Myriam Wallengren was born in 1966 in Dijon, France, to a French father and a Dutch mother. She now calls Montreal, Canada, where she settled as a young adult, home. She has studied arts at the École nationale supérieure d’arts de Dijon and at Clark University, Worcester (MA), United States. Painting is part of her daily life.
How did you get into art?
I have been interested in art since my early childhood. I would spend all summers in the Netherlands with relatives who were artists and who initiated me to arts and crafts projects of all kinds, igniting my artistic curiosity and passion. The seed was planted. Artistic expression will forever be a fundamental part of my identity.
How would you describe your style? What makes your work special?
For me, art is all about exploration, and when I engage in it, I am thrilled by the endless possibilities, elated by an absolute sense of freedom. With time, I have been navigating through different styles, from figuration to geometric abstraction, by way of cubism and other avenues. Abstraction has been my main thing for a long time now. The common thread in my work is my aim to let the colors speak, in a dialogue with shapes, forms and composition. More recently, I have delved into a new and ever evolving theme, with my black hole series. These awe-inspiring, overwhelming, celestial phenomena speak volumes about our minute place in the universe, and allow me to extrapolate in all sorts of ways. They accompany me in dark places, but I try to see them with a twinkle in the eye. It’s a meditative yet exuberant quest, in contemplation of the dark inner matter that connects us all.
How do you go about developing your work?
To me, creating art is a probing, joyful, and therapeutic process. I am very intuitive in my approach. I start out without foreseeing the result, which is what makes the process so exciting. For each new creation, anything can happen along the way. Like so many branches on a tree, the directions that can be taken abound. And then, new ideas come about. I like to say that the nice thing about finishing a piece is the anticipation of starting a new one!
Who or what influences you?
Nature is a paramount influence on my work. While taking walks through the forest, I am captivated by the intricate details and the interplay of light and shadow. Architecture, design, and music also leave their marks on my creative process, as do my extensive museum visits. Artists like Mondrian, Motherwell, Hockney, the Cobra artists, to name just a few, have a special place in my heart.
Make us curious. What are you planning to do next?
Looking ahead, I have plans to strengthen my connection with Europe, by spending half of my time in Sweden, closer to my roots. I envision establishing a small art residency on the west coast of that country, where a studio with sea view will also allow me to work with oil on large canvases, in a new setting.
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