Michaëlle Sergile explores the history of Black communities through postcolonial archives, placing the experiences of women of African descent at the heart of her research. Using weaving—a medium traditionally associated with craft and women’s artistic practices—she interrogates power dynamics tied to gender and ethnicity. Interested in the phenomenon of “archival violence,” Sergile uses her work to confront the systemic erasure and marginalization of Black voices by reimagining and reconstructing their histories. Her practice combines conceptual rigour with a deep material sensitivity, translating her research into highly evocative, tactile works.
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Which ’hood are you in?
I moved to Montreal in 2011 for school and loved it so much that I decided to stay.
What do you do?
I am a visual artist working with various mediums such as textiles, woodworking, video, and sound. My main focus is reworking archives and creating spaces for untold stories.
What are you currently working on?
I’ve been developing multiple projects. Recently, I have been exploring the notion of grief, and how beautiful memories can emerge while grieving our home country. Grief is not only about our loved ones, but also about the landscapes, sounds, smells, and architecture of a place. I’ve been reflecting on monuments burning and lives being taken in my home country, asking how we can preserve the memory of what has been lost to violence by creating works that honour them. This series will be presented at the VOX Contemporary Image Centre in Montreal at the beginning of next year.
I am also experimenting with new weaving techniques, combining handwoven fabrics with sublimation and silkscreen printing to tell stories through textiles and images. My latest pieces are currently on view in a group exhibition with BAND Gallery in 401 Richmond, Toronto.
Where can we find your work?
I often share work-in-progress on Instagram and on my website. I’ve made it a habit to film myself weaving and to show the process of building an exhibition from scratch!
