Nancy Benoy

I am a mixed-media abstract artist and educator in Hamilton, Ontario, exploring the expressive properties of acrylic, watercolour, printmaking, and, more recently, assemblage. I have been creating work for over twenty years. I also bring my curiosity, passion, expertise, and encouragement to students of all ages at the Dundas Valley School of Art, Art Gallery of Hamilton, and various programs throughout the City of Hamilton.

Curiosity is at the core of my art practice. I am influenced by colour, line, shape, and their interaction to create pieces that spark sustained observation and joy.  I started by practise as a painter, creating forms using texture and colour. Inspired by the texture of my one dimensional works, I have more recently expanded into 2 dimensional and sculpture works which create more visual interest.  

My connection to nature and quest for sustainability has guided me into using offcuts sourced from partners working in wood and paints destined for landfills to elevate the discarded and unwanted. This process has expanded by thoughts around the life cycle of these pieces and how I am acquiring them at the end of their life from tree to processed material, and reviving them again for a new beginning as a work of art.  

My mindfulness about our consumption and footprint on the earth has led me to be more aware of how I create and how sometimes what is not used can sometimes tell more of a story then what has been used.