About Me

My biography, statement and artistic curriculum: a comprehensive list of previous exhibitions and events, including publications, press articles and other media.

Louis-Bernard St-Jean
 
 
By making abstraction of any defined form, I to focus instead on the general impact conveyed by the piece as a whole... Using impressionistic elements of the thematic as emotional triggers that will appeal to the observer’s experiences and desire to escape.
 

About Me...

Biography

Louis-Bernard St-Jean was born in 1979, Montreal QC, in a family of art collectors and painters dating back several generations. Raised among the works of contemporary masters, Louis-Bernard fits with relevance in the continuation of Quebec’s postmodern heritage.

His career as a painter began in 2014, when after a remarkable ascension, he devoted himself entirely to his professional practice in early 2015.

His works are presented in many private and public collections around the world (Canada, US, France and Germany.)

Awards & Distinctions

Louis-Bernard St-Jean received the People's Choice Award for the piece Rhapsody in Blue at the annual "Brush Off!" 2015 Juried Painting Competition; his artwork Taïga was selected for the regional finals of the 2016 Bombay Sapphire Artisan Series.

In March 2018, Devenir Immortel—St-Jean's first artwork on paper unveiled publicly ahead of Papier 18 Art Fair—had the hammer price soaring high to nearly three times its appraisal value during ArtSida8’s Main Auction.

 

Artist Statement

These sculptural oil paintings reminiscent of the splendours of nature and architecture are made by incorporating organic patterns through heavy texture to create bold impressionistic compositions that possess a distinctive depth, structure and movement.

Painting Technique

Using a unique sculptural technique, I shape the texture by carving and tearing thick layers of pure oil paint with a palette knife in a controlled gesture to gradually build the relief up to an inch high, giving it a peculiar tactile quality.

This allows me to combine different perspectives of a same theme into one merged composition that will change its aspect with the light’s intensity and the observer’s viewing angles, while the linear texture generates a lenticular screen effect that increases the piece’s brightness and glow. This accentuated sensorial and perceptual experience creates a mesmerizing effect that appeals to all senses, pulling the viewer further into the artwork.

 
 

Artistic Curriculum Vitæ

Education

Academic Formation
Since 2010 Self-taught  
 

Art Galleries

Art Galleries
2023– Espace St-Jean Montreal QC
2018– Cutler Crane Gallery Memphis TN
2015– Galerie Avenue Art Westmount QC
Previous representations
2021–2023 Espace 230 / Art contemporain Montreal QC
2020– Le HangArt Gallery Vancouver Vancouver BC
2016–2020 Petroff Gallery Toronto ON
2016–2018 Galerie Youn Montreal QC
2015–2016 Galerie Z Montreal QC
 

Exhibitions

SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2022 Lieux sauvages Montréal QC
2021 Monochrome Montreal QC
2020 Works on Paper Montreal QC
2017 Musical Abstractions Montreal QC
2017 Artist Feature Toronto ON
2016 Live at Petroff Toronto ON
2016 Linéaires Montreal QC
2014 Mouvements Montreal QC
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2022 Brush Off Competition Niagara-on-the-Lake ON
2022 REMIXED // MEDIA Montreal QC
2021 Off Papier : en marge de la Foire Montreal QC
2021 Art sur papier '21 Montreal QC
2021 «Salon des Indépendants III» Montreal QC
2020 Nuit Blanche au Belgo Montreal QC
2020 ArtsidaX Montreal QC
2020 Small Works Exhibition Toronto ON
2019 DécouvART Montreal QC
2019 La rentrée au Belgo Montreal QC
2019 Works on Paper Toronto ON
2019 Abstract 2019 Memphis TN
2019 Ma première galerie d'art Québecor Montreal QC
2019 Nuit Blanche au Belgo Montreal QC
2019 ArtSida 9 Montreal QC
2018 Glorious and Free Toronto ON
2018 Artsida8 // Vernissage Montreal QC
2018 The Love of Art Westmount QC
2017 Miniature Exhibition Toronto ON
2017 Flora Montreal QC
2017 Westmount Square Pop-Up Westmount QC
2017 Brush Off Competition Montreal QC
2017 Exposition d'anniversaire 5/5/5 Montreal QC
2017 Abstraction Sauvage Montreal QC
2017 Miniature Exhibition Toronto ON
2017 Noir et Blanc Montreal QC
2017 New Works Montreal QC
2016 Pop-Up « Petit Format » Montreal QC
2016 A Very "YOUNg" Christmas Montreal QC
2016 Bombay Sapphire Artisan Series Montreal QC
2016 Expo Popup Art Cible Montreal QC
2015 BAZAARTS Montreal QC
2015 Photos & œuvres urbaines Montreal QC
2015 5th "Brush Off" Competition Montreal QC
2015 'Spring Fling' Art in Bloom Montreal QC
2014 4th "Brush Off" Competition Montreal QC
2014 SPECTRUM by RAW Artists Montreal QC
Contemporary Art Fairs
2016 The Artist Project Art Fair Toronto ON
Booth 132 - (10’ x 15’)
2015 The Artist Project Art Fair Toronto ON
Booth 907 - (10’ x 10’)
2015 YES Art Expo 2015 Montreal QC
Art fair by YES Montreal
 

Subsidies

Subsidies
2021 Subsidies for artists in the visual arts Ville de Montréal, and Le Conseil des arts de Montréal Montreal QC
2020 Subsidies for artists in the visual arts Ville de Montréal, and Le Conseil des arts de Montréal Montreal QC
 

Awards, Grants & Distinctions

GRANTS
2019 DécouvART – $ 5,000 Grant Proaction International Montreal QC
DécouvART Grant offered by the Proaction International Charity for the continuation of my artistic projects
Awards
2015 People's Choice Award 5th "Brush Off!" Juried Competition Montreal QC
For 'Rhapsody in Blue', with a resounding majority of votes
Distinctions
2018 Finalist Artupfest Prize | Project Pitch Montreal QC
For the project 'A Sound Abstraction', a collaborative exhibition with Stereo_IMG
2017 Finalist 6th "Brush Off!" Juried Competition Westmount QC
For the artwork 'Et la Lumière fut'
2016 Regional Finalist Bombay Sapphire Artisan Series Montreal QC
For the artwork 'Taïga'
2014 Finalist 4th "Brush Off!" Juried Competition Montreal QC
For the artworks 'Or Noir' and 'L'oiseau de feu'
2014 Finalist Le parcours de l'artiste Montreal QC
Honorable Mention — "For his professionalism and determination."
 

Artistic Events

Artistic Events
2018 Memphis TN
Artworks presented as example for the workshop 'How to work with International galleries and creating your own distinctive brand' by Marina Cutler.
2016 Projet A144 Montreal QC
2016 Business Skills for Creative Souls Montreal QC
  Conference by YES Montreal: on-stage presentation as invited visual artist"
2014 Creative Connections 2014 Montreal QC
  On-stage presentation as invited visual artist
Live Painting
2017 Toronto ON
Made on Sunday, April 9th during the Artist Feature exhibition
2016 Toronto ON
Made on Sunday, June 26th during the Live at Petroff exhibition
 

Auctions

Artworks Sold at Auction
2020 Artsida X Montreal QC
2019 Artsida 9 Montreal QC
2018 Artsida 8 // Main Auction Montreal QC
  The work on paper 'Devenir Immortel' has reached a bid price of more than two and a half times its initial valuation value at the Artsida8 auction.
 

Bibliography, Media & Press

Printed Publications
2018 Papier 2018 Art Fair Official Guide Montreal QC
Despite the impromptu withdrawal of my works from the fair by the gallery, the painting 'Cruising With You' was nevertheless reproduced in the guide on page 77.
Press
2022 Suggestions culturelles | Quoi voir, quoi faire | Remix/Média au Belgo Montréal QC
Article published Thursday, February 24th
2021 Des œuvres sur papier pour la nouvelle exposition de l’Espace 230 Montréal QC
Full colour page feature article, published Tuesday November 30th, page 5
2017 Tout miser sur la peinture Montreal QC
Full colour page feature article, published june 8th, page 14
2017 Tout miser sur la peinture Quebec QC
Full page feature article, published june 8th, page 16
2016 Montreal Emerging Artist Trio Ready to Wow Toronto Montreal QC
Article published on January 26th
Art-Related Movies and Series
2019 The Brush Off Documentary Vermont VT
A mini-series of four episodes following the daily life of Montreal artists, which aired in the spring of 2019 on Mountain Lake PBS. Directed by Chris Wynn and Avenue Art.
Interviews and Media
2017 Art Without Labels by BBDO & Bombay Sapphire New York NY
Artwork 'Sandbanks' featured as contemporary work of art for artwithoutlabels.gallery.
2017 Exposition collective "New Works" Montreal QC
A video of the 'New Works' group exhibition at Galerie Youn, on display from January 14 to March 11. Directed by Claudel Désir.
2016 Le Téléjournal de 18h | Volet Culture Ontario ON
Interview broadcast on Thursday, February 18, 2016 during the 'Téléjournal de 18h' for the Artist Project Opening. View the interview on Radio-Canada (starting at de 19m:11s)
2016 Global TV Morning News: Montreal's Emerging Artists Montreal QC
Live interview broadcasted on Monday, February 15, 2016 ahead of my participation in the Artist Project.View the interview on Global TV
2016 The Friday Morning After: After the fair recap Montreal QC
Second live radio interview, broadcast on Friday, February 26th.
2016 The Friday Morning After: Week ahead of the fair Montreal QC
First live radio interview, broadcast on Friday, February 12th.
 

Involvement

Volunteering
2017 Tune In To YES 11 Montreal QC
2016 Tune In To YES 10 Montreal QC
2016 Papier 16 Montreal QC
2014 Gala des Arts Visuels '14 Montreal QC
2014 Tune In To YES 8 Montreal QC
Mentoring
2013– YES Montreal Montreal QC
2014 CJE Montréal Centre-Ville Montreal QC
2013–2015 CJE Plateau Mont-Royal Montreal QC
Associations and Membership
2016– Canadian Artists Representation (CARFAC) Toronto ON
2016– English-Language Arts Network (ELAN) Montreal QC
2014– Regroupement des Artistes en Arts Visuels (RAAV) Montreal QC
 

Webography

Blog Articles
2018, Mar 10  Flavour & Flare Artsida8
2017, Nov 8 Making an Impact Jano Lapin Art
2017, Jun 8 Société [Nouvelle vie] – Tout miser sur la peinture Journal de Montréal
2017, Jun 8 Société [Nouvelle vie] – Tout miser sur la peinture Journal de Québec
2017, Apr 18 Calling all artists in Canada and the North Country! Mountain Lake PBS
2016, Dec 31 2016 – A date IN REVIEW… Cori Halpen Interiors
2016, Nov 1st Expositions de novembre à la Galerie Youn MonMileEnd.com
2016, Oct 14 Point de vue d’un entrepreneur artiste sur Pleins feux Pleins-feux
2016, Sept 9 La Galerie Youn était pleine à craquer de drink, de chaleur et d'artistes! Ton Barbier
2016, Sept 7 10 canadiens sélectionnés pour un concours d'art international Ton Barbier
2016, Sept 7 Bombay Sapphire Artisan Series: Montreal Finale Akimbo
2016, Jun 9 Bombay Gin Artisan Series MTL Times
2016, Mar 8 YES March Newsletter YES Montreal
2016, Feb 27 The Artist Project 2016 Art Naïve
2016, Feb 27 The Artist Project 2016 Jono Doiron
2016, Feb 20 Storify: An afternoon at the Artist Project Kate Tenenhouse
2016, Feb 8 Final preparations! Artist Abroad
2016, Feb 1st Support from the local press and a peek behind the scenes Artist Abroad
2016, Feb 26 Montreal emerging artist trio ready to wow Toronto The Suburban
2015, Nov 30 ART: L'art de maîtriser la matière DARIO BIVONA
2015, Nov 26 PAINT, CREATE & COMMUNICATE MC's Art Of Living
2015, Nov 15 About: Brush Off Avenue Art
2015, Nov 19 Louis-Bernard St-Jean Blanc Magazine
2015, Mar 18 YES Art Expo 2015 - Book (p. 32) YES Montreal
2014, Nov 17 Micro-Portrait – Portrait #2 : Louis-Bernard St-Jean Microculture
2014, Oct 16 YES October Newsletter – Client of the Month: Louis-Bernard St-Jean YES Montreal
Mentions
2018, Jun 28 Inauguration d’un nouvel atelier, celui de Louis-Bernard St-Jean […] Belgo, suite 230 Magazine In-Situ
2014, Apr 29 RAW nous éblouit une fois de plus au Rialto (photos 13-14) Nightlife