Marie-France Lafleur-Gagnon (b. 1981, Timmins, Ontario) is a French-Canadian artist and muralist celebrated as one of Canada’s pioneering female finger-painting artists. Entirely self-taught, she has developed a distinctive style that merges the raw energy of finger painting with the precision of brushwork, creating works that are both visceral and refined. From expressive wildlife and sweeping landscapes to soulful portraits and large-scale murals, her art vibrates with color, movement, and emotion.

 

After stepping away from painting for more than a decade, Marie-France rediscovered her passion in 2019 following a personal loss. Her first piece—a portrait of her beloved dog Pistache painted entirely with her fingers—became the catalyst for a new artistic chapter rooted in intuition, healing, and self-expression. Inspired by the influential work of Iris Scott yet guided by her own voice, Marie-France made this tactile medium central to her practice, developing a signature approach that is both deeply personal and widely resonant.

 

Today, from her home studio in Timmins, she paints daily, creating works that explore themes of connection, resilience, spirituality, and the human bond with nature. Her portfolio ranges from Canadian wildlife and mystical symbolism to portraits of music legends and cultural icons. Beyond her canvases, she has also brought her art to life through large-scale murals, including a striking wolf mural spanning over 200 feet, leaving a permanent mark on her community.

 

Marie-France’s original oil paintings are available through her online gallery, and she also offers commissioned work tailored to collectors’ visions. In addition, she creates canvas prints, making her art more accessible to a wider audience of collectors and enthusiasts. Her work has been exhibited at venues such as Cedar Meadows Resort & Spa, and she leads “Fingerpainting Nights,” immersive workshops designed to help others reconnect with creativity, play, and self-discovery.

 

For Marie-France, painting is more than an image on a canvas—it is a dialogue of color, energy, and spirit. Each piece invites viewers not only to look, but to feel, reflect, and connect with the story woven into the paint itself.