Bio
Holly Truchan (she/her) began her working life breathing science (she has a biology degree) and quite literally helping people breathe (she was a respiratory therapist) until, 15 years ago, she traded in her scrubs for a camera. This 180-degree career turn made her a professional photographer, though painting was her quiet and hopeful side-gig.
Holly grew up in Toronto, her formative years spent soaking up life lessons from The Muppet Show and Pee-wee’s Playhouse—TV mentors who taught her that being weird, joyful and kind is the only way to be. After visiting Vancouver once, she was so completely blown away by the city’s natural beauty that she just had to move.
Convinced she couldn’t paint anything realistically, her fate changed in the fall of 2019 when her and her husband gained a photography studio. Holly carved out a painting studio there and the Covid-19 pandemic became her unexpected art residency, forcing a disciplined practice.
Her process is purely intuitive guided by instinct not rules. Her goal? To take the ordinary and familiar and cloak it in a unique, ridiculous magic. She’s the late-blooming biologist who now makes forest scenes look like they belong in a slightly tipsy, Muppet-approved fairy tale.
Artist Statement
Art possesses a remarkable capacity to heal the human spirit and foster emotional well-being. Working for 24 years as a respiratory therapist, Holly interacted with patients who were terminally ill and they taught her to find joy in the little things. Starting her first series of paintings during the pandemic was cathartic for Holly and today her practice is an integral part of her life that helps Holly find the moments of delight in the challenges of life.
In 2022, Holly’s father suddenly fell ill and she was his primary caregiver until he passed away. With all the stress and grief, Holly was continually drawn to nature where she found peace and breathing space. Holly started producing abstracted landscapes and visualizing the strength of tree stumps that were giving new life as they died leaving the beautiful legacy behind to those who continue on.
The act of creating provides Holly with a therapeutic outlet for processing emotions in moments of vulnerability, demonstrating its unique ability to heal. Her work represents how we continue on and find joy in chaos and becomes a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. Holly hopes her art will serve as a grounding point and a guiding light for the viewer during the darkest and most joyful moments in their lives!