give form to personal trauma. Regardless of the medium, the process of creating is always a tribute for Acheson. It has become her method for working through life’s traumas and mental health struggles — bringing pain to the surface through the act of creating. Much of her work connects to the female form and the shared experiences of women, yet the catalyst is always Acheson’s own story. Her art functions as an emotional diary, each piece marking a personal metamorphosis of self, shaped by childhood trauma and the long work of transformation. 

Adept with many materials and forms, Acheson’s latest endeavour — soapstone carving — began unexpectedly. In the fall of 2023, shortly after celebrating her birthday, a pink rose-shaped rock appeared on her doorstep. Acheson travelled to Rubble Road for materials to turn it into a necklace. The art store became an open invitation for inspiration, and with her partner’s encouragement, she left with a plan to play with the new medium. Reductive sculpting initially felt nerve-wracking for Acheson. Unlike clay or plaster, where material can be added back, soapstone is less forgiving. One wrong move can end the experience. Over time, she learned to follow the stone’s natural movement, letting each piece speak through her.

Acheson explores sensitive themes through her art and uses pseudonyms to distinguish bodies of work. Under the MNV pseudonym, her latest work addresses sexism and ageism. In a recent series, she created a prop piece, “Without you in Mind” — a dainty white bikini, handsewn for a model to wear as reference. The piece was made with no regard for the model’s size, nor was it intended to be supportive or functional. Using acrylic paint, she depicts the model in the bikini for a painting called “Shake my Tree,”  a commentary on sexism and societal attitudes towards the aging female body. In another acrylic work called “Broadcasting,” a naked woman suggestively holds watermelons to her chest alongside Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) colour bars. The piece is meant to feel clinical and unemotional, echoing an advertising campaign and society’s expectations of women.

Acheson hopes to have gallery representation in the future, but for now, her work is available at the Alberta Craft Council (ACC) gallery shop. She will also be featured in an upcoming ACC show, Environ, which runs from June 13 until October 17, 2026.

Acheson’s work can be found under her own name as well as her pseudonyms, MNV and Gerri Harden.