Ailene Vrana MacDougall’s mixed-media paintings draw inspiration from travel, architecture, her love of colour, and the emotional memory of place.
Working in acrylic, collage, graphite, oil pastel, and mixed media, MacDougall creates layered abstract compositions, viewable in a solo exhibition in Toronto this summer.
Through layered colour, circular forms, and transparent structures, her work explores the interplay between movement and balance.
Rather than depicting exactly what a place looks like, MacDougall’s paintings explore what it feels like using colour, texture, and intuitive mark-making to capture the emotions and memories left behind after a journey or experience ends.
Largely self-taught, with a background in chemistry and corporate strategy, MacDougall approaches painting as both intuitive exploration and thoughtful construction.
The exhibition – titled What’s Next – runs Aug 19 – Sept 1 , 2026 at the Women’s Art Association of Canada’s Ruth Upjohn Gallery in Toronto.
Ailene Vrana MacDougall’s website
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