About —
Armand Vaillancourt, who likes to say that he sees with the eyes of a child, has always worked in public. This spring, he was artist-in-residence at the Musée d’art de Joliette, at which time he designed two works to be experienced all summer. One of these, located on our outdoor terrace, was conceived as an environment for people to circulate on, surprising their senses.
A socially and politically committed artist, Vaillancourt is part of the generation for whom the cry for freedom is a constant objective, channeled through an artistic practice that refuses all labels or constraints. A unique relationship with matter, nature, and sensations has inspired him since his early days and is reflected in an approach that explores painting, printmaking, sculpture, performance art, as well as public art. Mainly known for his monumental sculptures, he developed a spontaneous approach using raw materials to integrate the theatre of everyday life into art and street art. Among his most well-known and controversial public art projects are: Fontaine Vaillancourt (San Francisco, 1971), Justice (Quebec City, 1980) and Chant des peuples (Charlottetown, 1996).
Armand Vaillancourt has won numerous awards, including the prestigious Prix Borduas in 1993. His works are represented in major Canadian collections, including that of the Art Gallery of Ontario, the Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal, the National Gallery of Canada, and the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec. In 2004, he was awarded the title of Chevalier of the Ordre national du Québec.
This project is made possible through financial contributions of Bridgestone Canada, Ville de Notre-Dame-des-Prairies and Pneus Villemaire.
The Musée d’art de Joliette would like to acknowledge and thank the volunteers who have contributed to this project.