HELEN Fortin
Artist Biography 2024
Helen Fortin is a prolific, expressionist painter focussing on abstraction and landscape. She was born in Sherbrooke, Quebec in 1956 and graduated from Bishop’s University in 1979 with a Bachelor of Arts. She worked as an Artists’ Manager (Promoter) for many years before being recruited into a career in non-profit development consulting. In 2010, she was recruited to the Fraser-Hickson Institute, later promoted to CEO, and in 2012 embarked on part-time courses in painting at the Visual Arts Centre in Montreal. Here she was encouraged by her mentor to explore her own creative calling and to try her own hand at being “the artist”—not “the promoter”.
Throughout her career as a promoter, whether as a development professional or artists’ manager, Helen was privy to what make artists tick. She understands the tremendous influence art has in unifying community and has made it her personal mission to get this message across through her participation in the Woman’s Art Studio of Montreal, Artists in Montreal, NDG Art Hop and the Old Brewery Mission Arts Committee. She recently stepped down from the Visual Arts Centre board after a 3-year stint.
Helen’s art is highly influenced by memories of the fresh, natural beauty and solitude of the Eastern Townships, and her literary background as an avid reader and writer is reflected in her works as pure poetry in motion. Her pieces are imbued with flowing saturated colour schemes and layered textures, all enlivened by a vivid colour palette. The result exudes a jarring sense of movement, power and light enticing the viewer to enter the painting and experience their own personal journey. We are spellbound as her works pique our curiosity, stir our souls and bring our imaginations to life. We must come back for more.
As an expressionist painter, Helen’s creative process is spontaneous and relies on her sub-conscious to locate the truth and depth of feeling needed to access her unique talent. Her imagination runs rampant resulting in compositions that naturally emerge reflecting her warm and ingratiating style. Her tools consist of a wide array of brushes, the amazing versatility of the sponge, fine palette knife definition, and mixed media varnishes and mediums.
In 2023, Helen was invited to exhibit solo at CAFÉ/GALLERY AVENUE G in Westmount and in charity auctions for Auberges du Coeur and YES! (Youth Employment Services). Donations include paintings to the Fraser-Hickson Institute and Summit School (special needs students). In 2024 Helen will be in a group show at Gallerie Erga and in a private exhibition for a high profile not-for-profit organization which helps the homeless. She is also being exhibited at Fondation Marie-Vincent, Thunder Lotus Games, Law Firm: Cabinet WMR International s.a., and her artwork may be viewed in her local MNA’s offices.
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