Geneviève Castrée, also known as Geneviève Elverum, was a talented Canadian musician, cartoonist, and multimedia artist. She gained recognition for her acclaimed graphic memoir, ‘Susceptible,’ which was published in 2013. Growing up in Quebec, Canada, Geneviève had a challenging childhood, but found solace in comics and music. From a young age, she aspired to be a cartoon artist and self-published her own mini-comics under the name Castrée. Her passion for both art forms led to the publication of her first three comic books by Montreal publishers when she was just a teenager. With her third book, ‘Pamplemoussi,’ she combined her love for music and drawings, earning her fame in both fields. Geneviève was a self-taught artist and musician, releasing a total of 8 albums under the names ‘Woelv’ and ‘Ô PAON.’ Her work was featured in notable anthologies, and her memoir, ‘Susceptible,’ received critical acclaim and numerous accolades. Geneviève’s final publication was ‘Maman Sauvage,’ a collection of French poetry. Tragically, she was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer shortly after giving birth to her daughter and passed away in July 2016.
Quick Facts
- Canadian Celebrities Born In April
- Also Known As: Geneviève Elvrum
- Died At Age: 35
- Family: Spouse/Ex-: Phil Elverum (m. 2003–2016)
- Born Country: Canada
- Artists & Painters
- American Women
- Died on: July 9, 2016
- Place of Death: Anacortes, Washington
- City: Quebec, Canada
Childhood & Early Life
Castrée was born on April 9, 1981, in Loretteville, Quebec, Canada. She had a difficult childhood with her single mother and her mother’s boyfriend/stepfather. From a young age, she was drawn towards cartoons and was an avid reader of ‘Tintin.’ She even won a ‘Tintin’ competition. She also enjoyed comics by various cartoonists. She aspired to become a cartoonist and began drawing and self-publishing her mini-comics as a teenager. At 15, she traveled across the country to reconnect with her biological father, but their relationship remained distant. Her father built her a log cabin when she had nowhere else to go.
Career
Castrée started her career as a cartoonist at the age of 16. Her first publishers were ‘L’oie De Craven’ of Montreal, who published her first three books. She gained recognition as an artist with her third book, ‘Pamplemoussi,’ which combined music and images. She taught herself music to create sounds that complemented her comics. She released eight albums under the name ‘Woelv’ and then ‘Ô PAON.’ Her albums featured her own artwork and collaborations with other artists. She also worked with her husband, Phil Elverum/Elvrum, who is a musician. Castrée’s work was featured in various anthologies and she held exhibitions around the world.
In 2013, Castrée published her memoir, ‘Susceptible,’ which explored her childhood in Quebec and her experiences in British Columbia. The book received critical acclaim and earned her several nominations and awards. She also published a book of poetry in French and completed her last image book, ‘The Bubble,’ with the help of a friend.
Personal Life
Castrée was married to musician Phil Elverum/Elvrum and they settled in Anacortes, Washington, US. They were active in the local art and music scene and had a daughter together. However, four months after giving birth, Castrée was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic carcinoma. She and her mother reconciled during this time. Her husband set up a GoFundMe account to manage their expenses. Castrée passed away on July 9, 2016. Her husband released two albums in memory of her.