Helene Montpetit

Fascinated by our interactions, I like to study human beings and their impact on the world.

After several years spent in music venues as a singer, I rediscovered my first love: visual art. To recover my eye-hand coordination and reacquaint myself with media, I first concentrated on rendering the facial expressions and body language of my subjects. I collected photographs from the 40s, 50s and 60s, such as those by Vivian Maier and Garry Winogrand, and chose the medium, colours and style according to what they evoked in me. That's how my first series, entitled In My Childhood, came about.

I believe that art should be accessible to everyone. A successful piece inspires, educates or questions. Just as in my songs, my passion for big issues has gradually asserted itself in my work as a visual artist. My new series, Fudgesicle/Apocalypse, tackles the major themes of peace, environmental protection and social justice.

I also do watercolours featuring more common subject matter, such as scenery and florals.