The Art of Painting the Soul At the intersection of a thousand memorie

Artistic Journey Annie Sène, a painter of French, Senegalese, and Guadeloupean descent—I am a blend of diverse cultures. Self-taught at heart, I have journeyed through the years, shaped by my life experiences and enriched by the many facets of my identity. My first oil painting was created in 1992. My artistic journey, marked by challenges and moments of self-reflection, has taught me to find wonder in simple things and to open my heart to the joys of visual art. Curious and passionate, I explore materials, colors, and forms, spending several years attending visual arts workshops where I trained and developed my skills. In 2004, I exhibited for the first time in France, and then in 2009, I presented several paintings at the Galerie Garo Charles in Montreal. Starting in 2012, I dedicated myself with rigor and passion to a diligent creative practice, driven by a desire to live, to believe, to create, and to share. My works—luminous and colorful—are an invitation to joy, connection, and hope. I organized my first solo exhibition in Montreal, “Chez le Portugais.” In 2013, I continued the Training and Socio-Professional Integration Project for professional artists, in partnership with Emploi-Québec. The Lamoureux Ritzenoff Gallery represented me until 2015. This was followed by numerous exhibitions at Fokus Gallery, Galerie Kaf Art, the Côte-des-Neiges Community Center, the Ahuntsic Library, and in France with the QUATRE-A Association. I participate in various cultural events: Maison de l’Art Inc., the City of Montreal, CORIM, Montréal Arts Interculturels, and several senior living facilities. In 2015, I won the poster contest for the Rallye-Expos Vues d’Afrique with my work “La Source Sauve.” In 2017, I held a solo exhibition of my works at the Moroccan Cultural Center during Montreal’s 375th anniversary. In 2019, my painting “Au cœur des nervures de l’être” received a Grand Distinction at the Abbaye de Fontdouce during the 51st CAPSQ International Exhibition in France. I also participated in the project “Le Jardin des Couleurs et de la Diversité” by the Laval visual arts collective Les Passionnés en arts visuels de Laval (PAV), where I created an oil painting titled “L’Éra BLÉ SeMÉ,” accompanied by the poem “Oui, I was born, a blend of eternal colors.” I also collaborated on several creative projects through 2025. I am involved in group projects with Nouvim-Arts in 2021, including the Salon des Indépendants II (at Georges Laoun’s gallery). Exhibiting my work at the Sainte-Rose de Laval Art Center with Les Passionnés en Arts Visuels was a valuable experience for my artistic career. In 2020, I was represented by Galerie Lenoir until 2022. From 2022 to 2026, my works were featured in numerous group and solo exhibitions: at Galerie Espace Urbain, at Marché Bonsecours, the Galerie Lenoir Artists’ Show, at Galerie Erga, at Maison du Brasseur, at Résidence Cornélius, at the Centre Na Rivé, the Auberge du Plateau, the Salle de L’Entrepôt (Lachine Cultural Center), the Saule-Bellow Library in Lachine, the Kirkland Municipal Library, at the Sainte-Rose Art Center in Laval with the Collectif des PAV, at the Laval Horticultural Training Center, at Galerie Le Locart at the Maison des arts participatifs in Montreal as part of the Vues d’Afrique Exhibition Tour. Currently, I am a member of the Artistes du Vieux-Montréal (ADVM) at Galerie Lenoir, a member of Vues d’Afrique, a member of the Société d’arts visuels en Direct inc., a member of the Regroupement des Artistes en Arts Visuels, and a member of the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. This journey invites me to share with you my artistic commitments within Montreal’s arts community, as well as my accolades. In 2018, I received an award in recognition of the arts workshop courses I taught to senior citizens. I have received several honors: a certificate of completion for the Artist-Entrepreneur program—Femmes en Mouvement (Desjardins); certificates as a graduate of the ArtxTerra Bootcamp for the 2020–2021 and 2023 sessions; and the title of Senior Artist-Entrepreneur. I received a certificate for the Saint-François du Lac René-Jacques Ratthé Art Symposium, awarded by Louis Plamondon, Member of the National Assembly for Bécancour-Nicolet-Saurel. I participate in the filming of “Dialogues,” interactive analyses of various artists’ works alongside the exhibitors and Professor Norman Cornett, art critic and curator—2025–2026. In addition to my exhibitions, I offer art workshops for children, adults with limited independence, and independent seniors at the Groupe Maurice, Notre Dame de la Paix, and Château Pierrefonds retirement communities. The year 2026 promises to be another exciting one, driven by my passion for creating, sharing, and bringing art to the forefront of our lives.