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CHANTAL WESTBY
CW / Westby & Mercier 304 STUDIO
Based in Philadelphia, USA

E-mail:  chantal@chantalwestby.art
Tel:  +1 610 613 9619
Web:  www.chantalwestby.com
Instagram:  @chantal_westby_art

BIO

Bio

 

"The nature of life on Earth and the search for life elsewhere are two sides of the same question—the search for who we are."

Carl Sagan.

 

ABOUT

​Chantal Westby: Artist, storyteller, and educator​

Profile Summary: Chantal Westby is a dynamic and accomplished French-American visual artist born in France. Currently based in Philadelphia, Chantal is renowned for her boundary-pushing immersive art, which encompasses paintings, sculptures, and installations. Her work is deeply informed by her background in art, textiles, and design, and she uses socially engaged practices to create meaningful connections with audiences. Chantal is fervently committed to advocating for social and environmental causes, emphasizing the importance of diversity, inclusivity, and environmental awareness in her creations.

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Professional Summary: Chantal's work thrives at the intersection of creativity, visual culture, and civil engagement. She is dedicated to transforming museum environments, galleries, schools, universities, and public places into inclusive spaces that foster a sense of community and belonging. By collaborating with other artists and organizations, Chantal builds vibrant creative ecosystems throughout Philadelphia and beyond. Her artistic practice is defined by her mission to address critical issues such as climate change, social justice, and cultural diversity.

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Impactful Installations: Chantal's installations are powerful representations of the state of our environment, sparking important dialogues about climate issues and the urgency for action. Through her art, she invites viewers to reflect on their role in shaping a sustainable future.

 

Driven by Passion and Purpose

Endless Curiosity and Commitment Driven by boundless curiosity and an unwavering commitment to preserving the environment, Chantal Westby has dedicated three decades to "bearing witness" to the devastating impacts of climate change. Her work serves as a visual record of these explorations, inspired by visits to extreme environments around the world—from Haiti to the island's rainforests and coral reefs of Kauai  and Costa RicaThrough her emotionally charged paintings, Chantal channels these experiences to ignite global solidarity in the fight to protect our shared ecosystem.

Chantal Westby by Lénaïc G. Mercier

​Art and Narrative Fusion Westby's art is a powerful fusion of aesthetic beauty and scientific narrative. By integrating public engagement into her practice, she enriches the viewing experience with facts and personal stories, aiming to deepen the impact of her work. Her art is imbued with authenticity and purpose, inspiring civic awareness and action.

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Creating Visual Poetry "I wrestle with the language of ink and sculpture to develop new vocabulary—to craft visual poetry that draws you in, compels you to look closely, and then reveals certain ''painful facts," Westby explains. These "dark realities" come to life in her "Child of the World" sculpture, where she blends collaged elements with expressive abstraction. By juxtaposing beauty with adversity, Westby conveys the urgent and personal nature of the climate crisis. My work as an artist takes on its full meaning if I can humbly convince and sensibilize even one person to understand that our earth is being abused and that we must do all in our power to preserve it."

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A Call to Action: Westby's artistic practice is a tribute to our changing Earth and a call to action. However, her art transcends this mission; it goes beyond mere reason, driven by a deep-seated sensibility that transforms scientific data and environmental loss into an expressive and emotional experience.

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Mission and Core Values:

  1. Collaboration: Chantal believes that partnerships create a resilient, thriving, and joyous world. She actively engages with other artists and organizations to build inclusive, vibrant creative ecosystems throughout Philadelphia and beyond.

  2. Experimentation: Chantal values risk-taking as it leads to the freedom necessary for cultural transformation. She continuously explores daring, cross-disciplinary exhibition projects that defy expectations, disrupt traditional forms, and challenge the status quo. Her goal is to advance practices across the fields of art and culture.

 

Learning: Together with her collaborator, since 2017 with the French multimedia artist and photographer Lénaïc G. Mercier, they combine their two worlds to create immersive and interactive installations on these themes. Chantal believes that creative thinking is foundational to individual and collective growth. She is passionate about inspiring conversations across disciplines, ages, classes, races, and abilities, fostering an environment of continuous learning and innovation

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Awards and Recognitions:

·       Awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by The United Nations Earth Day Impact Gala, hosted by The ECO Channel, on April 22, 2024, for her lifelong commitment and global activism towards environmental causes and climate action.

·       Winner of various prizes in France and the US, including the prestigious first place and Art of the State from the State Museum of Pennsylvania in 2022 for her sculpture "Child of the World."

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Artistic Journey: Since moving to the United States from Paris 30 years ago, Westby's work has been shown in solo and group exhibitions in New York, Philadelphia, Washington, DC, Osaka, Japan, Toronto, Switzerland, France, Paris, Cannes, Monaco, Lille, Nantes, Belgium, and Switzerland. It has also appeared in local, national, and international art publications.

She has had numerous exhibitions at venues like the State Museum of Pennsylvania, the SMSU Art Museum, the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, the Annenberg Public Policy Center, UPenn, and the Human Impact Institute in New York, among others.

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Special Collaborative Projects:

·       2019: "Global Warning: An Interactive Exhibition," Alliance Française de Philadelphia, Philadelphia, USA

·       2019: "Living Art," a multimedia concept developed with Lénaïc G. Mercier

·       2017: "Fiat#Lux: An Immersive Exhibition," Agora Gallery, New York City, US

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Education

EDUCATION

2006-2011   Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia - USA

2006-2011   Main Line Art Center, Haverford - USA

1978-1981     BFA, Ecole Supérieure de la Haute Couture, Paris - France

Main Solo Exhibitions

MAIN SOLO EXHIBITIONS

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​2025 Save the date August- October 2025 for our show at the Henry Gallery at Penn State Great Valley in Malvern PA.

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2024 October 10th at Academy Natural Science Philadelphia, Nomination for 2024 SustainPHL Awards And installation of immersive art ‘ Red Code for Humanity, The Anthropocene to the Pyrocene.

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2024, October « FRENCH ESSENCE » 8 renowned French and Francophone artists showcase art celebrating French heritage and Innovation!  Alliance Francaise, Philadelphia. PA.

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2024, November “Dalian on The Park”, Dalian,

A three-day exhibition featuring works from five prominent Philadelphia artists. This event will showcase a diverse range of artistic styles and mediums, highlighting the vibrant art scene in Philadelphia. PA

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​2024” Shattered: A Visual Journey Through the Mind.” May 2–to June 2 .” Culture Lab LIC,  5-25 46th Ave., Queens, NYC

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2024  " The Forest" The human Impacts Institute New York , The Creative Climate Awards April 21st to May 20th. In Dumbo at 38 Washington Street, Brooklyn, NY 

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 2024  Risky Beauty: Aesthetics and Climate Change  March 28th until May 30  Curated by Cynthia HavesonVeloric  -At the Annenberg Public Policy Center, which is affiliated with the University of Pennsylvania. PA. USA  

              

2023  Academy Natural Science Philadelphia, October 19th For GreenPhilly   Exhibiting part one “Climate Change” Sculpture Child of the World and

            4 murals sculptures.

2023  Chimera Gallery, from October 6th - October 28th, Curated by Neferteri Strickland; Philadelphia, PA- USA

2023  Sora West Art Fair, September 10, Conshohocken, PA 19428

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2023  Risky Beauty: Aesthetics and Climate Change Nurture Nature Center From April 14th to June 26th Curated by Cynthia HavesonVeloric  -  PA. USA

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2023  “InLiquid” Glass House + Meddow Philadelphia, Pa, July to August -USA This exhibition is made possible through the support of The Prince Albert II                                         of Monaco Foundation, and The Penn Treaty Special Service District.

2022   "Art of the State", The State Museum of Pennsylvania, from August 2002 to January 2023  - Award first place / Sculpture "Child Of The                                World" - PA - USA

2022   Abington Art Center Pennsylvania, September 16th to October 24th /  Curated by “Westby & Mercier"

2022   “Trenton Museum Society NJ. The 39th Ellarslie Open - USA

2022   “INLiquid” The annual ''New Now ''show, PA.- USA

2019   "Kaleidoscope" and "Akari", Ekko Galerie, Bordeaux - France

2019   "Global Warning", Alliance Française de Philadelphie, Philadelphia - USA

2019   "Incandescent", Delice & Chocolat, Ardmore - USA

2017   "Fiat#Lux - An Immersive Exhibition", Agora Gallery, New York City - USA 

2016   "Akari - À l'Encre de mon Âme", Festival de Cannes - The Four Seasons l'Officiel Art Lounge, Cannes - France

2016    "After the Storm", Ringfeil Gallery, Haverford - USA

2016    "Kaleidoscope", Galerie Beau Soleil Espace Culturel, Monaco - France

2016    "Kaleidoscope", The Boscolo Palace Hotel, Nice - France

2015    Art Show, The Bazemore Galllery, Philadelphia - USA 

2015    "After the Storm", E-Moderne Gallery, Philadelphia - USA  

2015    "Light of Faith", The Bazemore Galllery, Philadelphia - USA

2015    "Akari", Galerie La Véranda Beausoleil, Monaco - France

2014    "Kaleidoscope", Galerie Loïc Vallée, Nantes, France

2013    "After the Storm", Majestic Hotel Festival de Cannes, Cannes - France

2013    “Kaléidoscope", B68 Galerie, Paris - France

2013    "Woman Mystery", PII Gallery, Philadelphia - USA

2012     "Wind And Air’’, Beauty Art Gallery, Newtown Square - USA 

2012    “Light of Faith’’  Galerie des Beaux Arts de la Mairie,Valenciennes - France

2010   "The Apex of Transcendence",  Agora Gallery, New York City - USA

2010    Nostology Gallery, 

2010    Margot & Camille

2009   Art Show, Main Line Art Center, Haverford - USA

Main Group Exhibitions

MAIN GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2021  "Views", Dalian on the Park, Philadelphia - USA

2020  "Agility", Together We Art - Caritative Art Fair to the benefits of LP4Y, New York City - USA

2020  "Invisible Landscapes" , The ARTillerie Group, Bala Cynwyd - Curated by Maria Kraybill, Philadelphia - USA

2017    "Undefined Abstraction", SMSU Art Museum, Minnesota - USA

2016    "Asian Touch" Art Hamptons, Long Island - USA

2015    The Bazemore Galllery, Philadelphia - USA 

2015    Expo Art Monaco, Monaco - France

2014    Salon "Business Art", Espace Pierre Cardin, Paris - France

2014    Emergent Art Fair, Grand Opera House, Washington DC - USA

2014    Art Osaka, Osaka - Japan

2014    The Moon Art, Festival de Cannes, Cannes - France

2014    Art Expo Toronto,  Toronto, Canada

2012    “Kaléidoscope",  Mag Art expo, Galerie SchopArt, Montreux - Suisse

2012     InLiquid Art Design, Pop-Up Gallery, Bryn-Mawr - USA

2012     Art Fair, Grand Opera House, Washington DC - USA

2012    Green Art

2011     Immaculata University Art Show, Malvern - USA

2010    Art Show, Bryn Mawr Trust, Bryn Mawr - USA

2010    Art Show, Merion Art Center, Merion - USA

Special Projects

SPECIAL PROJECTS

2019   "Global Warning - An Interactive Exhibition", Alliance Française de Philadelphie, Philadelphia - USA

2019   "Living Art", multimedia concept developed with Lénaïc G. Mercier

2017   "Fiat#Lux - An Immersive Exhibition", Agora Gallery, New York City, USA 

Main Press Releases

MAIN PRESS REALEASES

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2023.  My sculpture, "Point No Return," was highlighted in an article published in April 2023 by Anna Piecuch for The Brown & White newspaper

2023   Featured in the Artmajeur & Artsper 

2022  ''Chantal Westby: Artist and Humanist!'' Interview with the Journal of the ArtsixMic

2020   La Voix du Nord

2019    Huffington Post France

2018    French Quarter Magazine

2017    The Brooklyn Rail

2016    Monaco Matin and Nice Matin

2015    La Voix du Nord

2014    Presse Océan

2014    Ouest France

2013    France Nord TV,  l’Hebdo

2013    La Voix du Nord
2012    L’Observateur

2012    La Voix du Nord

2012    Art Is Spectrum, The Chelsea perspective

2012    Radio Campus France

TV APPEARANCES

2024 September: Filmed for three days for Belgian television, discussing my studio and the creative life of an artist.

2004 to 2012    "America, America"   -  French-Belgian documentary that explores my emergence as a contemporary painter (6 episodes) 

2012 to 2013      Documentary film for French channel NRJ 12 (3 episodes)

2015    “Money Matters” - Interview “Art as an Investment"

2011     Philadelphia Public Television

2011     Bonnie Squires TV show

2011    “Money Matters”  TV Show

TV Appearances

PUBLICATIONS

 2024: Published my biography in both French and English. Title: An Exceptional Destiny

2024: September  Published a book titled ‘The Ocean, the Earth, Space, and Humanity’ – a work of art. Also featured in gallery albums showcasing our immersive art, sculptures, and paintings.

 2024:: August  Published another book titled ‘The Ocean, the Earth, Space, and Humanity’ – The Big Book Project,’ - a work of art highlighting the artistic career, philanthropic efforts, and activism within the community.

2017    Art E-Book "Fiat#Lux"

2016    Art Book "À l'Encre de mon Âme"

2015    Art Book "Akari"

2014    Art Book "Tryptiques"

Publication
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ART
ArtfixDaily
The Brooklyn Rail
13263785_1132727856747428_8989379989086741233_n
Cine Tele
Close Up
Philadelphia Style
Art is Spectrum
Art Short
ART
Le Monde
Money Matters TV
Money Matters TV
Ouest France
Ouest France
La Voix du Nord
La Voix du Nord
Metro
Art is Spectrum
Art is Spectrum
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