About the Artist

Loan Chabanol

Loan Chabanol is a French-American painter. Born in Paris, she was an artistic child who spent her early years studying with artist Bernard Bistes. Discovered at the age of 16 by Elite Model Management, she embarked on a modeling career in Europe, gracing the covers of magazines such as Elle, Marie Claire and Cosmopolitan, as well as being the face of OLAY, VICHY, and L’ORÉAL. In 2010, she moved to New York to study acting at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute. While in New York, Chabanol returned her attention to her first love: painting.

In 2013, Chabanol first exhibited her paintings in a group exhibition, “Art Meets Fashion,” in Brooklyn, New York. In 2015, her inaugural solo exhibition, “Born in Blue,” appeared at The Lightbox in New York City. This immersive show incorporated an animated film depicting the birth of a Phoenix rising from the depths of the ocean and breaking free from its chains. In 2018, Chabanol regrouped and explored the shapes of meditation through her series “Namsis and The Black Namsis.” This collection debuted at the SHOW gallery in a Los Angeles. It was then featured in the group show, “WeRise,” alongside the works of renowned artists Shepard Fairey and Glenn Kaino.

Then in 2019, Chabanol realized a long-time dream of writing and illustrating a children’s book. With colorful watercolor drawings, “Blueboo” tells of the adventures of a blue monster. She is currently developing a series of children’s books featuring “MIKA GIRL,” whose exploits she is relating through different mediums of expression and illustrating with a series of acrylic paintings.

Chabanol’s artwork blends whimsical storytelling with bold, expressive colors, creating immersive worlds that spark curiosity and emotion. She is passionate about exploring themes of self-discovery, resilience, and imagination through visual art. Her multidisciplinary background influences her artistic approach, making her work both cinematic and deeply personal.

Loan Chabanol featured at Tamsen Gallery

"My work is a search for healing—a quiet, intimate attempt to make sense of the past while moving through the present. I draw from memories, but also from the weight and wonder of what I’m living now. Each piece is an act of transformation, a way to transcend personal hardships and uncover something more universal.

I gravitate toward simplicity in form—childlike drawings, loose lines, open spaces—because I believe the deepest emotions often live in the quietest corners. There is power in the negative space, in the unknown, and in the things left unsaid. Through watercolors, charcoal, mixed media, and acrylics, I try to preserve a kind of rawness, a clarity that cuts through the noise.

My work often revisits places of youth, not for nostalgia, but to explore how memory holds emotion. I want to take viewers on an immersive journey—where the moment you step in, you feel something shift. Where even the simplest stroke can hold a world of feeling.

At its core, my art is about healing. I believe healing begins with honesty, simplicity, and the courage to face what’s been hidden. Though deeply personal, my hope is that my work resonates with others—because while our stories may be different, our longing to feel whole is shared.

~ Loan Chabanol, 2025