Sometimes it takes a life-changing experience to discover your calling. That’s exactly how Noémie L. Côté, an international award-winning Canadian artist, found her life’s purpose—to create art. “Originally a Québécois from Gatineau, I underwent a transformative life experience when I moved to Zimbabwe as a child, after my father got a diplomatic posting there. I was an alien in a new country, and as a French-speaking nine-year-old, I struggled to fit into an English public school, since I couldn’t speak a word of the language. Needless to say, I had no friends and couldn’t participate in any extra-curricular activities owing to the language barrier,” Côté explains.
This was a turning point in what would become a lifelong love for art as a form of self-expression, as she spent the hours after school observing and sketching the Acadia gum tree and beautiful rose bushes in her new backyard. Art became her primary form of communication as she continued absorbing her surroundings—the people, culture, nature and wildlife—capturing their essence through her art. This process was heightened by art lessons from a renowned Zimbabwean painter, Peter Birch, who also helped ignite an everlasting appreciation of nature’s grounding beauty in her.
At 13, Côté returned to Canada, where she continued honing her artistic skills, bagging a four-year scholarship to the visual arts program of Ottawa’s Canterbury High School. Here, she fell in love with clay sculpture, which later led to her pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree in Ceramics at Concordia University, Montreal. She also obtained a certification in Digital Multimedia Design from the International Academy of Design & Technology, Montreal, which outfitted her with the skills to pursue a career in graphic design.
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Fall Serenity, oil on canvas • 48 “x 48”; Grandma Ethelyn’s House, oil on canvas • 60 “x 60”; Okanagan Vineyard by the Lake, oil on canvas • 30 “x 60”.
Côté confesses that painting was never her first choice of an artistic medium. But her initial brush with oil painting changed her perspective. “I was able to channel my passion for creating clay sculptures into oil on canvas because my thick, impasto strokes reminded me of the texture and tactile-ness of clay. The bold, sugar-pop colours that infuse energy and breathe new life into a scene are a signature of my paintings. The colours are also a reflection of my personality,” she reveals.
For Côté, who works from her home studio in Orleans, ‘expresso impressionism’, her own modern, vibrant take on impressionism, is her chosen style. “It’s bold, textured, and full of movement—capturing not just what a landscape looks like, but how it feels to stand there, breathe the air, and taste the light. It’s an expression of a landscape,” she elaborates.
Côté also dabbles in plein air painting at Mer Bleue Bog near her home or at Gatineau Park. The love for landscape painting emanates from her intimate connection to nature, drawn by its power to connect individuals and put everything into perspective. She is also inspired by the colours of Canada’s changing seasons and the joy of serene natural settings. “In contrast to the chaos and harshness of daily life, I find solace in bringing nature’s soothing beauty to canvas,” says Côté. She adds, “Canada is such a diverse country, and I enjoy painting its pristine natural landscapes. I love Ottawa’s picturesque parks and its charming small-town feel, as well as the spell-binding beauty of Banff and Quebec.”
Janine Vanieris commissioned this 30” x 72” oil painting as a bold, vibrant tribute to her South African heritage.
Her two favourite paintings include a South African commissioned painting and Autumn’s Glory, for which she won the Artistic Expression Award at the Society of Canadian Artists 2024 International Exhibition. “Both these paintings feature fiery hues of red, yellow and orange, reminiscent of the African sunsets of my childhood and are a departure from my traditional shades of blue and green,” Côté comments.
The freedom to explore and express herself on her own terms, appreciate the individuality of different cultures on her travels, and inspire viewers through her art is what she loves about being an artist. Her mentors include renowned U.S.-based artist Erin Hanson, as well as the Group of Seven Canadian artists and French Impressionist painter Claude Monet.
Five years ago, Côté took the plunge to become a full-time artist. “Drawing on my skills as a graphic designer, coupled with experience in marketing and sales, I decided to set up my own website to sell my art. I also began participating in exhibitions and art shows and showcasing my art in galleries,” she explains. Her one-year stint as an artist-in-residence at Gatineau’s Leystone Farms, which included an exhibition of her work and her painting being featured on one of the vineyard’s wine labels, was a confidence booster and the first public recognition of her talent.
Glacier Runoff, 30” x 72”, is a commissioned piece that is an homage to the memories of hiking Lake Louise, capturing glacier runoff, layered Rocky Mountains, and the serene beauty of its aquamarine waters.
An entrepreneurial jaunt resulted in her running the Petite Art Show for two years between 2022 and 2024, wherein Canadian artists from across the country had a chance to showcase and sell small-format artwork as part of the online square foot show. Côté also partnered with Artodigy in 2022 and Bold School in 2023, two online art schools, to teach virtual painting classes. Additionally, she collaborated with Canadian wood puzzle-maker StumpCraft in 2024 to create a mini puzzle based on one of her paintings. Yet another highlight of Côté’s artistic career was being featured last year in the BellTV1 French documentary Les couleurs de ma ville, where she was selected alongside several Outaouais artists to demonstrate her style of painting.
With 32 exhibitions to date and art on display at five galleries across Canada, namely Koyman Galleries in Ottawa, Butter Gallery in Collingwood, Crown & Press Gallery in Hamilton, Gallerie Bloom in Montreal and Hambleton Galleries in British Columbia, Côté has cemented herself as a successful Canadian artist. She also holds group and private workshops where she teaches her style of art, besides offering commissioned custom paintings. Her past commissions have included pieces for visiting diplomats to Ottawa wanting to take a piece of Canada back home with them.
Recently, Côté won two international and one national award. “Winning first place in the CFA Artist of the Year 2024 Awards, in which over 600 international artists across disciplines participated, was incredibly humbling, but also affirmed that there was a space for me internationally and that this voice I’ve spent years refining speaks to people beyond Canada’s borders,” Côté remarks. She also received the Artistic Expression Award at the Society of Canadian Artists 2024 International Exhibition and the Maple Leaf Award for First Choice in Western Style Art, 2025, with her painting Morning Hues.
Côté has also been invited to travel to China in April to create a collection inspired by Chinese landscapes. “Chinese aesthetics have this beautiful balance of harmony, delicacy, and intention, while Canadian landscapes are often raw, vast, and wild. My challenge will be to bring these two worlds together on canvas in a way that feels authentic and connective. I’m not just painting scenery; I’m building a visual dialogue between souls and cultures,” she opines.
Morning Hues at Dawn, oil on canvas • 36 “x 84”.
Côté has several shows coming up, including the Artist Project – Indoor Toronto Art Exhibition in May, Art in the Park Glebe in June and the Toronto Outdoor Art Fair and Muskoka Summer Show in July. Going forward, she hopes to gain more international recognition and have a chance to showcase her art in galleries abroad.
When asked about the message she wishes to portray through her paintings, Côté says, “While art is a matter of personal interpretation, it is my sincere hope that my paintings instil joy and hope. I firmly believe that art bridges barriers of politics, race, culture and language, transcending borders and trade wars. It’s a unifying force that connects us all.”
For more information on Noémie Côté, visit her website noemielcote.com, sign up to receive her newsletter or connect with her on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or YouTube.
Island Reflection with Changing Autumn Hues, oil on canvas • 30” x 60”.
