Three artists to catch at Saskatoon's Nuit Blanche 2025

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On Saturday, Nuit Blanche will transform streets in Saskatoon’s Broadway, downtown and Riversdale areas into luminous interpretations of this year’s theme of “Living in Between,” with more than 50 artists taking part in the annual public art installation.

Curator Xiao Han said this year’s theme represents the transitional nature of life, and the beauty of our differences.

“This is a topic that’s broad enough, but (is) also trying to bring unity in between all of us,” she said.

“We are walking in a time with multiple cultures, with multiple generations, with different beliefs … The beauty of difference, that’s supposed to be visualized.”

Nuit Blanche Eve will spotlight emerging artists from the University of Saskatchewan on Friday night at the Gather Local Market. Those artists will be at the same location on Saturday night, as well.

The family-friendly, interactive festival is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. and run until midnight. Han encourages participants to take their time with the installations, and enjoy the process.

Here are three artists to bookmark.

Breanne Bandur

Surrounded by bright, abstract pastel drawings in her Riversdale basement studio, visual artist Breanne Bandur will showcase her art in a unique location for the festival: The alleyway beside O’Shea’s Irish Pub.

The installation, Semblance of Something, will feature a large-scale rectangular structure with Bandur’s oil pastel drawings draped over it, creating a layered space that attendees can navigate in whatever way they choose: an ode to this year’s theme.

“(With) ‘Living in Between’, I think of things that maybe don’t have clearly defined beginnings or ends or clear boundaries or don’t neatly fit into any kind of category,” Bandur said about her project.

Accustomed to presenting her work in a gallery setting, she said Nuit Blanche is an opportunity to imagine her drawings differently.

“(It) is really exciting in that you get to get pushed outside of your comfort zone, so installing these in an outdoor installation context is really different and pushed some of those boundaries for me.”

Along with being absorbed in the art, Bandur said Nuit Blanche is a chance for people to stumble upon new ways to view familiar places throughout the city.

“It’s kind of equal parts about Saskatoon and the artwork. They work hand in hand.”

Jaye Kovach

At this year’s festival, multimedia and performance artist Jaye Kovach will use her DJing skills to lean into the joyful side of transgender identity.

“A lot of artwork about trans people typically deals with hard subjects like trauma and the very real experiences that we have, but I think it’s also important to show that alongside those experiences, there is this tremendous joy,” she said.

With her installation, LIMINAL SPACE IS TRANS SPACE, Kovach will transform the alleyway behind Night Market YXE into an underground rave and punk-inspired party.

She said she designed the installation to be an empowering opportunity for the trans community to take up space, in public. Kovach hopes non-transgender participants — also often referred to as cisgender — gain insight into the trans experience, and see the humanity within those they’re dancing alongside.

“(Nuit Blanche) is supposed to be fun. … (Fun in) the way that, both it’s a party, but also fun in the way where you might encounter a perspective you hadn’t considered, or you might be challenged in some way by some of the work, and that can be a fun experience.”

Abraham Galman

Inspired by his Filipino heritage, interdisciplinary artist Abraham Galman will “gift” pieces of himself to the crowd at the River Landing Amphitheatre with his installation, pang alay sa’yo — the name of a traditional Filipino courting dance.

Galman, who studies theatre and costume design at the University of Saskatchewan, said his version of the dance will focus on the relationship between the artist and the audience.

“There’s a sense of that grandness, that campiness, that I do attribute to theatre. I always like the spectacle of it, especially with lighting and whatnot, to really spotlight every piece I create.”

Wearing colourful, textured, puppet-like costumes, Galman and two other actors will dance for the duration of the festival. Slowly, throughout the evening, they will untie bells from their costumes and give them to the audience.

Galman said his installation, much like Nuit Blanche’s theme, is in transition.

“This won’t necessarily be … the final iteration of this piece. This is somewhere along the way,” he said.

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