The New Brunswick Arts Board is an arm’s length arts funding agency with a legislated mandate to facilitate and promote the creation of art as well as administering funding programs for professional artists in the province.
These workshops are open to all artists at all stages of their career. For emerging artists and those who have never been a member of a peer jury: gain confidence in your ability to write excellent grant applications and identify the strong elements to put forth in an application. Peer jury simulation tour (in person)
These workshops are open to all artists at all stages of their career. For emerging artists and those who have never been a member of a peer jury: gain confidence in your ability to write excellent grant applications and identify the strong elements to put forth in an application. Peer jury simulation tour (in person)
Written by Norelice Mboutou
As an artist and graphic designer, I am convinced that art has the power to capture untold stories and reveal the hidden layers of the human experience. My recent project, Women’s Challenges, supported by an artsnb Creation grant, offered me a unique opportunity to explore in greater depth a subject that is close to my heart: the often overlooked or misunderstood challenges that women face in their daily lives. This project not only influenced my artistic practice but also broadened my understanding of the social dynamics that affect women, and inspired further exploration of themes such as identity, resilience, and social justice.
The grant I received from artsnb expanded my artistic expression by combining my passion for storytelling with the visual arts. The project required a balance between research, writing, and visual creation, which gave a new depth to my creative process.
Women’s Challenges is a graphic novel that tells the stories of ordinary women facing a variety of challenges, often ignored or misunderstood in our society. From the mental load that women carry during the holiday season, to difficulties such as postpartum health and workplace sexism, each chapter aims to make these invisible struggles visible. My goal with this project was to open up conversations that are often silenced, and to show that hidden behind every woman’s smile there are complex and sometimes oppressive experiences
The artist Norelice Mboutou browses through her graphic novel Women’s Challenges. Photo credit: Loïck Mboutou.
Through Women’s Challenges, I explored themes that are not only personal but also resonate universally. For example, the chapter on the mental load on women during the holidays, titled The mental load of the holidays, addresses the emotional and organizational work that often rests on women’s shoulders. Another story, How hair discrimination affects Black Women, deals with hair discrimination, an issue deeply rooted in the Black community that also reflects my own experiences as a Black woman navigating cultural and social expectations
These themes challenged the way I approached my art. Before this project, my work focused on creating impactful visual designs that addressed various social issues. With Women’s Challenges, I wanted to go beyond eye-catching visuals by provoking reflection and sparking dialogue. This project influenced my practice by pushing me to give as much importance to storytelling and emotions as to aesthetics, thus creating harmony between the two.
I started this project by reading articles and books and listening to testimonies from women from diverse backgrounds to understand their unique experiences. It was essential for me to base each story on authentic stories, so I spent time researching the emotional, physical, and psychological impacts of the challenges women face. I then translated this information into visual narratives to reflect the emotional weight behind each story.
The main objective of this project was to break the silence on topics such as body image, equal pay, and postpartum depression. I wanted the graphic novel to serve as both a mirror for those who have lived through these experiences and an educational tool for those who are unaware of the depth of these issues.
Now that the comic book is ready, I am looking for a publisher to give it the momentum it deserves.
The graphic novel Women’s Challenges by Norelice Mboutou. Photo credit: Loïck Mboutou.
While Women’s Challenges is awaiting publication, I recently completed another project, Interconnected Trace, as part of the We Are One Festival. This work allowed me to revisit African stories and memories through a contemporary work. I was particularly passionate about this project because it gave me the opportunity to reinterpret cultural symbols with a modern twist, thereby connecting the past to the present. The finished work was exhibited at the Dieppe Arts and Culture Center in the fall of 2024.
I also recently worked on a series of vibrant portraits for Black History Month in February 2025. This project particularly inspired me, as it allowed me to pay tribute to iconic Black figures from the Maritimes. This series inspired me to push my artistic limits, adopting a distinct illustration style and using bright color palettes to emphasize the strength and beauty of my subjects. Through this series, I aspired to contribute to the preservation of memory and the recognition of the great Black figures of the Maritimes, while offering works that are both visually striking and rich in meaning.
Portraits from the exhibition SAVAIS-TU QUE… / DID YOU KNOW…, digital paintings printed on canvas, 8 x 10 inches each. 2024. Image: courtesy of the artist.
For me, the most rewarding aspect of being an artist is the connection that my work creates between people and their experiences. There is something deeply gratifying about transforming a blank canvas into a work that resonates with others, that sparks conversations and helps contribute to a shared understanding of common struggles and triumphs.
For me, art is not just about personal expression, it is also a way of building bridges between individuals. As an artist in New Brunswick, I am fortunate to be part of a community that values art. The artsnb grant has allowed me to advance my work, and I believe that the stories I tell through my art are essential to creating a more inclusive and empathetic world.
In New Brunswick, where diversity and inclusion are becoming increasingly important, art plays a key role in promoting cultural understanding. Through projects like Women’s Challenges, I hope to contribute to the ongoing conversation about gender equality and the unique challenges faced by women. Art gives us a platform to amplify voices that might otherwise go unheard, and it is through this medium that I believe true social change can happen.
Art has the power to make the invisible visible, and in my practice, my aim is to do exactly that: to shine a light on stories that deserve to be told and celebrated. Whether through a graphic novel or a painting, my work is about creating spaces for dialogue, reflection, and, ultimately, transformation.
Norelice Mboutou, known by her artist name “Lisy Lisy”, is an artist and graphic designer who explores identity through a variety of socially engaged works. Inspired by her African origins and her Canadian upbringing, her work blends tradition and modernity, addressing themes such as equality, representation and collective memory. Whether through striking portraits or collaborative projects, Norelice puts people at the center of her creations, and oscillates between realism and abstraction. She seeks to inspire and educate, while using art as a means of reflection and connection between cultures and generations.
Photo credit: Jerome Luc Paulin, Isjaki Studio
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Her visual arts practice:
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/lisylisyart
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Site internet : www.lisylisyart.com
Portfolio : lisylisy.myportfolio.com
Her graphic design work
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Site internet: www.norelicedesign.com