“The bird attracts me particularly...they speak to our inner selves and have an enchanting side. Birds are the only free animals that we live in harmony with. They bring life, colour, and spontaneity to even the most urbanized settings.
Each painting becomes an exploration. When I start, I don’t know where it will take me. The instinctive gesture of the untried subject is my guide. I wait for the moment when the image comes to life. I go in search of perfection but to reach this ideal, I must remain honest and respect my rhythm. I need to retain my freedom of expression.”
Born in Montréal, QC in 1964, lives and works in Sainte-Adèle, Quebec.
Gilles comes from a family of artists. In his youth he created caricatures and then became interested in painting. His artistic interests are wide ranging, from engraving, stained glass and even writing poetry. His style is uniquely his, which he explores with curiosity and abandon.
EDUCATION
1996
Glass engraving
1993
Secondary and collegiate teaching certificate, UQAC (Université du Québec in Chicoutimi)
Traditional construction and textile dyeing (Mali)
1992
Visual arts certificate, UQAC
1989
Stained-glass
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2002
Instants Volés, painting and multimedia, Maison du Village, Val-David, QC
2000
Carrousel, Maison du Village, Val-David, QC
1995
ALOURYAM, photographs and monotypes, UQAC library, Chicoutimi, QC
1993
Expo-launching of the poetry book, L'ÉTENDART, Au 4 Z'arts Gallery, Montréal, QC
1990
International Exposition, L'Alternative Gallery, Sherbrooke, QC
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2023
Coeur de bois - Galerie Iris
2019
Les Grands font des Petits - Galerie Iris
Un Art de Printemps - Galerie Iris
2018
Les Grands font des Petits - Galerie Iris
Un Art de Printemps - Galerie Iris
Rouge Nuit Event - Group exhibition: Galerie Iris
2017
Les Grands font des Petits - Galerie Iris
Un Art de Printemps - Galerie Iris 30 years of Galerie Iris - Galerie Iris
2016
Les Grands font des Petits - Galerie Iris
Un Art de Printemps - Galerie Iris
2015
Les Grands font des Petits - Galerie Iris
Baie-Saint-Paul - Solo exhibition: Live painting - Galerie Iris
Un Art de Printemps - Galerie Iris
La nuit des Galleries - Galerie Art Internationale
2014
Grands font des Petits - Galerie Iris
Live painting - Galerie Iris
La nuit des Galeries - Galerie Art Internationale
2013
Baie-Saint-Paul - Live painting and screening of a short film: Splendor and Brush Symposium - Hôtel le Germain Charlevoix
2010
Baie-Saint-Paul - Solo exhibition and screening of a short film: Autour d'Ici - Galerie Iris
2007
Southampton (New-York) - Duo Exhibition - Chrysalis Gallery
2007
Iris Gallery, 20th anniversary exhibition, Baie St-Paul, QC
Duo Exhibition, Long Island gallery, NY.
1995-98
La Corniche Gallery, Chicoutimi, QC (poetry)
1994
Auto da fé 1, Canada Council for the Arts, Montréal, QC
1992
Auto da fé 2, Canada Council for the Arts, Chicoutimi, QC
Aperçus, UQAC Gallery, Chicoutimi, QC
Sur-faces, L'œuvre de l'autre Gallery, Chicoutimi, QC
AWARDS AND MENTIONS
1997
Desjardins prize 1997, glass engraving
1995
UQAC scholarship for the realization of solo exposition ALOURYAM
1992
EXPLORATION scholarship, Canada Council for the Arts
1992-93
First and second prize UQAC poetry competition, Chicoutimi, QC
MEDIA COVERAGE
2007
Iris Gallery, «Quand on aime, on a toujours vingt ans », 20th anniversary album, page 90.
2002
Journal de Montréal, octobre 26 2002 - "Calligraffitis et instants volés, by Paul Villeneuve.
2002
Journal Accès, Laurentides-Laval, septembre 6 2002, by Frédérique David.
1995
Radio interview, Lyne Boily broadcast, Radio-Canada, Chicoutimi, QC
1993
Illustrations for L'ÉTENDART poetry book, Éditions du Cénacle de l'Étendart, Montréal, QC
