Biography of MONTANA ENGELS

Not every line is perfect, and neither is life. Perspective is what brings it all together.

Montana Engels is a Belgian, contemporary artist known for her meticulously hand-painted stripe paintings. With only vertical stripes, her works appear abstract up close, yet reveal an intensely detailed story, when taking a step back. All of her artworks are unique 1/1 pieces. Every stripe is painted by her hand, one by one, in a process that demands extreme focus, patience, discipline and precision.

From a young age, Montana was immersed in creativity, inheriting her artistic genes from her father and grandfather. She spent her childhood drawing and painting, particularly drawn to realistic portraits, with her sketchbook always close at hand. Antwerp International School, where she excelled in Fine Arts, followed by Art History studies in Paris, allowed her to refine her skills while continuing to paint extensively upon returning to Belgium. Despite her technical proficiency, she eventually felt constrained with her art, driven by the need to create a style that was entirely her own.

Two years of experimentation, Montana only worked on paper, slowly developping her striped technique through an in-depth exploration of light and shadow. After these two years of intensive sketching, she transitioned to canvas, painting her first striped portrait, followed quickly by another, and then another. The response was immediate and overwhelmingly positive.

What followed unfolded rapidly: exhibitions sold out, international galleries took notice, and her work reached a global audience. Within a short period, Montana was exhibiting in New York, participating in Art Miami, and experiencing strong organic growth. Demand quickly exceeded availability, resulting in extended waiting lists for her art.

Despite her success, Montana remains firmly rooted in the studio. She does not create to fill space but creates her own unique path. Each new work, made with precision and intention, marks an evolution within her. Montana draws inspiration from nature, light, movement, travel, human emotion and the imperfection of life. Through her stripes, she translates these forces into a visual language that is uniquely her own.

As a neurodivergent and cognitively gifted artist, Montana’s mind processes information at a heightened pace. While painting, she simultaneously considers the previous line, the line in progress, and the next one. This heightened awareness can be intense and demanding but, in her stripes, Montana created a technique that is therapeutic at the same time and where she finds focus, clarity, and calm. 

Over time, her stripes evolved beyond a technique and became a language. Montana continuously innovates within her lines, working with texture, sand, colour variations, new subjects, abstract concepts, and subtle curves. Through this visual language, she creates narratives, explores abstract ideas, and evokes emotion, allowing the viewer to engage not only with the image, but with the layered thinking behind it.

“Art should always remain a skill. Beauty, originality, and mastery are timeless values I stand by.”