ABOUT
A graduate in Humanities with a specialization in Psychology, Alunaya chooses poetry and image to express her curiosity for the world. She writes, paints, photographs, and directs, moving from one medium to another depending on what the work requires.
Her work falls within the documentary essay, in a cinema woven between lived experience and collective memory. She explores memory and identity through the traces of colonial history, with close attention to gestures of reappropriation. Her feature film KUBANA, shot in Rwanda, questions the memory of the genocide against the Tutsi and the possible paths to reconciliation. She has also directed Des racines nées (Birthed Uproots) and NIO FAR.
Her creations have been exhibited, screened, and collected in Europe, Canada, the United States, Africa, and Asia since 2010. She is a recipient of the Conseil des Arts de MontrĂ©al’s 2022 Regard sur MontrĂ©al film residency and the Maison de la Photo de MontrĂ©al’s 2017-2018 Portrait de Photographe program.
ARTISTIC APPROACH
Poetry and image to express a curiosity for the world
Being an artist is my way of existing, of being in the world.
My one and only form of Freedom.
In this sense, my approach belongs to its own Universe,
and my intentions are open to interpretation.
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I move from one medium to another by instinct,
depending on what I need to express.
Painting for what comes from elsewhere.
Film for what calls for gentleness, nuance, time.
Writing for what resists both.
What runs through it all:
Memory, identity, the traces left by colonial history…
and the persistent search for what can be reclaimed,
rebuilt,
passed on.
Awards, Grants & Residencies
2023
TÉLÉFILM CANADA
Recipient of the Talents en Vue program for the film KUBANA
DAART
WECAN x Conseil des Arts de Montréal
Painting residency “DĂ©couvrir l’Autisme Ă travers l’Art”
2022
REGARD SUR MONTRÉAL
Conseil des Arts de MontrĂ©al, ONF/ACIC, SODEC, Les Films de l’Autre
Film residency for the documentary “Des racines nĂ©es”
2018
EXPLORATRICE-REPORTER
Village Monde
Recipient of the Village Monde award, Rwanda destination
2017
PORTRAIT DE PHOTOGRAPHE
DAM x La Maison de la Photo de Montréal
Portrait de Photographe Award
2015
MTL en Arts
Recipient of the Audience Award
COLLECTIONS
TABLE RONDE DU MOIS DE L’HISTOIRE DES NOIRS
“YOUNG, GIFTED, AND BLACK”
Watercolour on paper commissioned by the
Table Ronde du Mois de l’Histoire des Noirs,
in Montreal
GILBERT ROZON, PRIVATE COLLECTION
“Première empreinte”
Photograph on paper – unique print, in Montreal
JAMBOREE CREEK
MURAL
Commissioned by the Jamboree Creek lodge, in Goa, India
CCBC DE LA PLACE BENOĂŽT
MURAL
Commissioned by the Centre Communautaire
Bon Courage de la Place Benoît, in Montreal
Screenings & Exhibitions
2025
Don’t Call It A Come Back
Group exhibition at La Grover, painting series
by invitation – Montreal, Canada
2024
Kigali Triennial
Group exhibition, 2 photographs
by selection – Kigali, Rwanda
Fanmi Se Fanmi Tour
Live painting at 6 concerts
commissioned – Drummondville, Joliette, Laval, Trois-Rivières, Saint-Hyacinthe, Canada
2023
DAART – DĂ©couvrir la DiversitĂ© de l’Autisme Ă travers l’ART
Group exhibition at the Conseil des Arts de Montréal, painting series
artistic residency – Montreal, Canada
2022
DĂ©construction des Mythes, Dream Voyager Collective
Group exhibition of four photographs, with Dream Voyager Collective at Le Cartel for La FĂŞte du Court MĂ©trage
by invitation – Lyon, France
2019
NUIT CHROMATIC
Live painting at Ausgang Plaza
commissioned by PĂ©bĂ©o and Omer DeSerres – Montreal, Canada
2018
Portrait de photographes, DAM photographie
Group exhibition of one photograph at the GĂ©su
by selection – Montreal, Canada
NUIT DES SANS-ABRIS
documentary film “PERSONNE”
Public screening
by invitation – Montreal, Canada
2017
NAMTA
painting series “HÉRITAGE”
Group exhibition at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center
by invitation – Dallas, USA
2016
La place de la femme dans le Hip-Hop, HHYDS
photographie
Group exhibition of two photographs at the CĂ´te-des-Neiges Community Resource Centre
by invitation – Montreal, Canada
FESTIVAL MODE & DESIGN
Live painting, on clothing, at Place des Arts
by invitation – Montreal, Canada
Black FEM’Art
painting series “PRIMAIRE”
Group exhibition of two canvases at Espace Mushagalusa, as part of the Montreal International Black Film Festival
by invitation, with curator – Montreal, Canada
ÉGÉRIES NOIRES
painting series “PRIMAIRE”
Group exhibition of one canvas at the Table Ronde du Mois de l’Histoire des Noirs
by invitation, with curator – Montreal, Canada
MTL Uncovered
painting series “PRIMAIRE”
Group exhibition at Théâtre Paradoxe
by invitation – Montreal, Canada
NAMTA
painting series “ORGANIQUE”
Group exhibition of one canvas
by invitation – Denver, USA
2015
MTL en Arts
painting series “PRIMAIRE”
Group exhibition at “Ma première galerie d’art”
by selection, with curator – Montreal, Canada
MTL en Arts
painting performance
Creation of a flower planter on Atateken Street
by selection – Montreal, Canada
HHLS
painting series “PRIMAIRE”
Solo exhibition at Café de la Presse
by invitation – Paris, France
Gala annuel de l’Institut d’Optique
“Art Ă Porter” series – textile painting
Fashion show
by invitation – Palaiseau, France
2014
FESTIVAL MODE & DESIGN
Live painting, on clothing, at Place des Arts
commissioned by PĂ©bĂ©o and Omer DeSerres – Montreal, Canada
THE 514TH PARALLEL, BONNIE & CLYDE BATTLE
“Art Ă Porter” series – textile painting
Group exhibition at Centre du Plateau
by invitation – Montreal, Canada
Luna inspirée
painting series “ORGANIQUE”
Group exhibition at Blueprint Lounge
by invitation – Montreal, Canada
DUO, l’Art Ă quatre mains
peinture “DUALITÉ”
Exhibition of a joint canvas with Maliciouz at L’Espace CrĂ©atif
by invitation, with curator – Montreal, Canada
KhaciJay x Funky-B
painting series “PRIMAIRE”
Group exhibition at Hip-Hop Café
personal initiative – Montreal, Canada
2013-2014
Gallery Residency (16 months)
“Art Ă Porter” series – textile painting
Residency / Group exhibitions at Repaire des 100 Talents
by invitation – Montreal, Canada
2013
Éclosion Artistique
“Art Ă Porter” series – textile painting
Group exhibition at Vetiver Lounge
by invitation – Montreal, Canada
2012
Bus Shop
“Art Ă Porter” series – textile painting
Group exhibition by the Soulville collective
by invitation – Paris, France
Donut Thing Afterwork
“Art Ă Porter” series – textile painting
Group exhibition by the Soulville collective
by invitation – Paris, France
Peyiz’Art
“Art Ă Porter” series – textile painting
Solo exhibition at Scène Bastille
by invitation – Paris, France
SNEAKERS JAY“SNEAKERS JAY” series – textile painting
Solo exhibition at Downtown Paris
by invitation – Paris, France
Sneakers Culture
“Art Ă Porter” series – textile painting
Fashion show at Six Seven
by invitation – Paris, France
Marché de Noël
“Art Ă Porter” series – textile painting
Group exhibition at From Demory Paris
by invitation – Paris, France
ALL STAR GAME IDF
“Art Ă Porter” series – textile painting
Group exhibition
by invitation – Saint-Denis, France
2010
TAKE ME OUT
“Art Ă Porter” series – textile painting
Group exhibition at Le Trianon
by selection – Paris, France
Education & Training
2023
Screenwriting
Denis McCready x INIS
30h Mentorship – Montreal, Canada
Introduction to ch’oj, Maya indigo
Luis May
3h Workshop – Coba, Mexico
2022
Reiki Level 1
Nancy Turgeon – Egregore
Initiation – Montreal, Canada
Quantum Naturopathy
Navae
Training – Montreal, Canada
Production Budgeting, Financing Structures and Management Tools
Les Films de l’Autre
14h Training – Montreal, Canada
2021
Business Startup
SAJE
330h Training – Montreal, Canada
Indigo and Its Use
La Maison de l’Indigo
Workshop – 6h – Marie-Galante, Guadeloupe
2020
Natural, Artificial, Sacred and Energetic Geobiology
École Française de Domothérapie
Diploma – Taupont, France
2019
The Energetic Vibration of Colours
Vies de Couleurs14h Course – Paris, France
Energetic, Alchemical and Vibrational Aromatherapy
Institut d’AromathĂ©rapie ÉnergĂ©tique
9h Training – Montreal, Canada
2015
Becoming a Change Entrepreneur
HEC Paris
7-week Course – Online Training
Digital and Multimedia Communication
Omax6mum
3h Group Course – Paris, France
2014
Drawing Architecture
Cité Chaillot
12h Group Course – Paris, France
Spotlight on Entrepreneurship
CJE du Plateau
5h Workshop – Montreal, Canada
2012
Photography Course
Little Shao3h Course – Paris, France
Photography and Video Editing Course
Just Winner
150h Course – Paris, France
2009
Humanities, Human and Behavioural Sciences
specialization in Clinical Psychology
Université Paris XIII
Bachelor’s Degree – Villetaneuse, France
2006
Economics and Social Sciences
double specialization in Mathematics
Lycée Gérard de Nerval
High School Diploma (BaccalaurĂ©at) – Luzarches, France
Services & Collaborations
2026
Offline Editor
Productions Colorées
Editing, trailer and poster for the short film “RECOVERY”, directed by Asadollah Gholamali.
2024
Editing Consultant
Productions Oshun
Documentary “La fĂŞte des pères”, directed by Ayana O’Shun.
Offline Editor
Productions Colorées
Editing of the documentary film “Kasaleo, Le Film”, directed by Gentille Assih.
2023
Offline Editor
Productions Colorées
Editing of episodes 1, 3 and 4 of the documentary series “Kasaleo, La RĂ©vĂ©lation”, directed by Gentille Assih.
since March 2020
Ghostwriter
PrĂŞte-moi ta plume
Writing of biographies, autofictions, and articles on travel, the arts and humanities for various anonymous clients.
2017
Offline Editor
Axel Void
Editing of the documentary film “POLAND”, directed by Axel Void.
since January 2017
Facilitator in Freedom of Being
Studio ALUNAYA
Creation and facilitation of group workshops “Reconnecting with Oneself Through Intuitive Painting”, for children and adults.
January 2017 – March 2017
Facilitator
Superlearner, Peru
Creation and facilitation of a textile painting workshop for youth from the Pamplona Alta favela, in Lima, Peru.
August 2015 – September 2015
Facilitator
PÉBÉO
Creation and facilitation of four 4h painting workshops for children aged 3 to 12, on the theme of South Korea, with Marie-Hélène Lecuyer.
August 2013
Facilitator
CCBC de la Place Benoît
Creation and facilitation of a textile painting workshop for youth and seniors.
Press
2026
Comment concilier démarche artistique et documentaire ? Imigani Talks Special
LA GRANDE EDITION || LE 21 JUILLET 2026, Rwanda TV
Émission en direct, 104.1 Play Power FM
Présentation, Kigali Cine Junction
Épisode 15, DĂ©masquĂ©es – Paroles de muses
2022
Escale 19 avril 2022, avec Fulgence Bla, Canal M
Alunaya, artiste multidisciplinaire qui fait sa marque en cinéma, Lien Multimédia
La résidence en cinéma Regard sur Montréal nomme sa nouvelle récipiendaire, Mono News
Un nouveau Regard sur Montréal par Alunaya, Conseil des Arts de Montréal
2018
Peindre la musique, Magazine Web Deserres
Tout parait normal jusqu’Ă ce qu’on le remette en cause, Webzine Babel
Portrait de photographe, Maison de la Photo de Montréal
ExpĂ©dition au Laos avec Jessica Valoise, Webzine Carnets d’Asie
Invitée émission Arts et lettres, ICI Télévision avec Kamal Benkirane, ep 44
Invitée émission Vivement en français, avec Wadner Isidor
Ă€ la rencontre des explorateurs : Le Laos en compagnie de Jessica, Blog VAOLO
2017
5 questions Ă un artiste : Jessica Valoise, Magazine web Art x Terra
Invitée émission Street Diamond, Radio RGB 99.2 FM
Jessica Valoise, le parcours d’une artiste passionnĂ©e et libre [Girl Crush 126], Magazine web Ton Barbier
2016
La vie est un art : rencontre avec l’artiste Jessica Valoise, Magazine web Black Milk Women – Partie 1 – Partie 2
Mon art est mon mode de vie, le voyage ma raison de vivre, Magazine web Kulturiste
Interview d’une artiste qui vit l’art pleinement, Magazine web Oussou Harris
Entrevue avec Jessica Valoise en 3D : peintre, photographe et réalisatrice, Magazine web Afrik Caraib Montreal
Interview with an artist, Webzine Mixed Media by Pébéo
2015
L’oeil de… Jessica Valoise, Magazine interactif PĂ©bĂ©o
Jessica Valoise, artiste peintre et créatrice multi disciplinaire, KANTV
Entrevue KhaciJay, Julie Boccovi
2014
Jjanice+ – Fleur du DĂ©sert, vidĂ©oclip rĂ©alisĂ© par KhaciJay, Blog Sa’wPanse
Émission KhaciJay, Web Radio Enjoy Radio
2013
KhaciJay Collection de T-shirt Sneakers, Magazine web Sneakart
Collection Sneakers Jay de KhaciJay, Magazine web Da Vibe Jamaica
Zoom sur KhaciJay, Blog C1G1
Parlez-vous sneaker, 13/04/2013 VOL 4, Magazine web Sneakers-Culture
Sneakers Jay, Blog Dominique Ernest
So9E10 : Des T-shirts et des potes !, Blog Spry
Collection Haute Peinture – KhaciJay, Blog Diomay
2012
Trace TV prĂ©sente Peyiz’art – Silverman – KhaciJay – Moody Mike et Guest, PublicitĂ© TV
KhaciJay – Peyiz’art, Shorty pour Peyiz’art
Bus Shop – KhaciJay, Blog Carla Jianni
Bus Shop – KhaciJay, Blog Baddiecay
2011
KhaciJay Custom, Blog IndiaCha
La moustache mania – KhaciJay, Blog La Penderie de ChloĂ©
ITW KhaciJay, Blog À La Mode De Sasou
2010
Portrait de Parisien(ne)s #7 : KhaciJay, Blog Sous Le Ciel de Paris
KhaciJay – Take Me Out 5ème Ă©dition, Magazine web Da Vibe JamaĂŻca
S06E75 KhaciJay x Kitsuney – My Fav’Tee Session 2, Blog Spry
S06E48 It’s a beautiful (shooting) day !, Blog Spry