Chris Rouleau
Captured by François Mittins
Expect the Unexpected
In this talk, Chris Rouleau reflects on improvisation, creative identity, and building a career without waiting for the path to become clear.
Growing up in rural Saskatchewan, Chris found an early home behind the scenes in theatre, where limited resources meant learning how to make something from almost nothing. That same resourcefulness followed him through art school, theatre design, graphic design, freelance work, and eventually a growing visual art practice, even as he repeatedly questioned where exactly he belonged.
Rather than choosing between being an artist and a designer, Chris began embracing both. Personal projects became a space to experiment without permission, eventually leading him toward larger and more ambitious work, including an artist residency and his first major solo exhibition.
Looking back, Chris sees a creative life shaped less by a plan than by a willingness to improvise. Drawing from theatre’s principle of “yes, and,” he reflects on saying yes before knowing exactly what comes next, trusting what he has learned along the way, and making something anyway.
christopherrouleau.com
@chris_rouleau
