59. Synnöve Seidman - "Deepen" - 12x12"

I create artwork that blends abstraction and illustration, with a focus on colour, femininity, and maximalism. My goal is to find meaning in both the beauty and pain of life. Even though a life is made up of many fleeting moments, they are still significant. I am striving to honour these transient, meaningful moments of beauty through my work.

I start by taking photos of things that catch my eye, which serves as the basis for my work. I also make daily sketches and colour studies to help me develop my collections. I have a wall in my studio where I pin up these studies and images to keep me focused. To achieve vibrant colours and contrasting depth, I use various media and techniques, combining them with delicate line work.

I have always been fascinated by possibilities, even more so than facts. The mystery of life itself never ceases to amaze me, and the idea of being on the cusp of everything that I do not yet know leaves me dazzled and curious. All the beauty and pain that we go through, every sunset and starlit sky, are captured within us. These fragments serve as gateways to wonder and potential, perhaps even puzzles that remain partially unsolved.

I was born in Toronto, Canada in an artistic and unconventional family. Throughout my childhood I moved between the city and rural countryside. After attending a fine arts high school I studied art history and philosophy at the University of Toronto. Following that I travelled to Florence Italy to continue studying Italian and art. In 2015 My husband and I moved from Toronto to Kelowna BC where we lived for five and a half years before moving to Montreal in 2021. My travels across the continent have pushed me beyond my comfort zone, compelling me to confront my identity as a mother, an artist, and a lover of beauty. I hope that my work will encourage others to reflect on the significance of beauty in our current time of conflict and division.