Bio
Kelly Robitaille is a conceptual portrait artist and high-end retoucher known for creating symbolic, emotionally driven imagery. Blending photography with painterly post production techniques, she transforms portraits into layered visual narratives that explore vulnerability, identity, and the complexity of the human experience. Robitaille is the creator of the award-winning surreal portrait series Whimsy Waifs, a body of work recognized for its distinctive aesthetic and storytelling approach.
Her work often embraces darker, atmospheric tones, using stylized characters, symbolism, and carefully constructed scenes to convey emotional and spiritual themes. Rather than pursuing conventional beauty, Robitaille’s imagery seeks to reveal the power found in honesty, fragility, and emotion. Through her work, she invites viewers to look beyond the surface and connect with the deeper stories woven into each image.
“Being chosen to represent Canada is such an incredible honor and it’s honestly something that feels difficult to put into words. Art has as unique ability to stir emotion and connect people through shared human experience. To know that my work has resonated in a way that allows me to stand alongside so many talented artists from around the world is one of the meaningful and humbling experiences I have had!”
2019 – Illustration / Digital Art
Requiem Story reflects the concept of inner mourning and the quiet rituals we perform when confronting loss, transformation and the unknown, suspended between two worlds. Neither fully present nor entirely absent. She embodies the liminal space of what was and what will be. Requiem references the human desire to communicate with what lies beyond our understanding. The search for answers to unresolved questions.
2018 – Illustration / Digital Art
Drama Queen Story explores the tension between performance and vulnerability. Inspired by the theatrical nature of pageantry and the expectations placed on those who wear the crown, this image reflects the emotional weight the often accompanies the pursuit of perfection. This piece examines how identity can become intertwined with the roles we’re expected to play, and the fragile humanity that exists even when we have a carefully constructed façade.