DEGAGNÉ, Renée
Available Works
Puzzles
About the artist
Renée De Gagné is a professional artist based in Montreal. For many years, she pursued a career as a manager and a painter. Since 2006, she has devoted herself entirely to painting. Her work has received recognition in Canada and the United States. Her works are featured in private collections in Canada, the United States, Europe, and Australia.
She works in mixed media and in two series at the same time. “My urban series focuses essentially on our architectural heritage. I consider urban architecture as the pillar of a collective historical memory, and I want to pay homage to this presence. By taking a different look at buildings, I try to encourage the viewer to see the city differently and reflect on the importance of architecture.” For this series, she combines several techniques in the creation of her works: painting, acrylics, ink, photomontages, handmade paper, etc. Through a play of textures and a warm palette, she conveys the inherent energy of the city’s architecture in her works.
The “Nature” series was created at the same time. This more refined series helps her maintain fluidity and prevent the rational from overly interfering with her urban environments. “This allows me to free my mind, rediscover the flexibility of movement, and maintain a balance between figuration and abstraction.” In the “Nature” series, she uses a variety of tools she has made herself (Plexiglas, metal, cardboard, etc.) that allow her to use spontaneous gestures to apply the mediums and acrylic paint.
“My paintings are not faithful representations of places; they are based on memories and emotions. The result is intended to be semi-figurative: I don’t want to say everything, precisely to allow the viewer to establish reference points, appropriate the work, and develop their own interpretation.”
