Bio

Will Raojenina, also known as WCMTL is a Canadian/Malagasy self-taught, multidisciplinary visual artist currently based in Los Angeles. His heavily painted, colorful mixed-media work—meticulously reinforced, layer upon layer—engages with themes of immigration, language barriers, cultural differences, and oral histories. For him, art is a means to escape pain, understand one another, and communicate without fear, while maintaining a positive outlook.

Born to immigrant parents from Antananarivo, Madagascar, WCMTL was raised in Montreal, Canada and experienced pain, poverty, and frustration from a young age. After turning to painting and clothing design as a creative outlet, at 15 years old he earned his nickname WCMTL (Willis Couture Montreal) and created a community around him of other immigrant children who shared similar experiences. Being surrounded by this array of perspectives taught him how to be an effective visual communicator, overcome struggles, and maintain a positive point of view, which inform his practice today—above all, to let go of his negative feelings, love others, keep pushing, and appreciate cultures that are different from his.

WCMTL's work has been exhibited across Canada and the United States. His work is held in private collections around the world, including Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa, New York, San Francisco, Washington DC, Los Angeles, and many more.