Discover Anna Belleforte: Artistic Journeys Through Maps

A colorful collage depicting a landscape with a brown tree and two tall yellow trees, surrounded by textured hills and patches of flowers in lavender and green. — Wereldse Duinen, Soesterduinen with map pieces from around the world, 40 x 60 cm

Anna Belleforte trained as an architect but her first loves were drawing and maps. So she eventually started creating imagined places with materials like old maps that have real histories.

A vibrant painting depicting two houses situated on rocky green formations, surrounded by trees and a backdrop of mountains under a soft orange sky. — Undeniably Connected, acrylic and acrylic-tinted paper maps (Canada) on canvas, 100 x 100 cm

Human brains are hardwired to recognize patterns. The symmetry and repetition in geometric art feel inherently satisfying and orderly. I’m inspired by the patterns and geometries created by nature and architecture – artist statement

A grid of circular map sections displaying a variety of topographical features, colors, and annotations, arranged in rows and columns. — Continental crust, maps on Admiralty sea chart (paper), 30 x 20 cm

Her work is inspired by the places she’s lived and feels most connected to: Canada, Italy, the UK and now the Netherlands.

Collage art featuring a stylized windmill on an island, with a map-like background indicating water and landmasses, and sailboats in the foreground. — Mini Atlas Landscape

Recent honours include art commissioned by the City of Soest (2026), winning the Canadian Salt Spring National Art Prize 2025 Youth Vote, and the Larnaca Biennale 2025.

A geometric art piece depicting a stylized house shape made from green and black striped paper, with map patterns integrated into the design. — Finding the way home, acrylic and maps on paper, 20 x20 cm

Belleforte has an MA Architectural Conservation & Heritage Planning, University of York, England; an MA Architectural History, magna cum laude, Queen’s University, Kingston, and an HBA Art History & Fine Art, summa cum laude, University of Western Ontario, London.

Anna Belleforte’s website