(b. 1953)
Artist Statement: My paintings are an active response to a sense of wonder at being in the world. They do not address any specific art discourse or theory. Using a simple landscape format provides a surface on which I try to express and/or reflect on my mind-state while contemplating experiences I have had – mostly outdoors. Since the late 1970s my works have gone through a range of stylistic treatments with a current focus on space, distance, atmosphere, light, energy and textures – presented on a two dimensional surface using paint. I compose and paint images that resonate between principle subjects and surrounding spaces.Sometimes the sensation of momentarily loosing “myself” occurs in open places. Standing with great spaces before me may trigger a perception where boundaries are only shimmering illusions and a holistic presence is pervasive.
I see trees, plants and bushes as tracing energetic linkages between earth and sky. The tree breathes what we exhale. When we exhale, the tree breathes. So. We have a common destiny with the tree. We are all from the earth. (Floyd Red Crow)
My landscape paintings are composed from memories of an experience. I use memory as a filtering agent to distill an image for a painting, discarding useless details. I do occasional on-site drawings or photographs which pile up in my studio; but I do not generally refer to them much while making a painting. When a painting is complete it must reflect an emotional sensation that calls to mind some aspect of my remembered perceptions.
EDUCATION
1978 – BFA Concordia University
1997 – MA University of Toronto
COLLECTIONS
Bank of Montreal
Sprott Asset Management, Toronto
BCE Inc.
Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce
Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP
Deloitte LLP
Ernst & Young LLP
Esso Resources Canada Ltd.
Frankin Templeton Investments Canada
Hudson’s Bay Company
Imperial Oil Limited
Invesco Canada Ltd.
Maple Leaf Foods Inc.
Minto Group Inc.
Nissan Canada Inc.
OMERS
Postmedia Network Inc.
RBC Dominion Securities Inc.
Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada
The Canada Life Assurance Company
The Granite Club, Toronto
The Royal Bank of Canada
Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada Inc.
TransAlta Corporation
Xerox Canada Lt
PUBLICATIONS
2018 The Lorax Dreams, Carmen Victor, Blurb, ISBN 978-0-46-494661-8
2017 The MockingBird, Ed 10, Charlottesville VA, pg. 4.
2017 Roberta on the Arts, In The Galleries – West Chelsea, NY,
2016 The Brain Project, Commemorative Catalogue, pg. 61, The Baycrest Foundation publications.
2014 Green Art: Trees Leaves and Roots, by E. Ashley Rooney and Margery Goldberg, Schiffer Publishing, Ltd.
2014 El Palacio, Winter 2013, Vol. 118/No.4, pg. 5, Hunter Kirkland Contemporary.
2012 Galleries West Magazine, Spring 2012 Issue, pg. 52, A Passion For Trees, By Janet Nichols.
2012 Creative Wonder: International Art Blog, Judy Felker.
2011 Globe & Mail, Focus Section, Aug. 13, Into the woods: The enduring power of trees, By Sarah Hampson.
2011 Unite With Art, Catalogue for www.uiniteforchildren.ca, Robert Marchessault, page 33.
2010 My World: A Visit With Kent Lovelace. By Bonnie Gangelhoff, Southwest Art Magazine, April 2010, pg. 65 (in reference to artists admired by Lovelace).
2009 Landscape Painting: Essential Concepts and Techniques for Studio and Plein Air Practice. By Mitchell Albala, Watson Guptill / Random House, 196 page.
2008 Harvest of Light, Robert Marchessault: Paintings 2007-2008, Bau-Xi Galleries, Foster/White Galleries, 80 pages.
2008 Unite With Art, Catalogue for www.uiniteforchildren.ca, Robert Marchessault, page 55.
2008 Hozho, Marchessault Solo Exhibition Catalogue, Published by Gallerie de Bellefeuille, Montreal.
2006 Luminoso, Marchessault Solo Exhibition Catalogue, Published by Gallerie de Bellefeuille, Montreal.
2006 Canadian House & Home Magazine, May 2006, pgs. 92-94, Artist File: Ontario Painter Robert Marchessault’s Stark, Seductive Landscapes, by Betty Anne Jordan.
2005 Art With Heart, Auction Catalogue, pg. 75. Casey House Foundation, Toronto.
2005 Edmonton Journal, May 27, 2005, What’s On section, Old Trees may be steeped in symbolism, but they exist only in artist’s imagination, by Gilbert A. Bouchard.
2004 Robert Marchessault – New Paintings, Exhibition Catalogue, Published by Gallerie de Bellefeuille, Montreal.
2003 Ephemeros, Paintings by Robert Marchessault, 16 pages, colour.
2003 Edmonton Journal, July 18, 2003, page E6, The Visual Arts, Marchessault lets viewer fill in details, by Gilbert A. Bouchard
2003 Elizabeth Greenshields Grantees News, Volume 8, Issue 2, Oct. 9, 2003, pg.4 & 8.
2003 Scene Magazine, April 17, 2003, pg. 24, Stillness prevails at Michael Gibson Gallery, by Tess Parkinson
2002 Social Consciousness in Canadian Art, 2002, Milena Placentile, Assistant Curator Justina M. Barnicke Gallery, Hart House, University of Toronto, available online Dec. 14, 2006
2002 Focus Santa Fe (magazine), Aug/Sept 2002, The Arts: A Skyward Gaze, pgs. 44-47, by Gusie Fontleroy
2001 Desert Sun (Palm Springs), August 29, 2001 – Section: Desert Today, Painting With PASTA, Adam Graham
2001 International Artist, Dec/Jan 2001, issue 16, pg.120, Master Painters of the World, Canada Showcase, Jeane Duffy.
2001 Brentwood (Magazine) (California), Feb., 2001, What’s Hanging – pg 87. “Robert Marchessault – Visions From The Fast Lane”
2000 Toronto Star, Jan. 6, p. G5, “Gallery exposes 2000 bugs”.
2000 Globe & Mail, Jan. 8’00, p. R10, “Gallery Going – 2000 Bugs at the Bau-Xi”, Gary Michael Dault
2000 Public, No. 18, ISSN 0845-4450 published by Public Access, University of Toronto
1999 London Free Press, April 18, 1999, Sec. D, pg. 1, Lost in Landscapes, by Sandra Coulson.
1998 Now Magazine, August 7, 1998, Working drawings produce finished works, by Deirdre Hanna.
1997 The Illusion of Silence, by Brian Meeham, for a solo exhibition at Bau Xi Gallery, Toronto.
1995 Configurations, by Rhona Wenger, exhibitions currator, published by Tom Thomson Memorial Art Gallery.
1995 Art Bulletin, Feb/Mar ’95, No. 61 Vol.12, ISSN 0790-5858, pg.26
1993 Gotlands Allenda, Sept. 18, ’93, Kultur, pg. 10, “Dandka keramiker, kanadensiska målare och ryska fotografer” by Helene Körner.
1993 Toronto Star, May 13, 1993, “What’s On”, pg. W08, reproduction of painting “Duckweed & Beaverpond”.
1992 Kanadensiskt, Brucebo Stipendiater från Kanada 1972-92 by Hanne Ödin, published by Gotland’s Konstmuseum, Sweden
1992 Gotlands Tidningar, Sept. 23, ’92, Kultur, pg. 12, “Klintar – i Kanada och på Gotland” by Stina L. Nilsson.
1992 Two Escarpments, by R. Marchessault, published by The Tom Thomson Memorial Art Gallery
1992 Sun Times, (Owen Sound) Sept. 12, ’92, “Exhibition Combines Two Worlds” by Mary Baxter.
1992 Gotlands Tidningar, Aug. 1, ’92, “Ett nöte som fortsätter att bära frukt”.
A History Of Interventions, monograph by Stephen Hogbin,pg. 17, 1991, The Ginger Press
1991 Political Landscapes No. 2, Sacred And Secular Sites by Stephen Hogbin & Blake Debassige, published by The Tom Thomson Memorial Art Gallery
1991 The Globe & Mail, April 12, ’91, Arts Section, “Art About”, by Kate Taylor.
1991 Red White & Black, by R. Marchessault, published by the Tom Tomson Memorial Art Gallery
1991 Sun Times, (Owen Sound), Feb. 2, ’91, “Video Art Offers Link”, by Jim Algie.
1991 Imprint Magazine, Jan. 11, ’91, “Visions and Inventions”, by Shanon Reynolds.
1990 Notes From Eden, by Janice Andreae, published by The Tom Thomson Memorial Art Gallery
1991 The Durham Chronicle, (Durham), May 8, ’91, pg. A3, “Works Represent Diverse Origins Of Artists” by James Gillespie.
1991 Sun Times, (Owen Sound), Feb. 2, ’91, “Artist Expresses Language Of The Land” by Jim Algie
1991 London Magazine, Oct. ’91, pg. 86, Gallery Section, “Robert Marchessault , Back Road”
1990 Art Gallery Exhibitions Catalogue, University of Waterlo
1990 Now Magazine,(Toronto), June 7, ’90, pg. 142, Arts Section,”Winds Of Change” by Deirdre Hanna
1990 Sun Times, June 7, ’90, “Chatsworth Artist…” by Jim Algie.
1990 Sun Times, April 20, ’90, “Exhibition Touches On Contemporary Life” by Jim Algie.
1989 Political Landscapes No. 1, by Stephen Hogbin, published by The Saugeen Press
1981 Robert Marchessault, Landscapes 1978 – 1981, by Allen Elder, published by the Burlington Cultural Centre
1979 Concordia University Magazine, Sept. ’79, “Toronto’s Easle Belt” by Eric Johnson
EXHIBITIONS
2020, Bau-Xi Gallery, Vancouver (scheduled)
2019, Gallerie de Bellefeuille, Montreal
2018, Bau-Xi Gallery, Toronto
2018, Gallerie de Bellefeuille, Montreal
2018, McLarry Fine Art, Santa Fe NM
2018, Foster White Galleries, Seattle
2018, Bau-Xi Gallery, Toronto
2016, Foster White Galleries, Seattle
2016, Littlejohn Contemporary, Chelsea, NY
2016, McLarry Fine Art, (Featured Artist) Santa Fe NM
2015, Gallerie de Bellefeuille, Montreal
2015, Bau-Xi Gallery, Toronto
2014, Bau-Xi Gallery, Vancouver
2014, Foster White Galleries, Seattle
2013, Gallerie de Bellefeuille, Montreal
2013, Wallack Galleries, Ottawa, ON
2013, Bau-Xi Galleries, Toronto
2012, Bau-Xi Gallery, Vancouver
2012, Gallerie DeBellefeille, Montreal
2011, McLarry Fine Art, Santa Fe, NM
2011, Tanner Hill Gallery, Chattanooga, TN
2010, Bau-Xi Galleries, Toronto
2010, Gallerie DeBellefeille, Montreal
2010, Tanner Hill Galleries, Atlanta, GA
2010, McLarry Fine Art, Santa Fe, NM
2009, Bau-Xi Gallery, Toronto
2009, Foster White Galleries, Seattle
2009, Bau-Xi Gallery, Vancouver
2008, Gallerie de Bellefeuille, Montreal
2008, Peter Robertson Gallery, Edmonton
2008, Bau Xi Gallery, Vancouver
2007,Gallery 225, Santa Fe, NM
2007,Gallerie de Bellefeuille, Montreal
2006, Foster White Galleries, Seattle, WA
2006, Bau Xi Gallery, Toronto
2006, Gallerie de Bellefeuille, Montreal
2005, Vanderleelie Gallery, Edmonton
2005, Bau Xi Gallery, Vancouver
2005, Gail harvey Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
2004, Gallerie de Bellefeuille, Montreal
2004, Bau-Xi Gallery, Toronto
2003, Michael Gibson Gallery, London
2003, Vanderleelie Gallery, Edmonton
2003, Bau Xi, Vancouver
2003, Gail Harvey, Los Angeles
2002, Bau Xi Gallery, Toronto
2002, Gail Harvey, Los Angeles
2001, Bau Xi Gallery, Vancouver
2001, Gail Harvey Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2000, Bau Xi Gallery, Toronto
1999, Gail Harvey Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
1999, Michael Gibson Gallery, London, ON
1998,97,95,94,93,92,91,90,89,88, Bau Xi Gallery, Toronto
1996, Bau Xi Gallery, Vancouver, BC
1996, Art Gallery of Newfoundland & Labrador, St. John’s, NFLD
1996, Gotlands Konstmuseum, Sweden
1995, University of Toronto, Justina Barnicke Gallery
1994, Bau Xi Gallery, Vancouver, British Columbia
1991, University of Waterloo Art Gallery
1981, Concordia University Art Gallery, Montreal
1981, Burlington Cultural Centre, Burlington, ON
1981, Gallery Brant, Oakville, ON
1979,80,81,82,83,84,85,86, Gadatsy Gallery, Toronto
