
Johanne Brouillette
Born: 1969
Hometown: Montreal
Based in: Montreal, Quebec
Born: 1969
Hometown: Montreal
Based in: Montreal, Quebec
Johanne Brouillette is a Canadian abstract painter who has been living and working out of her studio located just North of Montréal for over 25 years.
The artist studied and painted figurative landscapes in oil for 20 years but chose to never exhibit or sell her artwork. Feeling bored and considering giving up her painting altogether, she finally decided to attend an abstract workshop in 2016 and immediately found her new passion. She has since taken numerous workshops, specialized courses and residencies and continues to perfect her art to this day. Inspired by Québec Automatistes painters such as Riopelle, Borduas and Ferron, she has found freedom of expression in abstraction pursued through automatism: an instinctive, unpremeditated form of creating art, and has created a fresh language all her own.
Johanne Brouillette is a jury elected member of the Society of Canadian Artists, the Federation of Canadian Artists and Mondial Art Academia in France.
Her abstract paintings have been included in over 60 regional, national and international juried exhibits and have been awarded several prizes. In 2019, her art appeared in the Art Edit section of House & Garden Magazine in the United Kingdom and was featured in Issue 15 of Spotlight Contemporary Art Magazine, in France. Selected by Folio Annual as one of the best emerging abstract artists of 2019, her artworks were published in their inaugural book in the Spring of 2020. In July 2020 she was awarded the Antoinette Stevens Award “Best in Show” by the Society of Canadian Artists. Her work is represented in galleries and both private and corporate collections worldwide.
What inspires you?
My studio practice is my inspiration. My family, my dog and a quiet walk in nature
Describe your creative process.
My search for balance is fundamental in my work. My challenge in to reconcile my tendency towards perfectionism with my strong desire for freedom and disorder. Evidence of this can be seen in both my process and finsihed product. I apply my intial foundation rather spontaneously however the subsequent layers show a strong influence of my conscious mind. During this process, various marks, shapes and colors are added and partially veiled to build a complex yet intuitive painting. Upon first glance, the end result often appears chaotic and almost random but it is a mirror of my conscious self.
What are 3 words that best describe your work?
bold, textured, gestural
Who are some artists that have influenced your work?
Riopelle, Soulages, Borduas
What is the most important tool when creating your work?
Spatulas
What is the best piece of advice you have been given?
Always try new things and push your boundaries to become the best you can. Don't look at other artist's work too much.
Where do you go for inspiration?
My studio is my inspiration
Awards
Antoinette Stevens Award, Society of Canadian Artists
2020
Best Emerging Abstract Artist Folio Annual
2020
Honorable Mention Artist of Year Circle Foundation France
2020
Best Global Quality Abstract Art Cesure International
2019
Gold Brush Annual Exhibit Mirabel, Quebec
2018
3rd Place Annual Exhibition St-Faustin Culture Centre
2017