Today, these Collingwood alums are the executive forces behind the Vancouver Visual Art Foundation (VVAF) and Art Vancouver – an international contemporary art fair celebrating its 10th edition. With Sky serving as the VP of Growth and Operations and Taisha as the VP of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, the sisters have transformed a family-run passion project into a premier cultural institution welcoming over 8,000 attendees annually.

Yet, look at their portfolios, and you will find much more than gallery curation. Sky is a fitness coach, podcaster, and author of the Master Your Mindset workbook. Taisha is a registered art therapist with a degree in psychology and an Emily Carr painting certificate. Together, they are proving that the arts are a vast platform for leadership and wellness.

"A career in the arts doesn't mean you have to be a full-time painter living in a studio," says Taisha. "It can mean producing large-scale events, leading nonprofits, teaching, curating, or advocating for diversity. The arts are a platform, not a box. If you're creative, organized, and care about people, there's a version of this career that fits you. You just have to build it yourself."

Sky echoes this sentiment, viewing the creative path as an extension of holistic wellness:

"I don't even see it as a career; it's more like living with purpose," Sky explains. "Can you build something that helps others in a way that feeds your soul? Art is a balanced life. It’s tied to wellness, to helping people live better lives, to producing events that bring a community together."

To manage the pressure of coordinating hundreds of global exhibitors, the sisters draw heavily on their time as varsity student-athletes at Collingwood. Sky played field hockey, while Taisha played volleyball.

For Sky, the transition from athletic training to event execution is seamless. When "go time" hits four months out from the exhibition, she enters a hyper-focused preparation period:

"Running a large-scale event and training for a tournament are more similar than people think," Sky says. "Art Vancouver is a performance... I become incredibly intentional about my health, my diet, my fitness, and my mindset. I follow my own game plan to get into a peak state so I can show up fully for the attendees, exhibitors, and sponsors. That balance of discipline and trust, structure and surrender, came from athletic training."

Taisha notes that this ability to thrive across disciplines is a direct product of Collingwood's Four Strands culture:

Playing volleyball taught me how to work as part of a team under pressure, communicate quickly, and trust the people around you. The Four Strand approach normalized that kind of multi-dimensional life. It never felt like you had to choose one lane.

When asked about the unexpected tools in their professional toolkits, both sisters point to moments where they stepped far outside their comfort zones.

For Taisha, it was pairing her art credentials with a BA in Psychology: "Understanding how people think and how emotions work is the foundation of everything I do now, whether I'm facilitating art therapy or managing volunteers. Art isn't just visual; it's psychological. That understanding came from studying the mind, not just the canvas."

For Sky, it was a boarding school exchange to New Zealand at age 13: "It taught me to adapt, to be genuinely curious about other people, and to connect with anyone from anywhere. That skill, real human connection across cultures, has been one of the most valuable things I carry into every space I walk into."

Working alongside family introduces a unique, seamless dynamic. While their father acts as Chief Security Guard and their brother Talin runs the setup crew during event week, Sky and Taisha manage the year-round vision with an unshakeable bond.

"There's a shorthand that comes with being sisters," Taisha shares. "We can be completely honest with each other, push back without ego, and celebrate wins in a personal way."
Sky agrees, noting “there is such a deep unconditional love that we truly are each others biggest cheerleaders in every area of life.”

Sky and Taisha are also in the midst of organizing an art retreat at their family cabin. Taisha will lead art therapy sessions and crystal sound bowl meditations; Sky will guide yoga and breathwork; and their mum will teach an art class.

It brings everything full circle back to how we grew up: creativity, wellness, and family all woven together.

Art Vancouver 2026

Experience the culmination of the Wayrynen family’s creative vision live. Art Vancouver runs from May 28th to 31st, 2026, at the Vancouver Convention Centre.

As a special perk for our community, Sky and Taisha are offering the Collingwood alumni network an exclusive 20% off tickets.

• How to Claim: Click the Eventbrite Registration Link, select your tickets, and enter the promo code CWOOD at checkout to apply your alumni discount.