About the Artist 

Emilie Fantuz is an American-Canadian artist known for her large-scale paintings depicting reflections and nocturnal urban landscapes.  Her palette knife paintings combine technical elements of hyperrealism with an abstracted stylization that is distinctly her own.  Through reflected imagery and complex compositions, Fantuz investigates the perception of colour and light inspired by the beauty of everyday scenes. 

 

Born in Ypsilanti, Michigan, she developed a keen sense of creativity from an early age. However, it wasn't until her relocation to the island of Kauai that she fully discovered her artistic path. Living in the small town of Hanapepe, which is renowned for its thriving art scene, Emilie was introduced to the use of palette knives through her interactions with fellow artists. She quickly adopted this medium as her primary tool and spent two transformative years honing her craft.

 

Upon her return to Michigan, Emilie continued to explore the beauty of everyday scenes. Her paintings of Detroit and the surrounding areas reflect her appreciation for the subtle beauty of the everyday. Initially, Emilie experienced a sense of longing for the Hawaiian landscape, but over time, she came to appreciate and find inspiration in the everyday scenes in her surroundings, a theme that continues to be prominent in her work.

 

In 2017 Emilie immigrated to Vancouver, Canada where she currently resides. She has been exploring the theme of place identity and the impact that attachment to place can have on one's sense of belonging and purpose. Emilie currently lives and works in a studio located in the Mount Pleasant neighbourhood of  Vancouver. Her work has been featured in exhibitions throughout Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom and can be found in both private and public collections.