Laurence Yale
Biography
Laurence Yale was born on June 6, 1995, in Montreal and grew up in Carignan, on the south shore. From kindergarten until 6th grade, she studied at La Roselière, the first public Waldorf school in Quebec. Subsequently, she pursued her education in the visual arts program at Cégep du Vieux Montréal and was selected for the 25th edition of the Intercollégial of visual arts. Upon acceptance to Concordia University for a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting and Drawing, Laurence Yale was honored with the Marion Wagschal Undergraduate Entrance Scholarship in Painting and Drawing. She relocated to Montreal during her first semester in the fall of 2014. Four years later, Yale started working at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, where she remains employed.
In spring 2019, Laurence Yale graduated with distinction. After her last semester, Yale exhibited her work in two exhibitions. First, on April 19, with the Montreal women artists collective "Girls In The Garage," a group show hosted by Flohmarkt Pop Ups in Montreal. Then, from May 6 to August 6, Yale presented a solo retrospective showcasing her works from the past five years at Le Marché Noir in Montreal.
Her accomplishments after completing her degree also include participating in the group exhibition "Hors cadre: œuvres des artistes parmi nous" at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts from September 11, 2021, to February 13, 2022, and a duo exhibition titled "Causalité" with Megan Wade-Darragh at Gallery Parfois in Montreal, on October 8 and 9, 2021. Additionally, Yale served as a Visual Arts Instructor and Workshop Content Creator at Studio Tre Punti from September 2023 to June 2024. On July 6, 2024, she participated in "Chapitre 20 des expérimentations live Walking Bread," a group exhibition at Galerie WIP in Montreal. Laurence Yale graduated from the Graphic Design AEC program at Collège LaSalle in December 2024.
Yale continues to work from her home studio in Verdun.
Artist Statement
This body of work is dedicated to the creation of portraits that pay tribute to the individuals surrounding the artist and shaping her life. Anchored in the relationship between the artist and her subjects, the work possesses both autobiographical and narrative aspects. Through oil painting and graphite on large-scale canvases and papers, the aim is to explore the nuances of human personality while capturing the unique essence of each individual. The descriptive function of the medium not only testifies to fleeting beauty but also serves to immortalize it.
By representing close ones and interpreting their inner lives, the narrative unfolds as both autobiographical and storytelling. Every brushstroke and line evokes sensitivity, connection, memory, and introspection, transforming these creations into an exploration of life itself. The portraits reveal the tension between everlasting soulfulness and ephemeral existence, as each piece unfolds like a narrative, preserving memories and immortalizing moments.
The applied materials and hand-rendered techniques echo the artist's connection with her subjects, while some works possess an unfinished quality that disrupts the singular moment characteristic of realistic or photographic portraits. This ‘incomplete’ portrait exists in a constant state of becoming, testifying to the story of its creation.
Significant elements contribute not only to the composition but also to the understanding of the model's individuality. The artist's own history weaves into the materiality of these works, establishing a dialogue about the human condition within a familiar environment. The aim is to transcend the physicality of the medium, fostering connections between human beings across time and space through the use of material.
Ultimately, something in this art transcends the artist's transient mortal condition and the earthly materiality of the work, allowing the piece to serve as an origin point for the artist, reflecting her journey and the shared human experience.
