Kathy Poiré
Interview & Photography / Catherine Bernier
in collaboration with Milo & Dexter
Illustrator and 2D animator from Montréal, Kathy Poiré invites us into a world where absurdity meets gentleness, where colour softens reality without dulling its edges. Through her playful palette — feutre, crayon, gouache or digital brush — she seeks to make us smile, reflect, and pause, even when her subjects carry deeper shadows.
Her practice blends lightness and reflection in equal measure. “I like to add a touch of humour to everyday life — to transport people, just for a moment, into a colourful world,” she says. Her work is often infused with an awareness of the living world — animals, plants, fragile ecosystems — and a quiet plea to treat them with care. “A bit of absurd and light humour allows us to step back, to better understand our world where everything moves so fast.”
Kathy’s path to illustration came through design — years spent creating prints and patterns in children’s fashion led her toward screen printing and textile design, then to a certificate in animation at Université Laval. This bridge between tactile and digital worlds now defines her voice: curious, exploratory, always in motion.
At The Parcelles, she came to give shape to a long-brewing idea: a children’s book she would both write and illustrate. She wanted time away from screens, time to reconnect with her hands, her pencils, and her own rhythm. Days here began with the sound of waves and wind through the leaves — a coffee, a few sketches, a walk by the sea. Inspiration came as freely as the tide.
“Being near the ocean filled me with energy and ideas,” she recalls. “Even when I wasn’t working, I had the mental space to imagine new characters and stories.”
During her stay, she deepened her exploration of coloured pencils — layering, blending, and discovering the textures that bring her illustrations to life. It was a return to the simple, tactile joy of drawing — a way of grounding herself after years in front of screens.
Still, the greatest challenge came from within: the discipline of self-directed work. “Working on a personal project with no deadlines can be both beautiful and terrifying,” she admits. Setting her own structure became part of the creative process itself — a quiet reminder that art thrives not only in freedom, but also in intention.
“Even when I wasn’t actively working on my project, I had the mental space to reflect on different scenarios and characters for the book.”
- Kathy Poiré
The calm of Seaforth, the warmth of the community, and the curious seals that surfaced in front of the cabin will stay with her — as will the ocean’s saline scent she wished she could bring home.
For Kathy, art remains a bridge — between people, cultures, generations. “Art has this unique ability to awaken emotions, to open dialogue, to invite reflection. It’s a wonderful way to connect us to one another, and to bring beauty back into our world.”
Residencies like The Parcelles, she believes, offer artists what is most rare: time and space to reconnect with their own voice. “Catherine and Gabriel have created a cocoon where creativity feels truly at home.”
Follow Kathy Poiré / @kathy_poire
Portraits by Catherine Bernier / @cath.be
Canadian Wool Cardigan by Milo & Dexter / @miloanddexter
