Dorit Dornier is a Montreal-based artist whose practice encompasses the production of paintings, drawings and sculptural works. Born in Germany, she pursued art studies in Zurich and Berlin, and has lived and worked in Canada since 1982.

Throughout her lengthy career, Dorit Dornier has demonstrated an ongoing interest in exploring and articulating the faceted nature of the human condition. Inspired by the natural world and informed by lived experience, the artists’ works transcend their varied subjects to evoke universally familiar states and stages of ‘being-in-the-world’.

Dorit Dornier evokes a world of celebration and mystery, through poetical and dynamic images and sculptures, rendered in stylized and bold lines. Dornier’s characters, depicted in dreamy and meditative poses, are often goddess representations or powerful symbolical figures. 

Through her work she wishes to open a door to a new world, a mysterious world, whose magic is inspired by her dreams, together with her lifelong interest and observation of people’s expressions, gestures and emotions.

Dorit Dornier’s works are part of prestigious private and corporate collections in Canada, the US and Europe. She was a permanent Artist at Galerie Mazarine, Montreal, for 25 years.

BRONZES IN MOVEMENT
Movable parts are inviting to interactive play. Cast sculptures gain expression, almost reminding of feelings, become ‘moving’, they start to live, changing their gestures.  A dancing couple e.g. can both look onto one another or the same or opposite direction, while the bird has its own freedom of expression.

ABSTRACT SYMBOLISM
… an angel emerges from a well… a female torso morphs in steps…
like fragments of dreams… like unfinished thoughts… three dimensional poetry!

EXPRESSIONISM
Some figures’ expressive gestures e.g. lifting up their arms, suggesting ‘joy de vivre’ or power… no arms or hands hinting at passivity or patience…

Often Dornier’s pantings correlate to the realm of her sculptures. Some drawings may precede the creation of a three dimensional work… some paintings depictalready existing sculptures… overall Dorit Dornier’s paintings and drawings reflect the expressive boldness of her sculptures as well as the poetry of her dream world.