Mimi Gregoire Carpenter

BIO

“For over three decades, I have walked the shores of Maine, letting the tide guide my artistic journey. As a painter working in opaque watercolors, I find myself drawn to the quiet poetry of our coastal ecosystem – the overlooked treasures that most passersby might dismiss as mere detritus of the sea.”

Mimi Gregoire Carpenter, an acclaimed environmental artist, shines a light on the overlooked elements of coastal ecosystems. Recognized as an environmental artist by the Farnsworth Museum in Rockland, Maine, Carpenter’s work beautifully captures the poetry found in the humble aspects of Maine’s marine life. As a testament to her impact on Maine’s art scene, Carpenter has served as a Touring Artist and Artist in Residence for the Maine Arts Commission, bringing her artistic vision to communities from Van Buren to Kittery. She has also taken on leadership roles in the art community, serving as the Director of Coastal Fine Arts Alliance’s “Galleries on the Green” program.

“My process begins with beachcombing along the vast Maine shoreline, where each specimen I collect tells a story of life, death, and transformation in our marine environment. Every piece I paint – whether it's a weathered horseshoe crab carapace, the intricate architecture of barnacle colonies, or the sinuous forms of storm-tossed seaweed – comes from my personal encounters with Maine's coastline. These aren't imagined scenes; they're intimate portraits of actual objects I've discovered, documented, and preserved over years of careful observation.

 Working in opaque watercolors allows me to capture both the delicacy and resilience of these marine artifacts. The medium's ability to layer and build texture mirrors the way time and tide leave their mark on the subjects I paint. Through my detailed realist approach, I aim to elevate these humble objects to their rightful place as worthy subjects of contemplation and artistic study.

My collection of found objects, amassed over thirty years, serves as both a personal archive and a historical record of Maine's changing coastal ecosystem. Each painting becomes not just an artwork, but a document of environmental presence – evidence of what lives, thrives, and washes ashore on our beaches. In this way, my work sits at the intersection of artistic practice and environmental observation, creating a visual testimony to the rich biodiversity of Maine's coastline.

I find profound beauty in what others might pass by – the knobby texture of dried seaweed, the elegant curve of a razor clam shell, the complex patterns of a barnacle cluster. Through my paintings, I invite viewers to share in this intimate view of our coastal ecosystem, to pause and consider these small miracles that the sea offers up with each tide. In doing so, I hope to foster a deeper appreciation for the delicate balance of our marine environment and the extraordinary beauty found in its most ordinary elements.”

- Mimi Gregoire Carpenter

SEE ALL OF Mimi’S WORK

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