When What We Keep Becomes Art: Bibby Gignilliat

Bibby Gignilliat stopped painting at age 10 after an encounter with a critical teacher helped turn her into a perfectionist. But the idea of becoming an artist never completely disappeared.

After eight different careers and two decades running a successful culinary team-building company, Gignilliat began creating a runway toward the life she really wanted. She returned to painting, initially feeling like the worst student in the room, and eventually discovered a visual language built from collage, found materials, intuition, and layers of personal history.

That process has taken on new meaning following the recent deaths of both her parents. Her mother’s paper dolls, report cards, family documents, and other saved fragments are now finding their way into paintings—sometimes visible, sometimes buried beneath the surface. Among those papers, Gignilliat even discovered a message from her younger self: she wanted to be an artist and a teacher.

Join Dr. Lisa Belisle for this conversation with Bibby Gignilliat on Radio Maine.