“The natural world that I experience through my travels have a huge influence on my work and overall outlook on life.”
The Hands That Paint: Origins, Influence, and Intention
Dominic Laporte, co-founder of DRIFT Mural Co. alongside Anaïs Labrèque, stands at the intersection of graffiti culture and fine art, crafting murals that resonate far beyond their walls. Based in Ottawa, Ontario, Dominic is a Canadian painter, muralist, and illustrator whose evolution as an artist spans more than 16 years. With roots in graffiti and formal training in traditional painting and illustration, his visual language reflects a harmony between raw street expression and technical mastery. Encouraged from a young age by his mother, a mixed media artist, he was immersed early on in a creative environment that emphasized experimentation. That upbringing now informs a hybrid practice that blends various materials and techniques, visible both in his studio work and in the monumental public artworks produced through DRIFT Mural Co.
The artist’s style continues to evolve, driven by a lifelong commitment to art that began in early childhood. Creative expression has always been his outlet, whether through sculpture, painting, drawing, or zines, and over time, this prolific output has converged into a refined visual language rooted in symbiosis, storytelling, and the relationship between people, place, and nature. In recent years, his focus has shifted to exploring symbiotic relationships found in nature, using those natural parallels to promote mutual respect across species. Dominic’s work is not merely decorative; it carries an undercurrent of advocacy, prompting viewers to reflect on interconnectedness in an increasingly fragmented world.
Dominic’s artistic influences are both global and grounded. His travels have left deep impressions, especially encounters with different ecosystems and cultures, which continuously inform the symbolic elements in his work. The international nature of the mural community has also exposed him to a wide range of perspectives, expanding his creative vocabulary and prompting critical reflection on his own visual decisions. This exchange of techniques and ideologies among muralists shapes not only how he paints, but also why. By absorbing lessons from other artists around the world, Dominic remains in constant dialogue with the ever-changing landscape of public art, ensuring that his work remains relevant, responsive, and resonant.
Dominic: Meaning in Material and Memory
Among the many artworks Dominic has created, one stands apart for its deeply personal resonance. A 48 x 48-inch painting depicting the handfasting ceremony during his parents’ vow renewal, after 46 years together, became a vessel for processing immense grief; his mother passed away just two days after that intimate ceremony. The piece became not only a portrait of love and union, but also a memorial imbued with layers of emotional and material significance. Incorporating vintage fabrics that his mother had once used in her own mixed media dolls, Dominic honored her artistic legacy in the most literal sense, stitching her creative voice into his own through texture, color, and memory.
This piece also demonstrates the complexity and depth of Dominic’s approach to mixed media. Far from being a stylistic flourish, the materials carry narrative weight. His process involves more than just brushwork; it becomes a form of storytelling, where personal history, tactile memory, and visual symbolism converge. The tactile integration of fabric within the painting underscores his ability to translate personal narrative into universal themes of love, loss, and legacy. Through this work, Dominic does not simply commemorate his mother’s life, but also invites the viewer into a conversation about the roles memory and material play in the act of creation. This sensibility echoes his broader practice of crafting layered, place-based narratives through painting.
The intimacy of this work is mirrored in Dominic’s larger philosophy: art is a tool for connection, not just with audiences, but with one’s own experience. Whether he is working on a deeply personal studio piece or a large-scale mural seen by thousands, the underlying impulse remains the same. He seeks to encourage reflection on our shared world and our responsibilities to one another. His public murals draw from community voices and shared histories, transforming walls into reflections of place, identity, and collective memory. This synthesis forms the emotional backbone of his practice, ensuring that every piece, regardless of scale, carries a sense of humanity and depth.
Transforming Walls, Transforming Communities
Dominic’s impact as a muralist extends well beyond the surfaces he paints. With over 120 large-scale projects to his name, his work has been commissioned by institutions ranging from the Museum of Science & Technology to Microsoft, Canadian Heritage, and public art organizations across North America and Europe. His presence has been featured in festivals including Noisy Waters Mural Festival and PLNTNG Seeds in the United States, as well as the Sibiu International Street Art Festival in Romania. Each mural is more than a visual landmark; it serves as an entry point into cultural dialogue, civic pride, and environmental reflection. The scale of his work allows it to become embedded in the daily rhythm of a place, influencing not just aesthetics, but the emotional tone of a neighborhood.
At the heart of DRIFT Mural Co.’s public art practice is the belief that murals are powerful tools for belonging. Through DRIFT Mural Co., Dominic, along with co-founder Anaïs Labrèque, has developed a model for engaging with communities through art that honors their unique identity. Together, they create murals that are not imposed on spaces but developed in conversation with them. Anaïs, with her background in research, documentation, and project management, ensures that every project runs smoothly from start to finish. Her behind-the-scenes efforts, from coordinating logistics to assisting with grant writing, are essential to the execution of murals that feel both grounded and aspirational.
The mission of DRIFT Mural Co. is rooted in the idea of gradual, meaningful change. The name itself suggests movement: not abrupt, but steady, symbolizing the evolving role of public art in shaping collective spaces. Whether beautifying a storefront, transforming a wall in a residential area, or contributing to international festivals, DRIFT Mural Co. approaches each project with a sensitivity to place and people. Their focus on storytelling has established the company as a leader in public art that balances community engagement with bold artistic vision, moving beyond surface-level decoration into deeper acts of visual stewardship.
The Journey Forward
Life on the road is central to Dominic’s current practice. Currently in the midst of a summer mural tour that spans Eastern Canada and parts of the United States, his day-to-day rhythm is immersed in continuous creation. Each city offers a new canvas, but also a new challenge, requiring constant adaptation to different architectural, cultural, and climatic conditions. While the work is physically demanding, it also provides an invaluable opportunity to connect with diverse communities in real time. Dominic leads the creative direction of DRIFT Mural Co., while Anaïs manages the administrative and logistical operations. Together, they find grounding in small routines, such as running in unfamiliar towns, which help anchor them within the constant movement of life on the road.
Looking ahead, Dominic is preparing for one of the most significant projects of his career: a mural commission for a Buddhist temple in Battambang, Cambodia, as part of the S’art Festival. This will mark his first project in Asia and represents a new chapter in his artistic journey. The opportunity to engage with a space so steeped in cultural and spiritual meaning presents both a creative challenge and a chance for deep cultural exchange. For an artist whose work is deeply shaped by natural forms and spiritual interconnection, painting within the context of a Buddhist temple opens possibilities for new symbolism, technique, and reflection.
The trajectory of Dominic’s work suggests that his evolution is far from static. Each project, each mural, and each collaboration adds to a larger body of work that seeks not only to beautify public space, but to provoke thought, foster respect, and spark meaningful interaction. His art moves not just physically, from wall to wall and country to country, but also emotionally and intellectually. It urges viewers to see themselves as part of something greater. In this way, Dominic continues to redefine what public art can be: not just an image on a wall, but a catalyst for awareness, belonging, and change.
