Michèle F. Bérard

Michèle F. Bérard is a visual artist based in Montreal, Canada, where she obtained her degree in Fine Arts from Concordia University. Since then, she has participated in several group exhibitions, a residency in Iceland, and received a grant from the Canada Council for the Arts. Michèle loves painting; she looks for color combinations that trigger a feeling of elevation or nostalgia. She approaches colors as a vague place, sometimes comforting, sometimes disturbing, using fades and gradients to create imaginary environments that oscillate between proximity and distance.

Collect Bean: What role does color play in your practice? 

Michèle F. Bérard: Honestly, the subject matter is a pretext to create color combinations. Colors are the true motivation for me. They’re exciting; they are the emotions. They’re everything. 

Collect Bean: How do you balance your practice with your daily life? 

Michèle F. Bérard: I go to the studio every Sunday early in the morning. Being consistent is key regardless of inspiration. It’s the only way to keep track of my ideas and the paths I want to explore. I constantly search and think about what amazes me visually. 

Collect Bean: If you could give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be? 

Michèle F. Bérard: Keep going; there’s value even in the tiniest ideas; make room for them. Be kind to yourself. 

Collect Bean: What does growth mean to you? 

Michèle F. Bérard: Allowing myself to explore everything - there’s a lot of self-permission in having an art practice. Letting go of my own barriers to access what I am chasing is an exercise. Giving myself permission to suck. That is when growth happens. 

Collect Bean: What does an ideal day in your studio look like? 

Michèle F. Bérard: Early morning, walking to the studio, color blending all day, infinite music, drip coffee, asparagus salad.