Antoine Mountain: Art Rooted in Land, Spirit, and Story

Antoine Mountain

Antoine Mountain is a Dene artist from Radelie Koe (Fort Good Hope), just south of the Arctic Circle in Northern Canada. He paints with purpose. His work tells stories of land, belief, memory, and identity.

He says, “All Native art is essentially spiritual.” Mountain’s paintings reflect this. He paints what he calls “the majestic sweep of the land.” He captures the subtle shifts of northern light and the silence between seasons. His line is lyrical. His color palette speaks of tundra, sky, water, and snow.

Mountain divides his work into three main categories:

Landscapes that show the natural world of the North

• Cultural scenes that reflect Dene life and tradition
• Portraits done for individuals, often as commissions

His paintings also express his deep faith in Dene spirituality. He believes that all art begins with the land. He was born on the land. He still draws strength and vision from it. “Mother Nature herself is the single greatest artist of them all.”

His inspiration blends traditions. While his work is deeply Dene in subject and meaning, it draws on European Impressionism in style. This mix is deliberate. “We, the Dene, believe in reincarnation,” he says. “I consider that I have somehow psychically inherited this desire to do my work in a combination impressionistic/realistic manner.”

Mountain’s artistic journey began as a way to preserve Dene culture. He wanted young people to remember who they are. His family helped shape his path. “All of my immediate family members are involved in one form of the arts or another,” he says. They work in sculpting, beading, sewing, and quill work.

Mountain works mostly with acrylic on canvas. Standard sizes range from 18 x 24 to 20 x 24 inches, though he also creates large murals. He takes on private commissions, collaborates with organizations, and teaches workshops. Cultural education is a key part of his practice.

His formal education came later in life. He earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts, then a Master’s in Environmental Studies, and finally a PhD in Indigenous Studies from OCAD University in Toronto. This academic path was driven by the same impulse behind his art—to connect, preserve, and pass on Dene ways.

Mountain signs his work under A. Mountain Arts. His website, www.amountainarts.com, showcases his art and offers contact for commissions, prints, and workshops.

His message remains clear. Art is not just image. It is memory, land, belief, and story. “We retain an abiding love for this country,” he says. “This is at the root of all my artwork.”

What do you think a painting can preserve that words can’t?