Jean-Paul Riopelle

1923–2002

Jean-Paul Riopelle, (1923–2002) was a painter and sculptor from Québec Canada. He was one of the signatories of the Refus Global, a 1948 manifesto that announced the Québécois artistic community's refusal of conservative provincialism.

In 1942, Jean-Paul Riopelle enrolled at the École des Beaux-Arts in Montréal but shifted his studies to the École du Meuble, graduating in 1945. He studied with Paul-Émile Borduas who along with several of his students, including Riopelle, formed a group that worked, socialized and exhibited together called Les Automatistes (1942-45). The group took an automatic approach to painting informed by the surrealists. In the 1940s, Riopelle’s style moved from surrealism to lyrical abstraction, and he created large paintings with the use of a pallet knife and trowels creating an engulfing atmosphere.

In 1946, Riopelle travelled to France where he would return to settle the following year. Riopelle had his first exhibition in Paris at the surrealist gathering place, Galerie La Dragonne. There he met writers, artists, and gallery owners including Georges Mathieu and Pierre Loeb who introduced him to Andre Breton, a key figure in the surrealist movement. Riopelle had increasing success and immersion in the Parisian cultural scene in the following years.

Riopelle was represented in New York and participated in the biennials of contemporary art in Venice (1954) and Sao Paulo (1955), where he received an honourable mention. He was also the sole artist representing Canada at the 1962 Venice Biennale curated by Charles Comfort. In 1969, he was made a companion of the Order of Canada.

Artworks

Jean-Paul Riopelle
(1923)
(2002)
Jean-Paul Riopelle
(1923)
(2002)
Jean-Paul Riopelle
(1923)
(2002)
Jean-Paul Riopelle
(1923)
(2002)
Jean-Paul Riopelle
(1923)
(2002)
Jean-Paul Riopelle
(1923)
(2002)
Jean-Paul Riopelle
(1923)
(2002)
Jean-Paul Riopelle
(1923)
(2002)
Jean-Paul Riopelle
(1923)
(2002)