Story & Lesson Highlights with Gabrielle Lasporte of Toronto

Gabrielle Lasporte shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Good morning Gabrielle, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
This past May – I was beyond proud to join the Rollout Creative team as a roster artist with over 20 patterns in the collection and counting. My patterns are now currently available in all of North America through this partnership. My collection is shown through Rollout on Material Bank – the world’s largest materials resource library in the architecture and design industry.
I am excited not only to see where my art will turn up as well as to partner with Rollout – who push the boundaries of what wallpaper looks like in spaces. (hint hint – Sky is the limit) This also marked 5 years to the month that I started learning and experimenting with pattern design through my art and this in itself was a huge accomplishment for me.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
What’s up! my name is Gabrielle Lasporte – I am a multidisciplinary artist + creative designer with over 25 years experience in the creative world. Born in France and raised/living in Canada, my artwork is most known for the use of bright rich colours, hand drawn organic shapes using nature, tropical flora, patterns and the feminine form as muses.
I create in a variety of mediums with a strong emphasis on batik (dyes on fabric using wax resist) – From small works of art, full size installations, unique goods to wallpaper designs – I love to see my work on various surfaces and places. My creative work reflects on life, emotions, self-acceptance — a visual reminder to self of personal power + expansion through reflection and mindfulness. My mandate is to explore unique ways to express myself creatively while sharing messages of authentic expansion, growth and creation.

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who taught you the most about work?
My parents have been the ones to teach me the most about work. How you show up through your efforts, dedication, drive, consistency. Growing up – my parents were both freelancers. My dad in the boating industry – had his own business shortly after coming to Canada – he would build / fix / sell and sail boats to fun destinations and my mom was in the fashion industry – working her way into the top Toronto designer studios. They taught me to show up authentically – with integrity and most of all – to work hard. They still model that and I have a hard time keeping up with them at times. They are always creating even if it looks different nowadays.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
One thing I wish I had learnt earlier in my life is that it’s okay to expand beyond people expectation of who you should be. In my design and artistic career, before it was cool to do all the things, creatives were more successful keeping to one genre and it kept me stuck for a long time because I kept trying to fit in those boxes. Once I understood that I was never going to be in that square box – I really rose into who I should be. I love working on lots of different mediums and surfaces and I have understood that at the end of the day – it’s about communicating to people who you are and how you can help them with your various talents. Anything is possible.

Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
I am committed to being myself and working on projects that have integrity. I have kept to that for over 25yrs. While it took a lot longer than most people, I am proud that – for the most part – I did projects / art / design that I could feel good about and also – look at myself in the mirror and respect myself.

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. Are you tap dancing to work? Have you been that level of excited at any point in your career? If so, please tell us about those days. 
I am excited now! This year has been a big turning point in my career. From becoming a licensed artist, to winning some major design contracts to creating art for corporate spaces, installations in major festivals – everything is aligning beautifully and I can’t be more excited about it. I look forward to the challenges and the wins through the various things that I do. There have been some pressure points but every day is a new day to create – learn – and make a living doing what I love doing.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Kristopher Grunert, Ajayan Prasannan

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