Biography
Born in the cultural heart of Shawinigan, Hélène was enveloped from her earliest years by the vibrant nuances of the art world, a passion nurtured by a family environment where art was more than a tradition; it was a second language. Inspired by her mother Ursule, a talented painter, Hélène pursued an academic path in Applied Arts, enriched by precious and formative exchanges at the Moulin des Arts, the studio of Albert Rousseau, where many artists congregated.
Fervently committing herself initially to the path of muralism, Hélène dedicated her life to the fusion of art and space, transforming walls and ceilings into living canvases. Her most notable accomplishments include the artistic restoration of two churches, particularly a section of the frescoes by Ozias Leduc at the Notre-Dame-de-la-Présentation church in Shawinigan-Sud. This immersion in the heritage and history of painting profoundly shaped her artistic identity.
Always in search of renewal and innovation, Hélène opened herself up to the digital dimensions of art by developing ‘Pixelism’, an avant-garde artistic movement that reinvents the way of perceiving and approaching the canvas. Her works, broken down into fragments, are energized by contrasts and colours, exploring the entire spectrum with both strength and delicacy.
Today, Hélène Lafontaine is an established figure in the Quebecois artistic scenes and landscapes, renowned for her ability to transcribe her emotions and intimate reflections of her subjects through the prism of her pixelated creations. Actively participating in numerous symposiums across Quebec, she continues to captivate and inspire with her unique vision, where the movement of water and the serenity of forests are transformed into a mosaic of light and colours.
Artist’s Statement
Pixelism
Delivering shadow and light with the aim of containing only the essentials.
After studies in Applied Arts that allowed me to grasp the basics and usage of colours, it was up to me to further explore my skills.
Desiring above all to leave a mark through the expression on canvas, I let brushes dance according to the pleasure of the day and the whimsy of the world around me, inspired by the movement of water, the impulses of wind, and life itself.
Thus, my universe transformed, and new perceptions gave birth to what I call Pixelism.
Pixelism is the reconstructed structure of movements. Sometimes striking, sometimes subtle, vertical and horizontal movements juxtapose and overlap. They contain the essence of the image where the full spectrum of the palette is utilized. Thus, under the brush, colours broken down by layers and decomposition contribute to the artwork.
The pixelated treatment allows the observer to engage with the painting, discovering different versions of the work depending on the time of day, sparking reflection and emotion.
C.V.
Education
| 1979 – 1981 | Diploma in Applied Arts, Cégep de Trois-Rivières |
| 1984 – 1990 | Live Model Drawing Training, Moulin des Arts de Saint-Étienne-de-Lauzon |
Gallery – Representation
| 2024 | Galerie du Vieux St-Jean / Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu (Canada) |
Solo Exhibitions (Canada)
| 2023 | Seconde Nature Exhibition, Petite Place des Arts, Saint-Mathieu-du-Parc |
| 2021 | Private Collection, Cascade Residence, Shawinigan |
| 2021 | Pop-up Gallery, Shawinigan |
| 2021 | Solo Exhibition, 2800 du parc, St-jean-Des-Piles |
| 2021 | Vernissage Nature and Mixed Works, 2800 du Parc, Shawinigan |
| 2020 | Garden Solo Exhibition, Shawinigan |
| 2019 | Nature Series, Mauricie National Park, Shawinigan |
| 2018 | Aline Chrétien House, Shawinigan |
| 2017 | Cultural Center of Saint-Tite, Saint-Tite |
| 2015 | Private Collection, City of Shawinigan, Shawinigan |
Group exhibitions (Canada)
| 2020 | Participation in the Month of Galleries, St-Paul Street, Quebec City |
| 2020 | Collective Exhibition, Off Galerie, Old Quebec City |
| 2020 | Coiffure Flash, Quebec City |
| 2020 | Neufchatel Library, Quebec City |
| 2019 | Galeries d’art Le Bourget, Montreal |
| 2019 | Galerie d’Art Béliveau, St-Sauveur |
| 2016 | From Music to Painting, Château Bellevue, Shawinigan |
| 2003 | Maison de la culture Francis Brisson, Works for the inauguration, Shawinigan |
| 1984 – 1990 | Exhibitions in various Desjardins Banks, Mauricie and Quebec |
Restoration Works
| 2006, 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2022 | Notre-Dame-de-la-présentation, Restoration of Ozias Leduc’s works, Shawinigan |
| 2017 | Saint-Paul Church, Restoration of Guido Nincheri’s frescoes, Shawinigan |
| 2017 | Museum of the Franciscan Fathers, Design and realization of eight frescoes illustrating the history from the Recollets to the Franciscans, Trois-Rivières (Canada) |
Symposiums (Canada)
| 2009 à 2019, 2022 and 2023 | Rendez-vous des Peintres de Sainte-Flore, Shawinigan, |
| 2019, 2020, 2022 and 2023 | Arts Symposium, Danville |
| 2017 à 2020, 2022 and 2023 | Couleurs urbaines, Granby |
| 2016 à 2019, 2022 and 2023 | Bromont en Arts, Bromont |
| 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023 | Découvr’Arts Festival, Cap-Rouge |
| 2022, 2023 | Mirabel Expo-Concert, Mirabel |
| 2020, 2022, 2023 | Les rendez-vous des Arts, Sutton |
| 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023 | Rendez-vous des Arts, St-Narcisse |
| 2019, 2023 | Visit’Art, Quebec City |
| 2018, 2019, 2022 | Gatineau en couleurs, Gatineau |
| 2022 | Art et passion Symposium, Sainte-Julie |
| 2020 | Promenade des arts, Cowansville |
| 2019 | Kamouraska Painting Symposium, St-Denis |
| 2019 | Artisans and Craftsmen Exhibition, Quebec City |
| 2018 and 2019 | Provincial des villages en couleurs, L’Anse-Saint-Jean and Petit Saguenay |
| 2018 | Painting Exhibition, Shopping Mall, Ste-Hyacinthe |
| 2018 | Drummondville Symposium, Drummondville |
| 2018 | Plaines Couleurs, Quebec City |
| 2018 | Rendez-vous des Arts, Deschambault-Grondine |
| 2017, 2018 | Riches en Couleurs, Cap-Santé |
| 2016, 2018 | À marée haute, Champlain |
| 2017 | Phares sur Champlain, Champlain |
Awards and mentions
| 2023 | Artistic President of the Rendez-vous des Peintres de Sainte-Flore, Shawinigan |
| 2021 | Committee Prize / Symposium Promenade des arts, Cowansville |
| 2017 | Committee Prize / Symposium Couleurs urbaines, Granby |
| 2017 | Winner of the Art X Terra competition, SIDIM: Salon du Design, Montreal |
Creations and projects
| Since 1990 | Founder of the PixélismeTM trademark and director of the company “Hélène Lafontaine, Peinture et Muralisme” |
| 2023 | Outdoor Painting, Yamachiche |
| 2016 | Creation of collective works for professional groups, Mauricie |
| 2016 | Creation of a tree structure for the Notre-Dame-de-la-Presentation exhibition, Sponsorship Table, Shawinigan |
| 2015 – 2016 | Entrepreneurship Center, Matin Créatif Top Chrono Program, Creation of a collective work, Shawinigan |
| 2015 | Francis Brisson Cultural Center, Tribute work created with Mr. Brisson’s trumpet, Shawinigan |
| 2015 | Comic Book Fair, Set montage, Shawinigan |
| 2015 | Campanile Gardens, Fresco at the indoor pool, Shawinigan |
| 2008 | Shawinigan Arts Center, Production of sets for an exhibition of the posthumous collection of painter Louis Desaulniers, Shawinigan |
| 1981 – 1984 | Moulin des Arts, Pottery artist alongside Mr. Albert Rousseau and Mr. Raymond Lemieux, renowned potters, Saint-Étienne de Lauzon |
Artistic associations
| Since 2022 | Mondial Art Academia |
| Since 2020 | International Academy of Fine Arts of Quebec |
| Since 2019 | Association of Affiliated Painters of the South Shore |
| Since 2017 | Quebec Artistic and Cultural Society |
Press kit (non-exhaustive)
Print press and art magazines
- Maison O Canada Magazine (Home Canada), Spring 2020 Edition
- Magazin’Art, April 2020
Radio / Television and Multimedia
- Presentation of works, Chez Norm show, Norad.tv, filming in February 2019
