Environmental Artist

Mimi Gregoire Carpenter is an acclaimed environmental artist, recognized for her unique ability to spotlight often overlooked elements of coastal ecosystems. Dubbed an "environmental artist" by the Farnsworth Museum in Rockland, Maine, Carpenter's work celebrates the poetry found in the humble aspects of marine life.

Exhibition History

Carpenter's work has been exhibited extensively throughout New England. Her art has graced the walls of prestigious institutions such as the Farnsworth Museum in Rockland and Colby College in Waterville, Maine. She has also showcased her pieces at the Worcester Science Center in Massachusetts, and at multiple University of Maine campuses including UNE in Biddeford and Westbrook, and UMA in Augusta. Other notable exhibition venues include The Brick Store Museum in Kennebunk, The Round Top Center for the Arts in Damariscotta, Mt. Desert Biology Labs Gallery in Bar Harbor, and the Nonantum Resort.

Gallery Representation

Carpenter's art is represented by galleries across New England, reflecting the broad appeal of her work. Her pieces can be found in galleries in Marblehead and Nantucket Island, Massachusetts, as well as in several Maine locations including Bar Harbor, Kennebunkport, Kennebunk, Rockland, Northeast Harbor, Ogunquit, and Waterville.

Publications and Products

Carpenter's art has been featured in several prominent publications, including Down East Magazine, Maine Boats and Harbors Magazine, and La Vie Claire. Her work has also been included in books such as "Passion for Sea Glass" and "Women and the Sea." The University of Maine Sea Grant has also featured her art.

In addition to her fine art, Carpenter's work has been adapted for commercial products. Her designs have been used by ELMS Puzzles, Stevens Linens, and Cape Shore, bringing her artistic vision to a wider audience through everyday items.

Children's Books

Carpenter has authored and illustrated several children's books that reflect her passion for marine life and coastal environments. Her published works include "What the Sea Left Behind," "Mermaid In a Tidal Pool," "Lucky Pebbles and Mermaids Tears," and "Seashore Treasures." These books introduce young readers to the wonders of the seashore through Carpenter's unique artistic perspective.

Special Engagements

As a testament to her impact on Maine's art scene, Carpenter has served as a Touring Artist and Artist in Residence for the Maine Arts Commission, bringing her artistic vision to communities from Van Buren to Kittery. She has also taken on leadership roles in the art community, serving as the Director of Coastal Fine Arts Alliance's "Galleries on the Green" program.

Artist Statement

Carpenter's work is characterized by her ability to find beauty in the often-overlooked aspects of coastal ecosystems. As described in "Women and the Sea," published by La Vie Claire: "Nothing is too lowly for her to notice, not the knobby seaweed, not the humble razor clam, not the ubiquitous barnacle, not the broken horseshoe crab carapace. She singles them out, and through her eyes, they reveal their poetry. Painting them as portraits, as species studies, as Bachian pieces of point and counterpoint, Mimi Gregoire Carpenter spotlights that which is often overlooked - discovered hiding in rock piles, stranded by the tide, and tangled in flotsam." This perspective defines Carpenter's work, inviting viewers to see the extraordinary in the ordinary and to appreciate the delicate balance of coastal ecosystems.