What emerges is a language of presence. Through soft palettes, deliberate mark-making, and moments of rich saturation, the artist captures not only what has been lost, but also what continues to evolve. The use of inherited materials — brushes, pigments, and textures once belonging to her mother — imbues the work with an intimate sense of collaboration across time. Each canvas holds the quiet weight of remembrance, along with the warmth of continued connection.
Global travel also leaves its mark here, not as visual quotation but as emotional resonance. Motifs influenced by Indigenous Australian storytelling, the rhythm and hue of African pattern, and the contemplative spirit found in the paintings of the late Matthew Wong all weave through the work with subtlety and grace. These influences act as echoes, reinforcing the artist’s exploration of how repetition, color, and form can embody narrative.
Claire Desjardins (b. 1965, Montreal, Quebec) is an abstract artist known for her vibrant and expressive paintings. While painting remains her primary focus, she travels as often as possible, driven by a curiosity to learn how different cultures live and create art. On a recent trip to Australia, she visited as many Indigenous art galleries as she could and was struck by the storytelling quality of the works on display—an influence that now informs her own practice. She found a similar approach to narrative through visual language on a separate trip to Tanzania. Yet despite her wanderlust, she feels most at home in the serene Laurentian mountains.Claire’s artistic practice also includes steel sculpture, mosaic, and textile arts. Her dynamic and colourful creations reflect deep emotional expression through bold palettes and lively brushstrokes.
While in Amsterdam, she visited the Van Gogh Museum and encountered a special exhibition by fellow Canadian artist, the late Matthew Wong. His work—sensitive, quiet, and emotionally resonant—left a lasting impression on her, particularly his evocative use of colour. Claire’s own art is a celebration of life and the human spirit, a reflection of the beauty found in the diversity of our experiences. Her latest works explore personal storytelling, drawing on memory, travel, and emotion. Each viewer walks away with their own interpretation, a unique emotional response—yet the overarching sentiment remains uplifting.