Born and raised in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, Denise Buisman Pilger has used art as a way to deal with the difficulty of saying goodbye all her life. That little girl that cried her eyes out going to school, would never have predicted that she would leave behind her home country to become one of Montréal’s most sought-after artists.

Living as an ex-pat, she has embraced the thing she struggles with the most, saying goodbye to her home and everything that is familiar on a regular basis. Her art is what connects her to the places she has to leave behind.

After studying Illustration, Denise became a graphic designer and art director, a sensibility that is reflected in her body of work Traveling the World, both aesthetically and technically. But when she joined her husband in Fort Worth, Texas at 28, the need to create art was re-awakened.

“I’ve always felt this strong urge to create. Saying goodbye to not just my home and my family, but my whole life, really brought that need to create to the foreground. It helped me deal with my feelings of homesickness but also gave purpose to the exploration of my new home.” - Denise

For a few years, she worked on her art and her graphic design simultaneously, until a move to Montréal coincided with the company she was working for going out of business. She took the leap and jumped headfirst into a full-time art career that, over the past 10 years, has evolved into a thriving art business.

“Someday this will not be your home any longer”. “You might never come here again”. “The little voice in the back of my mind inspires my urge to capture the essence of the places I love..” -Denise

Denise’s distinctive style, which blends painting and photography, has led to a substantial portfolio, including several bodies of work that pay homage to the places she holds dear.

From her series Traveling the World, which celebrates the beauty of urban spaces around the globe, to World on Washi, an in-depth exploration of the minimalist aesthetic of Japan—where she lived for three years—her art resonates with the emotional connections she has to these locations.

Driven by a need to discover her authentic self, Denise recently broadened her creative horizons to encompass abstract art.

After realizing that her artistic endeavors were constrained by the perceived expectations of others and were stifling her creative spirit.

Denise to abandoned the idea of making the rules and instead allowing the art to guide her. Her studio in Canada has now become the most terrifying and exhilarating place she knows, where the art dictates the journey, and she follows wherever it leads.

After more than a decade and thousands of hours behind the easel, Denise’s work has gained considerable recognition, with features on CTV Montréal News, Global TV, CBC Montréal News, and VPR Radio. Her art has been showcased at galleries and expos worldwide, including the New York Art Expo, the Artist Project, Latitude 44 Gallery in Toronto, the Salon des Beaux-Arts in Paris, and galleries in Japan like Esplanade and Masa21. [see Denise’s CV here].

“The online space allows me to stay in touch with my collectors around the world but nothing beats sharing my work with people in person and connecting with people face to face.” - Denise.

Denise invites you to step into her world, explore her art, and meet the different versions of herself that she has discovered along the way.

Whether you view her work online or schedule a free art consultation, Denise offers a personal touch, helping you find the perfect piece for your space.

Together, you can embark on an adventure of discovery in the boundless world of rich colors and intricate textures that shape her art.

ARTIST • EXPAT • TRAVELER

“Where the Truth lies…
I will Follow”