Contest Judges
Nazy Sakhavarz
Nazy Sakhavarz is an Iranian born artist and art educator, practicing both disciplines in Toronto, for the last 30 years. Since graduating from Queen's University with a B.F.A (major in painting), she has combined her two passions of art making and teaching by exhibiting her work, freelance illustrating and instructing all age groups from primary junior to adult classes. Nazy has for decades exhibited her art in the city's commercial galleries, artist collectives and public art festivals. She has exhibited at the Canadian Art Hop- Toronto, Tigan Festival- Harbourfront Centre, and currently houses some of her pieces in public and private collections such as UofT- Harthouse and The Triggs- Jackson & Triggs, private collection. She has worked as a contributing writer for TDSB's Arts Curriculum, illustrator for children's books and taught numerous workshops for arts educators at both the elementary and secondary panel. Nazy is a proud graduate of the Claude Watson Program at both the elementary and secondary level. Hence, she continues to make the championing and the accessibility of public arts education a professional priority.
Kevin Li
Kevin Li is a professional oil painter and art educator, graduating from the Chinese Academy of Oil Painting and furthering his studies at Capital Normal University, specializing in classical oil painting and tempera techniques. With 17 years of teaching experience, he has instructed students across various levels, including foundational training for young kids, teenagers, skill enhancement for adult artists, and portfolio guidance for graduate school applicants.
In 2015, he founded Kevin’s Art Studio, renowned for its structured and professional pedagogy. His students have consistently gained admission to top-tier art high schools and universities across North America and Europe.
Committed to integrating art with social responsibility, Kevin has participated in UN-supported environmental art initiatives and dedicated himself to philanthropic art education. He has designed specialized courses for children with autism, fostering confidence and self-expression through a safe and inclusive creative environment.
As an accomplished artist, Kevin was honored with the title of "Contemporary Young Artist of China." His acclaimed Moon Series has been exhibited in Beijing and toured eight European countries, and he was invited to participate in the "Spark of Stars" group exhibition in Liaoning.
Serving as a judge for this competition, Kevin will bring his artistic expertise, educational insight, and socially conscious perspective to ensure a comprehensive and fair evaluation of all entries.
Jean Jiang
Jean Jiang is the founder of JeanArtsLab, a boutique fine arts studio with a strong local reputation in Ontario, Canada. With over 25 years of teaching experience, Jean has worked with students ranging from Grade 1 to adult learners. A graduate of Hebei Normal University, she created the “Jean-Style” teaching method, which emphasizes a balance between traditional drawing fundamentals and personalized, gentle guidance. This approach helps students develop not only technical skills but also confidence, focus, and expressive clarity.
Jean’s courses include both foundational training—such as sketching, shading, and observational drawing—and theme-based creative projects that encourage independent thinking. She tailors her teaching to each student’s age, personality, and goals, fostering long-term growth and genuine self-expression.
Currently, Jean teaches adult painting classes at Station Gallery, a public art institution in Ontario. Also she operates four teaching locations across Ontario: Markham, Scarborough,Whitby, and Oshawa. She believes that artistic learning is a process of “slow growth” and is dedicated to guiding each student toward confidence, expression, and meaningful creativedevelopment.
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Grace Xu
Grace Xu is an inspiring and seasoned art educator with over 25 years of dedicated teaching experience. Renowned for her resourcefulness and imaginative approach, she creates dynamic, hands-on lessons that not only teach proper artistic techniques but also ignite a passion for creative exploration. Her classroom is a vibrant, welcoming space where students are encouraged to express themselves freely. Through an innovative curriculum—ranging from thematic projects on wildlife, landscapes, and nature to enriching after-school art programs—Grace has empowered countless students to explore new mediums and reach their fullest potential. She fosters both academic excellence and personal growth, making a lasting impact on every learner she mentors.
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Echo Liu
Echo Liu is a registered member of the Canada Authors Association and the board director, the Founder of Skyky Cultural Publisher Co., the Founder & Chair of the Skyky Multicultural Learning Foundation, and the award receiver of the King Charles III Coronation Medal.
Since 2014, Echo has been devoted to creating stories for children and had 60 picture books published. Her works primarily focus on themes of growing up and environmental protection, often conveyed through imaginative fairy tales featuring animal characters. In recent years, she expanded her creative scope to include novels, publishing her first Chinese-language novel, No Detours in Black Hole, last year.
Beyond writing, Echo is passionate about education and community service. She enjoys teaching children how to write and has played a significant role in fundraising efforts. As a board director, she helped raise $100,000 for a senior center’s foundation and organized events that generated $70,000 for SickKids Hospital. Echo is also a generous donor, having contributed her books to book banks, schools, reading clubs, Indigenous communities, and more.
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