BIOGRAPHY

Inspired by the arts in all forms, Jean-François Henri, bachelor of arts, is a multidisciplinary artist specializing in graphic design and visual arts. Originally from a small village in the heart of Lanaudière, he decided to settle in the Outaouais. There he began his studies in advertising and visual arts at the Université du Québec en Outaouais (UQO).

Ranging from live painting for various events, including the Mosaïcultures de Gatineau and the Festival des Montgolfières, to introducing the art of graffiti to youth, Mr. Henri is deeply involved in the cultural life of his region. In this regard he has been teaching graphic arts at UQO for a few years now, and he also serves as a partner and artistic director at Pixel – a creative firm in the Outaouais. Using both innovative and conventional technologies, Jean-François draws on his wealth of experience and expertise when creating his works.

“It’s not who you are that holds you back, it’s who you think you’re not.”
– Jean-Michel Basquiat

CREATIVE PROCESS

The artist presents a series of canvases that oscillate between abstract art and street art. Flaws are his preferred motif, as he strongly believes they’re necessary to achieve certain visual effects. He seeks the unexpected images that appear through the meandering experimentation of the creative process: working with layers, spots, stains, spurts, and variations of materials.

The artist therefore explores the different methods of painting – some more controlled than others – and allows these methods to serve as clues of the path he took towards the final product. Mr. Henri investigates the symbiosis between the formal process and the visual effects produced by more aleatory techniques.