Creators

When colors speak: A Conversation with Kezna Dalz

Text -

Marie Charles Pelletier

Multidisciplinary artist Kezna Dalz shares with us her colorful and profoundly human universe, where softness, emotion, and depth intertwine. The youngest of four children, she was brought up on art and colors, which, from an early age, occupied a central place in her life.

"I don’t exactly remember when I started drawing," confides the artist, "but I know I used to recreate the characters from my favorite cartoons. It was my way of interpreting what I saw." This passion for reproduction evolved over time, giving birth to increasingly personal and introspective work.

The Beautiful Paradoxes
Kezna’s works are both frank and nuanced; both raw and soft. This duality seems to naturally stem from her personality and sensitivity. Her own paradoxes feed her work, where the use of bright colors lends power to her messages while maintaining an accessible dimension, inviting reflection without judgment.

The political and emotional power of her work unfolds through all mediums, asserting a neo-expressionist pop signature, with vibrant colors that catch the eye of anyone passing by. In her works, the application of paint and colors serves to express a sense of alienation and fragmentation among the individuals she portrays.

For Kezna, inspiration can stem from everywhere: conversations with her family and friends, films she watches, albums she plays on repeat. "When something moves me, I let the ideas flow out of my head and express them through art," she explains. This spontaneity, combined with a strong emotional component, nourishes her creative process.

Her work tackles complex subjects such as sexuality or emotional vulnerability, but she finds balance by staying true to her personal experiences, which she sees as universal. 

"The experiences we go through are often the same as those of others, and so naturally, there is a collective impact," she says. The simplicity of the shapes and the warmth of the colors allow for the treatment of heavy and sometimes complex topics with accuracy and candor.

‍

Nature is an anchor point for Kezna, who draws inspiration from it every day. "I love flowers," she says. The countless forms they can take and their delicate nuances offer some kind of refuge for the mind that lingers for a while. "In a world saturated with stimuli, taking the time to escape allows my mind to relax and find space for new inspiration," she says.

During her stay at BESIDE Habitat, Kezna had a clear intention: to paint – a lot – and to sleep just as much.

 "I love nature. Though I often feel like I don’t spend enough time enjoying it. I long to spend more time outdoors, especially in the winter. I also really appreciate being farther from the city and feeling the impact it has on my mood. The air, it seems, is always better there."

In this purer-than-anywhere-else air, she took the opportunity to make a few sketches and focus on projects about which we still know nothing. Above all, she was able to rest and cook unhurriedly, to walk and to talk for hours with her boyfriend. In a cabin flooded with light, the hours passed slowly, giving room for new ideas to form.

Art to Spark Dialogue
In a world where opinions are often — and increasingly — polarized, art plays a crucial role. 

"Art is an accessible way to convey a message and has a unifying power. With images and colors, you can capture attention, provoke reflection, and take a stand, but without necessarily imposing it," she says, emphasizing the importance of art in sparking conversations.

Among her most significant projects, Kezna mentions a children’s animated series titled For a History of Black People in Canada, which was recently broadcast on Tou.tv and Radio-Canada. "It was an honor for me to contribute to a project that highlights the history of people from the Black community who changed Canada’s history, so as to inspire athe younger generation," she confides.

She is currently working on several secret projects and is preparing for three major exhibitions this year, one of which will take place outdoors. "I continue to evolve, drawing inspiration from everything around me, and seeking ways to make my work more relevant and accessible," she concludes.

Through each of her works, no matter the message they carry, Kezna supports the idea that art is, above all, a form of expression and sharing. That vivid shapes and colors are powerful vectors of communication, capable of arousing emotions, raising awareness, and bringing people closer, while offering a space for reflection and dialogue.

‍

Cultural Recommendations
My favorite album of 2024 is, without a doubt, Romance by Fontaines D.C. From start to finish.

Cozy up this winter
Warm your soul and your toes at BESIDE Habitat while the cold sets in outside. Heated floors, a sauna, and a wood-burning stove are ready for you.
BOOK NOW
Creators

When colors speak: A Conversation with Kezna Dalz

Text -

Marie Charles Pelletier

Multidisciplinary artist Kezna Dalz shares with us her colorful and profoundly human universe, where softness, emotion, and depth intertwine. The youngest of four children, she was brought up on art and colors, which, from an early age, occupied a central place in her life.

"I don’t exactly remember when I started drawing," confides the artist, "but I know I used to recreate the characters from my favorite cartoons. It was my way of interpreting what I saw." This passion for reproduction evolved over time, giving birth to increasingly personal and introspective work.

The Beautiful Paradoxes
Kezna’s works are both frank and nuanced; both raw and soft. This duality seems to naturally stem from her personality and sensitivity. Her own paradoxes feed her work, where the use of bright colors lends power to her messages while maintaining an accessible dimension, inviting reflection without judgment.

The political and emotional power of her work unfolds through all mediums, asserting a neo-expressionist pop signature, with vibrant colors that catch the eye of anyone passing by. In her works, the application of paint and colors serves to express a sense of alienation and fragmentation among the individuals she portrays.

For Kezna, inspiration can stem from everywhere: conversations with her family and friends, films she watches, albums she plays on repeat. "When something moves me, I let the ideas flow out of my head and express them through art," she explains. This spontaneity, combined with a strong emotional component, nourishes her creative process.

Her work tackles complex subjects such as sexuality or emotional vulnerability, but she finds balance by staying true to her personal experiences, which she sees as universal. 

"The experiences we go through are often the same as those of others, and so naturally, there is a collective impact," she says. The simplicity of the shapes and the warmth of the colors allow for the treatment of heavy and sometimes complex topics with accuracy and candor.

‍

Art to Spark Dialogue
In a world where opinions are often — and increasingly — polarized, art plays a crucial role. 

"Art is an accessible way to convey a message and has a unifying power. With images and colors, you can capture attention, provoke reflection, and take a stand, but without necessarily imposing it," she says, emphasizing the importance of art in sparking conversations.

Among her most significant projects, Kezna mentions a children’s animated series titled For a History of Black People in Canada, which was recently broadcast on Tou.tv and Radio-Canada. "It was an honor for me to contribute to a project that highlights the history of people from the Black community who changed Canada’s history, so as to inspire athe younger generation," she confides.

She is currently working on several secret projects and is preparing for three major exhibitions this year, one of which will take place outdoors. "I continue to evolve, drawing inspiration from everything around me, and seeking ways to make my work more relevant and accessible," she concludes.

Through each of her works, no matter the message they carry, Kezna supports the idea that art is, above all, a form of expression and sharing. That vivid shapes and colors are powerful vectors of communication, capable of arousing emotions, raising awareness, and bringing people closer, while offering a space for reflection and dialogue.

‍

Cultural Recommendations
My favorite album of 2024 is, without a doubt, Romance by Fontaines D.C. From start to finish.

Cozy up this winter
Warm your soul and your toes at BESIDE Habitat while the cold sets in outside. Heated floors, a sauna, and a wood-burning stove are ready for you.
BOOK NOW
Creators

When colors speak: A Conversation with Kezna Dalz

Text -

Marie Charles Pelletier

Multidisciplinary artist Kezna Dalz shares with us her colorful and profoundly human universe, where softness, emotion, and depth intertwine. The youngest of four children, she was brought up on art and colors, which, from an early age, occupied a central place in her life.

"I don’t exactly remember when I started drawing," confides the artist, "but I know I used to recreate the characters from my favorite cartoons. It was my way of interpreting what I saw." This passion for reproduction evolved over time, giving birth to increasingly personal and introspective work.

The Beautiful Paradoxes
Kezna’s works are both frank and nuanced; both raw and soft. This duality seems to naturally stem from her personality and sensitivity. Her own paradoxes feed her work, where the use of bright colors lends power to her messages while maintaining an accessible dimension, inviting reflection without judgment.

The political and emotional power of her work unfolds through all mediums, asserting a neo-expressionist pop signature, with vibrant colors that catch the eye of anyone passing by. In her works, the application of paint and colors serves to express a sense of alienation and fragmentation among the individuals she portrays.

For Kezna, inspiration can stem from everywhere: conversations with her family and friends, films she watches, albums she plays on repeat. "When something moves me, I let the ideas flow out of my head and express them through art," she explains. This spontaneity, combined with a strong emotional component, nourishes her creative process.

Her work tackles complex subjects such as sexuality or emotional vulnerability, but she finds balance by staying true to her personal experiences, which she sees as universal. 

"The experiences we go through are often the same as those of others, and so naturally, there is a collective impact," she says. The simplicity of the shapes and the warmth of the colors allow for the treatment of heavy and sometimes complex topics with accuracy and candor.

‍

Nature is an anchor point for Kezna, who draws inspiration from it every day. "I love flowers," she says. The countless forms they can take and their delicate nuances offer some kind of refuge for the mind that lingers for a while. "In a world saturated with stimuli, taking the time to escape allows my mind to relax and find space for new inspiration," she says.

During her stay at BESIDE Habitat, Kezna had a clear intention: to paint – a lot – and to sleep just as much.

 "I love nature. Though I often feel like I don’t spend enough time enjoying it. I long to spend more time outdoors, especially in the winter. I also really appreciate being farther from the city and feeling the impact it has on my mood. The air, it seems, is always better there."

In this purer-than-anywhere-else air, she took the opportunity to make a few sketches and focus on projects about which we still know nothing. Above all, she was able to rest and cook unhurriedly, to walk and to talk for hours with her boyfriend. In a cabin flooded with light, the hours passed slowly, giving room for new ideas to form.

Art to Spark Dialogue
In a world where opinions are often — and increasingly — polarized, art plays a crucial role. 

"Art is an accessible way to convey a message and has a unifying power. With images and colors, you can capture attention, provoke reflection, and take a stand, but without necessarily imposing it," she says, emphasizing the importance of art in sparking conversations.

Among her most significant projects, Kezna mentions a children’s animated series titled For a History of Black People in Canada, which was recently broadcast on Tou.tv and Radio-Canada. "It was an honor for me to contribute to a project that highlights the history of people from the Black community who changed Canada’s history, so as to inspire athe younger generation," she confides.

She is currently working on several secret projects and is preparing for three major exhibitions this year, one of which will take place outdoors. "I continue to evolve, drawing inspiration from everything around me, and seeking ways to make my work more relevant and accessible," she concludes.

Through each of her works, no matter the message they carry, Kezna supports the idea that art is, above all, a form of expression and sharing. That vivid shapes and colors are powerful vectors of communication, capable of arousing emotions, raising awareness, and bringing people closer, while offering a space for reflection and dialogue.

‍

Cultural Recommendations
My favorite album of 2024 is, without a doubt, Romance by Fontaines D.C. From start to finish.

Cozy up this winter
Warm your soul and your toes at BESIDE Habitat while the cold sets in outside. Heated floors, a sauna, and a wood-burning stove are ready for you.
BOOK NOW

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