Keefe de Latour

Michelle Keefe who signs her work Keefe de Latour, came to painting late in life.

As a bilingual, bicultural, American and French bi-national, she quite naturally turned to International Organizations, working as a conference interpreter.

“Communicating, in real time, a message, an emotion, even an indignation rather than offering a mere word for word translation, is true interpretation. Ensuring a living exchange between participants who, without my contribution, would not have understood each other … such was my first life.

But then from my frequent visits to galleries, exhibitions and museums, viewing (and for some works, viewing again and again) I came to realize that the emotions they inspire have no need for words! Art is universal and is the heritage of every human being.

That we react differently in the presence of the same canvas is of no consequence: with interest, admiration or, on the contrary, possibly indifference… The induced emotion is transmitted just as well, or even better… and, after having employed words to express the thoughts and feelings of others, I have sought, with my paintings, to present the emotions I have experienced myself.”