Denis Juneau
Encyclopedia
Denis Juneau is a Canadian painter
and a leading figure in the Canadian plasticien
movement.
in 1925. He studied at the École des Beaux-Arts de Montréal
, under the guidance of Alfred Pellan
, amongst others, and became a notorious figure in the new wave of artists that Quebec
was to produce in the era of the late 1950s and early 1960s.
Third child of 5, Juneau suffered from total deafness as a result of meningitis
contracted at the age of 18 months. Despite this handicap, and having a paralysed right leg from poliomyelitis contracted at age 3, he went on to study in Italy, at the Sculoa di Disegno di Novara
from 1954 to 1956. From Italy, he also retained a body language that was to characterize him for the rest of his long life.
After his return to Montreal in 1956, he soon takes part in a collective exhibition at the Denyse Delrue gallery, with other young painters of his generation. Two years later he has his first of many personal exhibition in the same gallery.
Juneau became recognized as one of the plasticien
(or hard edge) painters such as Guido Molinari
, Fernand Toupin, Claude Tousignant
and Fernand Leduc. All through the 1960s, 1970s and part of the 1980s, he will remain fateful to that form of painting until a year stay in Paris (1982), when he slowly turns to a more fluid and free style of expression.
A prolific artist, he also produced many sculptures, designed symbols and logos, such as the one for the Université de Montréal
. His work has been shown in museums the world over.
In 1986, he was the first artist to be awarded the Gershon Iskowitz prize
.
The National Gallery of Ottawa gives him a solo exhibition in 1987. The Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec
held an important retrospective exhibition of his paintings and sculptures in 2001.
Juneau received the Prix Paul-Émile-Borduas
, awarded by the government of Quebec in 2008.
Age 85, he still lives and works in Montreal.
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
and a leading figure in the Canadian plasticien
Plasticien
The Plasticien movement was a Canadian non-figurative painting movement, which appeared around 1955 in Quebec. It was a more orderly style of painting in reaction to Les Automatistes...
movement.
Biography
Juneau was born in MontrealMontreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
in 1925. He studied at the École des Beaux-Arts de Montréal
École des Beaux-Arts de Montréal
École des Beaux-Arts de Montréal was an educational institution founded in Quebec in 1922. The Saint-Jean-Baptiste Society was instrumental in its creation....
, under the guidance of Alfred Pellan
Alfred Pellan
For the federal district in Laval, Quebec, see Alfred-Pellan Alfred Pellan, was an important figure in twentieth-century Quebec painting. He was born in Quebec City in 1906. From the age of fourteen until his graduation in 1926 he studied at the École des Beaux-Arts de Québec...
, amongst others, and became a notorious figure in the new wave of artists that Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
was to produce in the era of the late 1950s and early 1960s.
Third child of 5, Juneau suffered from total deafness as a result of meningitis
Meningitis
Meningitis is inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, known collectively as the meninges. The inflammation may be caused by infection with viruses, bacteria, or other microorganisms, and less commonly by certain drugs...
contracted at the age of 18 months. Despite this handicap, and having a paralysed right leg from poliomyelitis contracted at age 3, he went on to study in Italy, at the Sculoa di Disegno di Novara
Novara
Novara is the capital city of the province of Novara in the Piedmont region in northwest Italy, to the west of Milan. With c. 105,000 inhabitants, it is the second most populous city in Piedmont after Turin. It is an important crossroads for commercial traffic along the routes from Milan to Turin...
from 1954 to 1956. From Italy, he also retained a body language that was to characterize him for the rest of his long life.
After his return to Montreal in 1956, he soon takes part in a collective exhibition at the Denyse Delrue gallery, with other young painters of his generation. Two years later he has his first of many personal exhibition in the same gallery.
Juneau became recognized as one of the plasticien
Plasticien
The Plasticien movement was a Canadian non-figurative painting movement, which appeared around 1955 in Quebec. It was a more orderly style of painting in reaction to Les Automatistes...
(or hard edge) painters such as Guido Molinari
Guido Molinari
Guido Molinari, OC was a Canadian artist, known for his abstract paintings.-Biography:Molinari was born in Montreal of Italian heritage with parents from Cune, Tuscany and Naples, Campania...
, Fernand Toupin, Claude Tousignant
Claude Tousignant
Claude Tousignant, OC is a Canadian artist born in Montreal, Quebec on December 23, 1932.- Biography :Claude Tousignant is a Canadian abstract painter and sculptor born in Montreal, Quebec. He started his stylistic explorations in France during the early 1950s, but returned home wanting more...
and Fernand Leduc. All through the 1960s, 1970s and part of the 1980s, he will remain fateful to that form of painting until a year stay in Paris (1982), when he slowly turns to a more fluid and free style of expression.
A prolific artist, he also produced many sculptures, designed symbols and logos, such as the one for the Université de Montréal
Université de Montréal
The Université de Montréal is a public francophone research university in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It comprises thirteen faculties, more than sixty departments and two affiliated schools: the École Polytechnique and HEC Montréal...
. His work has been shown in museums the world over.
In 1986, he was the first artist to be awarded the Gershon Iskowitz prize
Gershon Iskowitz
Gershon Iskowitz was born in Kielce, Poland, on November 21, 1921. He began as an expressionist painter who dealt with figurative subjects and later painted the Canadian landscape in an abstract expressionist style.- Early life :...
.
The National Gallery of Ottawa gives him a solo exhibition in 1987. The Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec
Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec
The Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec is a museum in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada gathering approximately 25,000 works essentially produced in Quebec, or by Quebec artists, some of which dating from the 18th century. It also houses a library since 1987...
held an important retrospective exhibition of his paintings and sculptures in 2001.
Juneau received the Prix Paul-Émile-Borduas
Prix Paul-Émile-Borduas
The Prix Paul-Émile-Borduas is an award by the Government of Quebec that is part of the Prix du Québec, given to individuals who are artists or craftsman in the fields of visual arts, of the trades of art, architecture and the design...
, awarded by the government of Quebec in 2008.
Age 85, he still lives and works in Montreal.