(MINDEVA) Mindy Eva Ouellet, born on the 3rd of June 1973, is a native of Kamouraska, Quebec, Canada. An alert child, her curiosity and spiritual force are awakened by the mighty magic of her natural surroundings. The virgin forests, the unspoilt elements and the grandiose Saint Lawrence river stimulate in her great love of nature and of everything associated with it. The wild animals become her best friends and so, very early on, encouraged by her grandfather, she begins to draw them. Her artistic talents and her originality are quickly recognised right at the primary school level. At the age of 13, she “enters in contact“ with her “spirit animal“, ermine (the nordic weasel), called Minka. Aged 17, and as always, in quest of further personal and spiritual development opportunities and stimuli, she leaves her native region for Montreal. There she takes up fashion design studies only to become an “exotic dancer“ shortly afterwards, satisfying her permanent need for the unconventional. It is in Toronto, where she meets Duke Redbird who becomes her shaman-mentor, her ache-healer and the spiritual guide. By 2005, she works with Duke and his son Jay Bell at their New Earth Gallery in Toronto. This is a culturally enriching experience and it is here that she receives her spiritual name MINDEVA.
In 2009, MINDEVA makes her first solo exhibition in Prague, Czech Republic, at the Vysehrad Gallery. She will repeat the show of her art there again in 2014 and in 2017.
Mindy met Rolf Bouman through Jay Bell Redbird and Rolf purchased immediately some paintings from her. Mindy impresses with very detailed, spiritual and colourful artwork and combines native images with religious symbols from all across the world. Her artwork was influenced by Peruvian painters, as she has visited Peru many times. Her artwork can also be viewed at the Friends United International Convention Centre. Mindy no longer works as an exotic dancer as she can make a full time living through the Friends United initiative by selling her artwork.
