Alexandre Zerbé was born in Montréal in 1974.
Zerbé paints and draws every day. Inspired by photographs he takes of his own city or from the ones he travels to, Zerbé chooses surprising viewpoints rather than the obviously traditional scenes. He is interested in the geometry of the urban landscape, the vertical and horizontal intersections of lines that make up a modern city.
Whether the subject is a person, a room’s interior or a cityscape; every part of the composition demands your attention at once. Your gaze moves across the image, settling nowhere. In a view through a window, the chimney tops, telephone wires and balconies all seem equally meaningful, and the experience of registering all of the information at once is akin to physically being in the scene.
Zerbé’s technique is stylized: he usually sketches compositions before beginning to paint, mindful not to “over-finish” a piece as he wants the liveliness of the sketch to remain visible. His purposely discernible brushstrokes, boldly unpredictable color choices like bright red skies, the black contour lines adopted from the essence of drawing, and the calligraphy of his signature are all markers of his singular style.
EXHIBITIONS
2012
LES VILLES ARTIFICIELLES, CNAG Gallery Cynthia Nouhra, Beirut, Lebanon
2011
The Village Gallery, Mississauga, ON
CNAG Gallery Cynthia Nouhra, Beirut, Lebanon
2010
Urban Perspective, Galerie SOTA, Toronto, ON
2009
Animals, Galerie du Viaduc, Montreal, QC
2008
A Vibrant View, Keystone Gallery, Calgary, AB
2007
Consulat General de France A Montreal, QC
2006
Petits Formats, Galerie Diane Lefrancois, QC
2005
The Green Room, Montreal QC
Natures Mortes et Autres Natures, Pavillon des Arts, Ste-Adele, QC
2004
Ethersections, O Patro Vys, Montreal QC
2003
Le Petit Alp, Montreal, QC
2002
Espace Parcours, Montreal, QC
EDUCATION
1997
Bachelor of Fine Arts, Concordia University, Montreal QC
1994
Minor in Art History, University of Montreal, Montreal QC
COLLECTIONS
Many of Alexandre Zerbe’s pieces are part of collections in Canada, United States, and France.
