Jacquie Potvin-Boucher
Indigenous Artist & Therapist

Who am I? 

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I am Jacquie Potvin Boucher, an eccentric free-spirit, passionate about helping people return home to their inner knowing.

 

I am proudly an Autistic Indigenous artist (Cree & Red River Metis) and Licensed Therapist originally from Metis Nation. I arrived in Nova Scotia 25+ years ago to achieve my Bachelor of Design at NSCAD University and studied Psychology at Dalhousie University and Athabasca University. I went onto achieve my Masters in Counselling Psychology with Yorkville University. I have always believed Art and Psychology go hand in hand – both as a way of expressing ourselves and to understand our thoughts and others’ creative perspectives.

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I am a published author of several mental health self-help guides and scholarly articles in mental health literacy among adolescents and First Nations children (publications listed below). My life centers around the healing benefits of art and nature.

 

I have a private practice empowering individuals through an Indigenous perspective, which looks at neurodivergent individuals as those we can learn from. Through this lens it's about acceptance, respect and reconnecting to nature.

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I am a self-taught painter with a passion for painting clouds with visions from my ancestors and guiding spirits. Through a meditative painting process I connect with the universe where time and space meet and shadows are nonexistent.  During this creative exploration I gain insight into the lives that walked before us, discovering where I am from and where I may be going.

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I have been a professional artist since 2009 with my paintings currently hanging in public and private galleries across Canada and the United States.

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Current Gallery Affiliations

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• Teichert Gallery, Halifax

• Eastern Shore Gallery, Head of Jedorre, Nova Scotia

• Northern Sun Gallery, Mahone Bay

• Made in the Maritimes, Halifax

 

Art Shows

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• Teichert Gallery, Annual Group Show, Halifax, October 2023

• “Tali Ktantutes Mimajuaqan// How Do I Live Here?”, Indigenous Group Show, Chase Gallery, Halifax, June 2022

• Omnipresent, Solo Exhibit, Chester Art Centre, January 2022

• “Tali Ktantutes Mimajuaqan// How Do I Live Here?”, IceHouse Gallery, Tatamagouche, March 6-30, 2021

• Preshrunk, Argyle Fine Art Gallery, January – February 2021

• Preshrunk, Argyle Fine Art Gallery, January – February 2020

• Ten Squared Exhibit, Federation of Canadian Artists, Vancouver, December 2019

• Truro Hall Permanent Collection, 2019

• Truro Art Acquisition Show, McCarthy Art Gallery, November 2019

• Feature Artist, Tantallon Library, November 2019

• Feature Artist, NovelTea Cafe, Truro, March 2019

• Hammonds Plains Community Centre, Commissioned Lead Art Project/Show, February 2018 - Present 2019

• PreShrunk, Argyle Fine Art Gallery, January – February 2019

• White Point Beach Resort, Mi'Kmaq Mawiomi, October 2018

• Teichert Gallery, Annual Group Show, Halifax, October 2018

• Northern Sun Gallery, Mahone Bay, NS, July 2018 to present.

• Sipukel Gallery, Liverpool, NS, May 2018 to present.

• Truro Art Acquisition Show, McCarthy Art Gallery, April 2018

• ArtBomb Daily, April 2018 & June 2018

• Mystery Art Show for Adsum House, Argyle Fine Art Gallery, March 2018

• Hygee, Argyle Fine Art Gallery, February 2018

• Made in the Maritimes Fine Art Gallery, Artist Supplier February 2018 to present

• PreShrunk, Argyle Fine Art Gallery, January – February 2018

• Underpinnings, 130 years of NSCAD, Anna Leonowens Gallery, November 2017

• Avondale Art Fair, June 2017

• Halifax Timeraiser, June 2017

• Parrsborro Lighthouse Project, NS, Summer 2016

• Winding River Art Gallery, Stewiack, NS, May 2015 – December 2015

• Do you see what I see, Winding River Art Gallery, Stewiack, NS, August 2015

 

Commissioned & Collections

• 60+ Private Commissioned paintings across Canada

• Wishing Stones Art Gallery, Tancook, NS

• Private, Nunavut

• Tancook Island School, NS

 

 

Authorship/Publications

 

Scholarly Journal Articles:

Potvin-Boucher, J.T., Malone, J.L., (July 2014). Facilitating Mental Health Literacy: Targeting Canadian First Nations Youth. Canadian Journal of Counselling and Psychotherapy.

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Potvin-Boucher, J.T., Kutcher, S., Szumilas, M., Sheikh, T. (November 2010). Transitions: A mental health literacy program for post-secondary students. Journal of College and Student Development.

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Books and guides:

• Transitions – Student Reality Check, 2007

• Transitions Second Edition, 2013

• My Parent Has a (insert specific type) Mental Illness, 2011.

• Teen Transitions, currently in revisions.

• My brother sister/has a mental illness – a guide for young people age 11-16, 2009.

• My brother/sister has a mental illness – a guide for young people age 17-24, 2009.

• Are you coping with suicidal thoughts? 2009.

• Mental Health First Aid, 2008.

• Psychosis & Substance Use, 2008.

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