Arts·Art Minute

She was raised to see the world in black and white, but painting made her life more colourful

Shayla Perreault grew up in a religious environment that she describes as "repressive" looking back now — but art helped open her mind.

Shayla Perreault grew up in a 'repressive' religious environment — but art helped open her mind

She was raised to see the world in black and white, but painting made her life more colourful

7 years ago
Duration 0:56
Shayla Perreault's artistic path has brought her to question both the spiritual and physical elements of painting.

Originally from Moncton, N.B., Shayla Perreault currently lives and works in Vancouver, B.C. Her artistic path has brought her to question both the spiritual and physical elements of painting.

Perreault grew up in a religious environment that she describes as "repressive" looking back now — but art helped open her mind, and her paintings have given her a way to explore those bigger questions about the world at large.

(Shayla Perreault)
I had grown up [with] very much black and white thinking...Part of the process in being an artist is you get to question things.- Shayla Perreault, painter

Perreault's most notable shows include a collaboration at the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden with five-time platinum music producer Ian Widgery, the televised solo show "Trois" at the CBC Gallery Georges Goguen and a group show at Owens Art Gallery, the oldest university gallery in Canada.

(Shayla Perreault)

Perreault has works in collections such as RBC Dominion Securities, the City of Dieppe, Canada Trust and private collections in Canada, the U.S., Norway and Malaysia.

Art Minute is a new CBC Arts series taking you inside the minds of Canadian artists to hear what makes them tick and the ideas behind their work.