Success Story: Artist Josee Nadeau

Artist Josée Nadeau with her painting, "The Bull," in the Artexpo New York 2010 entryway.

This is the third year internationally renowned artist Josée Nadeau has exhibited at Artexpo New York—and it’s been her best show to date.

“This was my third time, and it was better than ever. It was an amazing experience with many surprises—much more then I would have ever expected. I was so pleased at how well my work was received. To have had my painting hanging in the entryway of Art Expo was like magic to me.”

This year, the Canadian-born artist sold many paintings, received positive feedback about her work, and established many new industry connections.

“It was unbelievable. I met so many people in the industry—from collectors to art dealers, gallery owners, national galleries of different countries, and other established and emerging artists. It was a real treat all-around.”

"Seduction" by Josée Nadeau

After the show, Josée was delighted to discover a photograph of her work featured in an L.A. Times story about Artexpo New York 2010. Then again, says the artist, there are unexpected surprises each time she exhibits.

“In 2006, I was one of the chosen artists for Hewlett Packard and I did a live performance. Within minutes, there were over 200 people around me! This year, it was still the same. I guess it is all about the energy that one creates. It is all about what you make of it.”

Josée is no stranger to performance art. In 2000, she met George Harrison at the Montreal, Quebec home of Guy Laliberté, founder of Cirque Du Soleil. Harrison sang to the artist for 4 hours, and the interaction led to Josée being invited to paint live to a televised performance of Montreal’s chamber orchestra, Allegra. She later repeated the performance on Broadway and at The Prince’s Ball in New York.

Internationally renowned, Josée has exhibited widely across the US and abroad, and spent 10 years in Paris as the protégé of the esteemed French Art expert Gerald Van der Kemp (who masterminded the restoration of Louis XIV’s palace at Versailles and saved the ”Mona Lisa” from destruction from the Nazis). After Van der Kemp’s death in 2001, his widow, Florence, offered Josée his prized studio in the late Claude Monet’s garden.

Josée in Monet's garden in France.

Though well-steeped in the world of fine art prior to exhibiting at Artexpo, Josée says each event proves more beneficial to her career than the last.

“Being an artist is one of the most difficult trades, as we need to spend so much time alone in the studio. Coming to Artexpo and seeing so many positive reactions is so satisfactory, and gives me the energy to create more. It’s a powerful affirmation. Also, seeing what is going on in the market is very important.”

Despite the recent dip in the economy, Josée believes there will always be a place for fine art—and for the artists who live to create it.

“There are still a lot of people out there who love and need good art, and they will buy it, as it is a commodity that they can enjoy and can always resell. If an artwork triggers an emotion, there is no price you can put on that—there will always be a demand. If you believe in your artwork and what you are creating, everyone will feel it.”

For more information about Josée Nadeau’s work, you can visit her gallery at www.joseenadeau.com. To exhibit in the [SOLO] pavilion of Artexpo, please email Artexpo Sales Manager Debbie Kuhn debbie@artmarkettools.com.