Laurence Belzile

Biography

Born in Gaspésie (QC) in 1994, Canadian artist Laurence Belzile now lives and practices her art full-time in Vancouver (BC). She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Concordia University, with a major in painting and drawing, and a Master of Fine Arts from Université Laval. The artist strives to democratize abstract visual art, takes part in collaborations and creative residencies, and participates in auctions and art fairs. Since 2016, Laurence Belzile has presented her work in group and solo exhibitions across Canada, in various galleries including the Vernon Public Art Gallery (BC), Richmond Art Gallery (BC), Galerie Montcalm (QC), Centre d'art de Kamouraska (QC) and Galerie Champagne et Paradis (QC), which represents her. Her work has been supported by various prizes and bursaries, including the Canada Council for the Arts (2023-2024) and Québec City's Première Ovation measure (2019-2021). Her work is part of the public collection of the City of Boucherville and of the Méduse Collection of Québec City.

Artist Statement

My practice revolves around an exploration of abstract painting and drawing. I like to navigate from one medium to another, a balance that characterizes my creative process.

For me, abstraction is a form of emancipation, a way of extracting myself from everyday life to freely explore my imagination. It allows me to move away from strict representation and create without being constrained by a specific message.

I am particularly interested in the poetry of abstract imagery, what it evokes in terms of movement, sensitivity, delicacy and intensity. My compositions are characterized by organic forms, often defined by curved lines that contrast and create distinct spaces through the play of colour.

My works are mainly vertical. My desire is to create sensations through movement in composition, such as elevation, collapse, suspension, confinement, opening, descent, heaviness or lightness.

Variations in luminosity and the superimposition of plans add a spatial dimension to my work, creating mysterious pictorial scenes where time seems suspended. My intuitive approach manifests itself in visible gestures. It bears witness to the moment of creation and allows a new temporality to emerge through the image.

My approach to creation is profoundly feminist. I reclaim the possibility for women to produce subjective, poetic and imaginary works. I appropriate and redefine visual codes of plastic creation considered feminine, such as the use of pastel colours, rosy hues and curved forms, forcefully integrating them into the tradition of abstract painting, long dominated by masculine conventions.