Walter Scott is a Montreal-based multidisciplinary artist renowned for his work in drawing, painting, sculptural installations, and film. Born in 1985 in Kahnawake, he is best known for his comic series Wendy, which he created in 2011.
Wendy, a character born from a doodling session with friends, embodies a young urbanite aspiring for art stardom. While Scott has matured, Wendy remains on the cusp of her dreams, providing a satirical look at the art world. Scott's work, which explores themes of representation and cultural production, has been showcased internationally in solo and group exhibitions. He completed his MFA at the University of Guelph in 2018 and has been an Artist in Residence at the Art Gallery of Ontario.
gravitypope and Birkenstock recently caught up with him at his Montreal studio in the Foundrie Darling building to hear about his latest work, inspirations, and what's next for Wendy.
Read the full interview below.
Photography by Max Lincoln Neubacher
Videography by Justin Pelletier
Hey! Can you give a brief introduction, who you are, where you live and what you do?
Hi! My name is Walter Scott. I'm an artist who lives in Montreal. I make drawings, paintings, sculptural installations, films, and am the author of the graphic novel series, Wendy.
How would you describe your art practice?
I have a multidisciplinary art practice - I don't stick to one thing really. My last solo exhibition, for instance, featured a found object figurative sculpture featuring bottles, a stool, a flower, a TV stand, and some plaster hands and feet. It also included a print series featuring Wendy and a looped video of Wendy in various states of artist's block.
Can you tell us more about your character Wendy? When/how was she born?
I was hungover in a diner and I drew her on the back of a placemat. She was never meant to become a part of my art practice, it was just a way to make me and my friends laugh. I posted a few images on Facebook and then went ahead and made a 60-page self-published zine of her adventures. I went on to make a second zine and then released my first published book with Koyama Press, of the two zines plus a third zine's worth of material. Thus Wendy's journey as a published character began. She's a young(ish) urban person, an artist who seeks stardom but is perpetually derailed by her own bad decisions. She's been called relatable. She's based on my experiences and is a document of my own coming of age, in a way.
Where do you draw your inspiration for Wendy’s adventures?
My adventures post-art school, trying to pay rent, having ill-advised crushes, trying to carve out a creative life in the complex world of my mid-twenties in Montreal. Later, Wendy travels a bit, moves to different cities, and finds herself more and more inside of the art world she only imagined in her past. She makes a lot of mistakes and learns a bit about herself along the way.
Can you describe your relationship with Wendy? In what ways is the character an extension of your world?
Many people ask if Wendy is based on me, and in a way she is, but many of the characters in Wendy are. They each represent a facet of my personality. So when the characters talk to each other, it's a way for me to gain clarity about my own point of view (or create more questions for myself) through writing.
Have Wendy’s antics ever resulted in real-world dramas?
I have to be careful because sometimes I will write something and it will bizarrely happen later in real life. It's another self-fulfilling prophecy, psychic ability, or pure boring coincidence in my niche little world where the same kind of things tend to happen over and over anyway.
Wendy is infamous for her unique style and iconic footwear, how does she like the Birkenstocks?
You know, in Wendy's early twenties, she was committed to the heel, the complicated shoe, the it-girl at the punk show platform. But, now that she values comfort, quality, and a NATURAL CORK FOOTBED, of COURSE, she's a Birk Girl.
What Birkenstocks are you currently wearing, and what drew you to this pair?
I am wearing the black Kyoto Shearling slip-on because it's a great pair for the studio. And transitions to night effortlessly, when it's time to put down the pen and meet everyone at the vernissage.
How has living in Montreal and having a studio at the Foundry impacted your art practice?
I had no idea I'd ever be granted this much space to create. Wendy emerged from a nomadic, more compact life. I could take my pens and notebooks and work anywhere out of necessity. With this new studio space, my world and the things I create in it can expand into new territory. I'm working with plaster now! I've never done that before. Montreal in general feels like one of the last beautiful cities to be an artist in. I'm going to be grateful and enjoy this while it lasts.
What are your favourite things about Montreal? Any restaurants, cafes, galleries, bars, or hang-out spots you'd like to mention?
I go to Bruno Sports Bar like everyone else.
Tell us about your most memorable exhibition(s) and upcoming projects that you are excited about.
I have a show in 2026 that is a secret for now but it's going to be in a huge space and include new sculptures, a short film, and other small screens with animations throughout. I'm working on it now.
What’s next for Walter + Wendy?
Just trying to keep my head down and work until June when Montreal summer becomes too fun to ignore.
