“We Follow Our Families” by artist Kyle Joedicke, links this experience to the Haudenosaunee clan system and how it relates to family structures and their corresponding animals. The Haudenosaunee are a matrilineal family and governance system where lineage, identity and clan membership are passed down through the mother.
Haudenosaunee clans are divided into three groups: Land (Bear, Wolf and Deer), Water (Turtle, Eel, and Beaver) and Air (Snipe, Hawk and Heron). Kyle has brought these clan animals to life in his signature vivid style as large artworks placed throughout the Rock Garden landscape. Additionally, Kyle has created a new 8’ x 16’ mural, Toward the Creator, on view in the lower bowl of the garden.
Kyle Joedicke is a Cayuga Woodland artist whose work reflects the stories of his Haudenosaunee cultural heritage. Born in Hamilton and growing up in Caledonia, Joedicke spent much of his childhood split between living on and off reserve at nearby Six Nations of The Grand River with his mother and father’s families respectively. The content of Joedicke’s painting practice is informed by Haudenosaunee teachings while his visual vocabulary is informed by west coast Haida art, the work of renowned artist Norval Morrisseau and graffiti culture. Kyle Joedicke is a self-taught artist, a recent recipient of a Hamilton Arts Award in the Creator Category and is currently based out of Hamilton, Ontario.
In recent years, Joedicke has gained notable recognition for his vibrant, large-scale murals around south eastern Ontario. Some notable partnerships Joedicke has worked on include logo redesigns for the Hamilton Tiger Cats and Forge Football Club, murals within both the universities of McMaster and Waterloo, and he is currently an Artist Ambassador for the Gord Downie/Chanie Wenjack Foundation. Joedicke strives to create more inclusion for indigenous communities and specifically a sense of ownership in spaces not traditionally held for indigenous people. Growing up with a split understanding of his identity, Joedicke uses his art as a means to continually educate himself about the teachings of his ancestral heritage and hopes that his artwork offers an opportunity to share these meaningful stories with the wider community.
Date: October 7, 2026 - October 31, 2026
Location: Rock Garden, 1185 York Boulevard
Tickets
RBG Rock Garden · 1185 York Boulevard
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