ILANA FINE

A R T I S T  P A I N T E R  

C A N A D A 

ILANA FINE 
Ilana was born in post–World War II Cologne, Germany, to Holocaust survivors of Polish descent. Growing up in a recovering Europe deeply shaped her worldview. After completing her Baccalaureate, she moved to Brussels, Belgium, to study French. Upon returning to Cologne, Ilana pursued Graphic Design and worked for several years as a commercial graphic artist.

In 1973, during a visit to Montreal, Ilana applied—on a whim—for a position at an advertising agency. She was hired immediately and made the spontaneous decision to make Montreal her new home.

Her work is deeply emotional and personal, with a central focus on the female experience. Through deliberate brushstrokes and thoughtful color palettes, Ilana explores themes of beauty, struggle, yearning, and compassion. Each piece is both a tribute to feminine strength and a reflection of Ilana’s own emotional landscape—intimate yet unrestrained.