Born 1942 in Johnville, Baie-du-Febvre, Quebec
Yvon Breton demonstrated artistic ability from an early age. He enrolled at Montreal’s École des Beaux-Arts in 1962 and five years later he won the prestigious Prince Fine Arts Award at the Canadian National Exhibition. In 1988 Breton became the first Quebecer to be awarded the Prix René d’Anjou from the French government. His early success led him to fully dedicate himself to his artistic practice.
While Breton has experimented with watercolour, ink, charcoal and pastel, his medium of choice is oil, which he applies on the canvas with a palette knife to create unique textures. His exceptional palette strokes and his ability to fuse asymmetrical strokes and movements into a concise painting is one of his most recognizable traits.
Breton compares his work to poetry; a visual poetry inspired by the shapes, colours and movements of the wilderness. Amateurs and collectors alike appreciate his passion for nature, evident in all of his work. Breton claims to be pacifist, industrious, sensitive and lonely. He always paints alone, but alone with nature, the creative breath that animates his paintings.
EDUCATION
1959-62
École des Beaux-Arts, Montreal, Quebec (Graphic & Visual Arts)
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2010
State of the Art Gallery, Toronto, ON
2001
Stephen Lowe Art Gallery, Calgary, AB (Duo Show with Alex Fong)
2000-2005
Galerie Québec-Art, Quebec, QC
1998-2005
Galerie Les Peintres Québécois, QC
1998
Galerie Michel-Ange, Montreal, QC
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2016
Chase Art Gallery, Beaconsfield, QC
2010
Stephen Lowe Art Gallery, Calgary, AB
2003-1998
Galerie Michel-Ange, Montreal, QC
2002
Ville Saint-Laurent, QC
2001
Galerie Art & Style, Baie-Saint-Paul, QC
1999
Musée régional Vaudreuil-Soulanges, QC
1998-94
Galerie Pauline Johnson, Montreal, QC
1998
Musée des Beaux-Arts, Montreal, QC
HONOURS AND AWARDS
1988
Prix René d’Anjou, ville de Lorraine, Quebec, Canada 1st Prize, open category, Association
Culturelle Ste-Anne-des-Plaines, Quebec, Canada
1967
Winner of the Price Fine Art Award
PUBLICATIONS
Magazinart, Le poète des formes et couleurs (Dominic Villeneuve), No. 89, 2010
Guide Parcours, Montreal, February 1998
COLLECTIONS
Ass. Gravel & Ginchereau, Montréal
Banque Nationale du Canada
BSI Inc., Montréal
Caisses populaires Desjardins
Hydro-Québec
Systenatix, Montréal
Assurances La Capitale
Bombardier, Valcourt
CAE Electronics, Saint-Laurent
Canadian Pacific
Petro Canada Corporation des entrepreneurs généraux du Québec
Groupe Lyras
Ross Avocats Inc., Ste-Thérèse
University of California, Berkeley (hung in the Chancellor’s Residence)
CN Facility Management
Sold
