Montreal-based artist Alexandra Levasseur is known for her distinctive approach to mixed media, blending coloured pencils on paper with experimental oil techniques on wood panels. Through her work, she continues to explore female figures in surreal, vividly constructed landscapes, delving into the complex relationship between human beings and nature.
In her exhibition Puzzle, Levasseur describes the concept as a “mind game”—a reflection on the origins of life, the purpose of human intelligence, and its ultimate destiny. This idea of a puzzle extends beyond subject matter and into the very structure of her compositions. The interplay of fragmented forms and shifting arrangements suggests an interactive, dynamic approach to storytelling, where meaning can be reconstructed through different perspectives.
This concept resonates deeply with my own artistic exploration, particularly in the context of abstracted tile systems and dynamic reassembly. Each line and shape can be pre-planned and rearranged, revealing both order and disorder within the composition. Much like Levasseur’s work, this process allows for reinterpretation—inviting mystery into representational and portraiture painting.
Levasseur’s use of fabric patterns and female figures introduces a domestic sensibility, yet her compositions remain abstract. The pictorial plane is flattened with painterly gestures, while vacant juxtapositions blur spatial depth—evoking a sense of dreamlike introspection or an internal mental state. Her treatment of colour is particularly striking; the pearlescent, iridescent tones she uses for skin add an ethereal, almost luminescent quality to her subjects.
Levasseur’s work opens a dialogue between structure and spontaneity, clarity and ambiguity—a balance I find compelling and wish to push further in my own practice.
https://www.alexandralevasseur.com/
https://www.widewalls.ch/artists/alexandra-levasseur