Jennifer Latour, a self-taught artist based in Vancouver, Canada, has cultivated a dynamic career that spans the fields of special effects makeup and photography. Her transition into photography began in 2006, with her acclaimed series Bound Species emerging from the global lockdown of 2020, blending her passions for surrealism, design, cinema, and character creation into a cohesive body of work.

Deeply influenced by her sculptural sensibilities and love for storytelling, Latour’s Bound Species explores themes of transformation, connection, and the paradoxical nature of existence. Each piece stands as a unique entity with its own personality, while collectively reflecting the delicate interconnectedness of nature. Through her evocative imagery, Latour invites viewers to reflect on how creatures are both unified and defined by their similarities and differences, celebrating the intricate fabric that binds all living things.

Thanks for joining us, Jennifer! How’ve you been lately?

Thank you for having me! I’ve been well, thank you. The holidays are over and I feel well rested and ready for 2025. Very excited for the year to come!

You’ve been working in special effects makeup for film and TV for years. How does that experience show up in your photography and sculptural work?

Special effects makeup has so many aspects of art to it. There’s sculpting, moulding, casting, painting, fur/hair work and all different types of fabricating. So many of these techniques require a very delicate approach and when I first began splicing the flowers together I had what felt like an easy understanding of how to manipulate them based on their weight and shapes. I see both arts as creating characters and that’s what ties them together for me.

Your 'Bound Species' series is such an incredible blend of nature and surreal sculpture. Where did the inspiration for this idea come from? 

It came to me in a recurring dream. I remember how I was walking through a vast open field and had giant flowers growing around me with multiple different species of flowers growing off the stems. I’ve always had a very vivid imagination and after a few times I was curious to try splicing plants and flowers together off one stem. Lucky for me it worked!

Bound Species no. 2, 1 and 9

There’s this sense of interconnectedness in nature in your work - was that something you set out to explore from the start, or did it unfold as you went along?

It’s a mix of interconnectedness in nature and surreal realism that inspired me. Exploring the delicate balance of ecosystems while reimagining them through the lens of dreams, imagination, and subconscious thought.

Each of your ‘species’ feels so distinct, almost like they’ve got their own personalities. Do you think of them as characters while you’re creating them?

Always! Giving the work character is very important to me. I often have people tell me the story they see in the sculpture and I love that. I take a lot of time creating the shapes and positions of each of the stems and arms as it all adds to the overall feeling the sculpture can evoke.

Wild Flower no. 6 and 4

Do you ever look back at your earlier pieces and think, ‘I’d do that differently now’?

Funny enough I don’t. I’ve definitely made some things easier for myself over the years with certain technical changes but overall I’m still doing the exact same as when I started the series.

Creative blocks happen to everyone - we’d love to know your go-to way of pushing through those tough moments.

Keep working! Push through it, even if nothing good comes from the moment I continue to push forward and force myself to daydream about the work. Music helps enormously! I used to be quite obsessed with music videos and I often see the work in that type of format in my head. I also look to other inspirations in architecture, design, and photography to help get ideas flowing again. My imagination seems to always take me to incredible places where budget and locations have no restrictions and I can always rely on that to help take me out of the creative block.

Shapeshifter no. 5, 3 and 6

Can you give us a little peek into your creative space?

I am focusing on making outdoor works at the moment. The evolution of the work is heading in a much larger scale and I’m afraid the studio setting just isn’t big enough for my ideas.

How do you like to spend your time when you’re not making art?

I love driving and I consider myself a location hunter at heart. I can drive for days getting lost on little country roads and taking in the scenery. I take road trips quite often to relax and feel inspired by new landscapes. Between that and forest walks. Forests are so invigorating - I love being immersed in all the shapes and textures.

(Left) Killybegs, Ireland (Right) Wild Species no.25

Are there any exciting projects you're looking forward to in 2025?

Yes! All I can write at this moment is that Spring will be a very exciting time. I also have another trip to Ireland in May where I intend to create more Species in that incredible country. I am also hoping to make Iceland happen this year which has been a huge dream since beginning this series.

To discover more of Jennifer Latour’s work, visit her artist page on Open Doors Gallery.