Jean Paul Riopelle, a multitalented artist with an incredibly fertile imagination, tackled many different techniques during the six decades in which he was active. In addition to using them in traditional ways, he diverted from common practice by combining them, using unconventional supports, or “fiddling” with them to lend them greater complexity.

This exhibition presents nearly thirty works. They include classic oils on canvas, and also works on paper and sculptures. The group was assembled thanks to the collaboration of a number of collectors, as well as by delving into the reserve of Riopelle works acquired over the last thirty years by Galerie Simon Blais.

Born in Montréal in 1923, Riopelle studied at the École du meuble. It was during that time that, along with the artists who, from 1946 on, would become known as the Automatistes, he created his first abstract works. After helping to draft the Refus global in 1948, he left Québec for Paris, where his professional career took off. His works can be found in the most prestigious collections, and have been exhibited in the world’s greatest museums. Having enjoyed a supremely successful career, Riopelle died at his home on Isle-aux-Grues in 2002.