haui™ is an award-winning mixed-media artist known for directing, devising, and designing cross-disciplinary work for stage and screen. as noted by stir magazine vancouver, his art “defies categorization, much like the artist at its center.” etalk canada highlighted that his work “is going to allow a lot of people to begin healing.” over the past decade, haui™ has developed a diverse body of work that synthesizes theatre, dance, opera, film, and visual arts, exploring themes of race, gender, and sexual orientation, while bridging the gap between art and activism and shedding light on overlooked histories and forgotten narratives.
notable works include the feature film mixedup (produced in association with outtv), and the immersive site-specific dance installation private flowers (commissioned by toronto history museums and devised at the national ballet of canada’s open space residency programme.
haui™ joins the ranks of influential canadian artists like atom egoyan and robert lepage as the youngest director in canadian opera company history. his libretto, aportia chryptych: a black opera for portia white, was hailed as “a rare world premiere from the canadian opera company” (the globe and mail), featuring the first black director, librettist, composer, ensemble, costume designer, sound designer, choreographer, and producer, alongside an orchestra of diverse musicians. the production centered on portia white, canada’s first internationally acclaimed singer of african nova scotian heritage.
the show challenged the notion of "black firsts" as isolated events, positioning them within a collective continuum in the larger african diaspora. breaking barriers is a shared, ongoing effort—each step building on the last, contributing to a continuous legacy of progress and presence, ensuring that the past is never forgotten.
haui™ was published by playwrights canada press and has collaborated with leading arts organizations such as the canadian opera company, cbc, aptn, stratford festival, and shaw festival. his work continually challenges the boundaries of traditional media, amplifying underrepresented themes, myths, and histories.
haui™ served as the artist-in-residence for the city of guelph, creating the audiovisual piece aunt harriet, set for release in 2025. haui™ will be the 2025 artist-in-residence at the prestigious watermill center in new york, founded by renowned director robert wilson. he is also the 2025 chalmers arts fellowship recipient developing new projects in new york, greece, cuba, and jamaica.
recognized both nationally and internationally, haui™ was honoured with the recent graduate award from toronto metropolitan university for distinction in the arts. his work continues to push the intersections of race, gender, and identity, offering a unique and unconventional perspective that challenges and redefines the boundaries of art.
photo by Evan Mitsui
photo by Michael Cooper
.png)
haui™ is a remarkable artist with a rainforest of creative ideas spawned from his individualism.
hollywood north magazine
"his insights and commitment to creativity and storytelling were invaluable to the continuity of the work we were doing."
tantoo cardinal, activist and actor
"howard, or "haui," as he positions himself, is a highly intelligent, witty, and talented artist with a huge repertoire of skills...this is an exceptionally professional young man who will make his name, and soon, with a vengeance. his talents are wide-ranging– and unique."
martha henry; order of canada, order of on; hon lld, phd, dhum, dfa.
creative manager
website created
in support of
