Christi Belcourt and culture through art

Christi Marlene Belcourt is a Métis visual artist and author, best known for her beautiful acrylic paintings.

Belcourt originally comes from the Métis community of Lac Ste. Anne, Alberta. However, she was born and raised in Ontario. She is the daughter of Indigenous rights leader Tony Belcourt and Judith Pierce Martin. Christi Belcourt primarily follows the path of traditional Metis dot art, resembling beadwork. The nature depicted in her work represents the connection Indigenous peoples have with the Earth.

Christi Belcourt is mostly known for her acrylic painting which revolve around beautiful floral patterns inspired by Métis and First Nations historical beadwork art. Often explored in her work is nature. Her paintings possess beautiful floral patterns such as insects, birds, and other animals.

Belcourt’s work usually revolves around finding your identity, cultural place and divisions between communities and its imagery heavily around recognizing Indigenous history and traditions. She reflects Indigenous beliefs and connections in her artwork, such as practices, the connection they have to Earth, and many more.

Much of Belcourt’s work is protest art. It makes a statement; a statement telling others that she is done with the hate and inequality Indigenous people have been plagued with. An example of her protest art is Reviving Everything Anishinaabe, which represents the comeback of the practice of Indigenous culture and ceremonies.

Some other symbols that repeat in her artwork are water, birds, leaves, the cycle of life and nature. Blue, green, black, red and yellow are motifs in her work. She is a very accomplished artist and has inspired many around Canada. Her message is to hope for a revolution to protect the planet from pollution, resource exploitation and climate change, so that the plants and wildlife pictured in her paintings do not wither and die.

Christi Belcourt uses art to connect with her culture and the present world around her, as well as leave a legacy.