About Chanel Thervil

Chanel Thervil is a Haitian American artist and educator that uses varying combinations of abstraction and portraiture to convene communal dialogue around culture, social issues, and existential questions. At the core of her practice lies a desire to empower and inspire tenderness and healing among communities of color through the arts. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting from Pace University and a Master’s Degree in Art Education from Massachusetts College of Art and Design. She's been making a splash in New England via her educational collaborations, public art, and residencies with institutions like The Museum of Fine Arts, The Boston Children's Museum, Mass MoCA, The DeCordova Museum, The Surf Point Foundation, and Google. Her work has been featured by PBS Kids, The Boston Globe, The Boston Herald, The Bay State Banner, WBUR's ARTery, WGBH, and Hyperallergic.


My Work As An Educator

"The position of the artist is humble.  He is essentially a channel."  -Piet Mondrian


I firmly believe in helping people discover meaning, purpose, and relevance in art and the process of making by highlighting their intrinsic connections to any aspect of life. 

When it comes to teaching, I like to keep the phrase “Everything But the Kitchen Sink” at the forefront. This simply means that other disciplines, pop culture, and current events are open to appropriation as a compliment to the themes and techniques we will explore in art. Rather than viewing the Arts as an ancient island of isolation for a select few, I want to help people feel comfortable using the lenses of personal, social, and historical experiences to build connections between what they think, see, and make. I also have a particular specialty in making contemporary art digestible for those who find it weird and uncomfortable to engage with. 

As an extension of this philosophy I have shared the power of art in a variety of settings. Thus far, I have cultivated programming at summer camps, public schools, college campuses, museums, galleries, and non-profit settings like libraries and community centers. I have also been featured as a speaker for numerous conferences and panels around issues of social justice in regards to art, education, and museums. 

If you're interested in booking me for a commission, to teach, act as a consultant, develop a program, or for speaking engagements please contact chanelthervil@gmail.com 

Visual Art Services:
Commissions for portraits, installations, and social practice projects

Consulting Services:
Art Based programs for diverse audiences
Team building program development and facilitation
Art Education curriculum development
Museum Education workshop and/or museum event development
Artist Coaching
Art Educator Coaching

Speaking engagements:
Artist Lectures/Talks/ Keynotes based on themes relating to visual art, museums, and/or art education

 


 Past Partners Include