ABOUT
Pilar Côté is a multidisciplinary artist who lives and works in Waawiiyaataanong/ Detroit, MI. She overlaps pop surrealism, portraiture, folk art and abstraction while exploring ideas of feminism, culture, protest and empowerment. She intertwines beauty with darker themes throughout her paintings, sculptures, installations, performance art and spoken word poetry. Self-taught, her images reveal her passion for storytelling, ancestral art techniques, movement and vibrant color. She draws from a rich heritage to weave stories of resistance, identity, reclamation and self-determination.
Côté’s work has been exhibited at the Detroit Institute of Arts Museum, across global IRL/VR/AR gallery exhibitions and she has performed internationally. In 2020, her cultural installation, ‘Sisterhood of Resistance’ was a part of the first museum exhibition with a sister virtual exhibit at the Detroit Institute of Arts. In 2024, her ‘Truth to Power’ work (art and poetry) was included in a capsule collection of 222 artists that landed on the moon with the Space Blue, Lunaprise Mission. This work is the only work in the collection that amplifies the Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women's Movement for social impact (SDG #5 ‘Gender Equality & Empowering Women and Girls’). She views this phenomenal Lunar opportunity as a testament to her belief in the boundless possibilities of artistic expression in an era of unprecedented art appreciation. Côté advocates for equal access and has been at the forefront of innovation within the art market since 2019, bridging the gap between creatives and novel technologies while building towards a new creator economy, beyond traditional gatekeeping and biases (leveraging AR/VR/AI/Blockchain), while ensuring more people experience and celebrate diverse artistic perspectives (less than 8% of artworks in global cultural institutions are created by women or artists of color). She has also curated various NFT and analog art exhibitions, working with over 800 global artists, reimagining equity in the arts. Her 'Momentum Is Ours' exhibit is featured on the UN's global map for their 'Orange The World' Campaign to end violence against women. She also serves as a board member of the Waawiiyaataanong Arts Council.
Côté’s background as a choreographer and DJ inform her performance art. She also has an expansive track record in cultural strategy, creative direction and event production within the entertainment, art, fashion and web3/tech sectors (Burning Man, Nike, Diesel, J.Lindeberg, DKNY, Escada, BMG Records, Illust AR, etc). She believes in the power of art, its ability to challenge perceptions and inspire action. Ultimately, her art is an invitation to explore the myriad ways in which we connect with each other. It is a call to action, a reminder of the power of creativity to drive change, and a celebration of life’s vibrancy. As an abolitionist, she believes in amplifying the voices of those who resist injustice, ending the erasure of historical truths that benefit systems of misogyny, colonization, and capitalism. Being a community builder, she is dedicated to fostering solidarity and well-being. She encourages viewers to confront complex issues and seeks to uplift conversations around these vital topics. Art can impact the world.
Other portfolios:
Contact Pilar for collaborations.
CLIENTS
- Client list includes: Detroit Institute of Arts Museum, Nike, DKNY, City of Toronto, Burning Man, Versace, Molson, Diesel, Adidas, CANFAR, J.Lindeberg, BMG Records, and Illust AR.
CONTACT
