We recently had the chance to connect with Marie-Chloé Duval and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Marie-Chloé, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: Are you walking a path—or wandering?
For me, the value is in knowing where I want to go, while letting the route take shape as I move. It is sooo cheesy but I do believe it!
A clear vision anchors me and keeps me moving toward what matters most, but I intentionally leave room for detours, surprises, and the kind of opportunities you can’t plan for. To me, a rigid plan feels like an attempt to control the unknown—an act that risks closing doors I don’t even realize exist yet. That’s where curiosity lives, and that’s where the unexpected beauty of the journey comes in.
I knew I wanted to be a full-time artist and keep growing, but I never limited myself to where that path might lead. I certainly never planned for it to bring me to New York City—yet here I am, and it feels like exactly where I’m meant to be.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Marie-Chloé Duval. I am French Canadian-born, NYC-based artist exploring human connections, social constructs, and the spaces—both physical and psychological—that shape them.
With a background in criminology, I approach painting like an investigation, layering figuration and abstraction to uncover what lies beneath the surface. I’m currently working a series titled Evidence of Us, which plays with perception, memory, and constructed realities.
At my core, I’m just someone who can’t not paint—deeply in love with human and humanity, endlessly curious, and always chasing the next adventure and conversation a canvas can spark.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
In sixth grade, my teacher Jocelyne looked at our class and said, “You will never bathe in the same sea.” I didn’t know then it came from Heraclitus, but it was like someone had pulled back the curtain on the world. I sat there, 11 years old, feeling the weight of it—realizing it’s not just the water that changes, but we do too. Time flows, moments slip, and nothing ever repeats itself exactly. From that day, the world felt more alive, more urgent, and infinitely more interesting. It’s a lens I still carry into my work today.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Doubt shows up for me maybe once or twice a year, and it’s never small—it’s usually about my work, my path, and, honestly, everything at once. In the past, it scared me; now I see it as a tool. Those moments push me to create better, sharper, more intentionally. When doubt hits, quitting would be the easy way out—but every time, I realize I still only want to be an artist. That clarity is powerful. I’ve spent years learning to work with fear instead of against it. Still, there are times I question the worth of all the sacrifices this life demands. I don’t think I could ever truly stop, but even imagining it is terrifying enough to remind me how much this work means to me.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Where are smart people getting it totally wrong today?
Thinking their version of “smart” is the only kind. Intelligence wears many faces—emotional, creative, practical—and when we lock into one definition, we miss the brilliance in other ways of seeing the world.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people say I dared to walk my own path—building a life and art practice that fulfilled me, despite the push and pull of what “should” be. Beyond the pressures of the art world and its rules, I stayed true to my work, my instincts, and my curiosity. Rather than settle into one recognizable style, I followed what I believe every artist must do: investigate, experiment, dare, fail, and keep creating to speak my truth.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mcduval.com/en
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/duval.art/
Image Credits
Profile picture: Roland Fitz
Studio at work picture: Catherine Bickford
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
