RENÉ LEMAY

RÉALISME CONTEMPORAIN

A pluridisciplinary and self-taught artist, René Lemay (1934-2015) has made his mark in contemporary realist painting for over 25 years. In any medium, he favoured expressions of joy and life over academicism. First in drawing and watercolour, and then in acrylic, etching, lacquer and bronze sculpture, his work celebrates the here and now. His pieces have been featured in individual and collective exhibitions in North America and Asia, in many galleries and in public and private collections.

Born in Montréal in 1934, Lemay felt a strong inclination toward the arts since his early childhood. Despite this, he practiced various trades before finally giving free rein to his passion in 1983. He learned ceramics and lithography and, in the 1970s and 1980s, founded an artisanal pottery studio and a publishing company. He followed this atypical path back to the visual arts, later earning a reputation as a watercolourist.

In 1990, he participated in his first of many professional exhibitions. His subsequent work in acrylic is known for its vibrant hues, its liveliness and its expressions of delight. In the 1990s, Lemay began travelling extensively. These travels marked a turning point in his artistic journey, as can be seen in his choice of colours and his paintings’ subjects. During this period, the Îles-de-la-Madeleine and Asia became the epicenters of his creative universe. He sketched the inspiration for his work in Thailand, China, Bali, Vietnam and Singapore. In Hanoi, he learned techniques such as lacquer and, more recently, bronze sculpture from the masters. Today, Lemay's Gallery is still open to public during summer time, in Magdalen Islands. 

BIRTH

  • Montreal, Canada, 1934

DEATH

  • Quebec, Canada, 2015

MEDIUM

  • Acrylic | Lacquer | Mixed media | Etching | Dry points | Bronze sculpture

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

  • Regroupement des Artistes en Arts Visuels du Québec (RAAV) | 2002
  • Arrimage | 2003

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  • Bronze Sculpture - Mr Hoc Bao | Vietnam | 2012
  • Lacquer - Fine Art University | Vietnam | 1998-2000
  • Engraving - Evelyn Dufour | Canada | 1995-1996

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

  • Café de la Grave | Canada | 2019
  • Sea Museum | Canada | 2018
  • Michel-Ange | Canada | 2013
  • Carpediem Galleries | Thailand | 2010
  • Joie de vivre Art Exhibition | Thailand | 2010
  • Vie Hotel | Thailand | 2010
  • Sofitel Silom | Thailand | 2007
  • Viet Fine Art Gallery | Vietnam | 2006
  • Carpediem Galleries | Thailand | 2006
  • Maison de la Culture Ahuntsic | Canada | 2005
  • L'Harmattan Gallery | Canada | 2003
  • Basque Gallery | Canada | 1991 & 2001
  • Klimantiris Gallery | Canada | 1994-1995 & 1998
  • Café de la Grave | Canada | 1994
  • Aird Gallery | Canada | 1991

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

  • Panorama | Magdalen Island | 2023
  • À Marée Basse Gallery | Magdalen Island | 2017
  • Michel-Ange Gallery | Montreal | 2017
  • Hommage Symposium de peinture figurative de l'Étang-du-Nord | Canada | 2016
  • Belvedere Gallery | Singapour | 2014
  • Michel-Ange Gallery | Canada | 2011
  • Exposition Agenda Art Quebec | Canada | 2010
  • Michel-Ange Gallery | Canada | 2010
  • Celebrations | Canada | 2010
  • L'Harmattan Gallery | Canada | 2003-2012
  • Michel Ange Gallery | Canada | 2004-11
  • Arma Museum | Indonesia | 2004
  • Hanoi Fine Arts University | Vietnam | 2003
  • Symposium de peinture figurative | Canada | 1998-2003
  • Symposium mer Oceane | Canada | 1998-2000
  • Klimantiris Art Gallery | Canada | 1992 & 1998
  • Galerie Basque | Canada | 1997
  • New York Art Expo | USA | 1993 & 1995
  • Eliette Dufour Gallery | Canada | 1993
  • Michel-Ange Gallery | Canada | 1992
  • Aird Gallery | Canada | 1991
  • Manoir Globensky | Canada | 1990

GALLERIES

  • L'Harmattan Gallery | Baie-Saint Paul | Canada
  • Michel-Ange Gallery | Montreal | Canada
  • Richelieu Art Gallery | Montreal | Canada
  • Rendez-Vous Art Gallery | Vancouver | Canada
  • Perreault Gallery | Quebec | Canada
  • Pilar Shephard Gallery | Charlottetown | Canada
  • Carpediem Galleries | Bangkok | Thailand
  • Viet Fine Art Gallery | Hanoi | Vietnam
  • Galerie Belvédère | Singapore | Singapore
  • Agung Rai Gallery | Bali | Indonesia
  • Gajah Mass Gallery | Bali | Indonesia
  • Arma Museum | Bali | Indonesia

CORPORATE AND PUBLIC COLLECTIONS

  • Société Générale | France-Canada
  • Caisse Populaire | Canada
  • Microsoft | USA
  • Sofitel Silom | Thailand
  • Vie Hotel | Thailand
  • Hamilton Golf Club Public Gallery | Canada
  • Dean Evans Inc. | Canada
  • Electromaid International Fauldine | Canada
  • Innovative Center | Canada
  • Télé-Globe | Canada
  • Gilles St-Croix | Cirque du Soleil | Canada
  • La Ferme Hotel | Baie-St-Paul | Canada
  • Jean-Pierre Léger | St-Hubert Restaurants | Canada
  • Oratoire Saint-Joseph Museum | Canada
  • Arma Museum | Bali | Indonesia

MEDIA COVERAGE

  • CBC, Bon pied bonne heure, Un ancien symposium d'importance aux Îles, Mer Océane, en vedette dans un film, 2023
  • CFIM, Entrevue à l'Indice UV, 2023
  • Magazin'Art, Sur les traces de René Lemay, 2018
  • CBC, Les Îles, au coeur de l'oeuvre de René Lemay (1934-2015), 2018
  • Le Radar, Deux fils : la reconstruction de l'héritage de René Lemay, 2018
  • CFIM, Les Îles, au coeur de l'oeuvre de René Lemay (1934-2015), 2018
  • CBC, Garder en vie la mémoire, 2018
  • Le Radar, René Lemay, des croquis jamais dévoilés à la Galerie Marée Basse, 2017
  • Le Radar, Hommage à René Lemay, 2016
  • CBC, Mort d'un artiste Atypique, 2015
  • World Art Book, Volume 7, 2013
  • Magazin'Art, Répertoire biennal des artistes canadiens en galeries, 2000-2012
  • Guide Utilis, Agenda des Arts, 1994-2012
  • Guide Utilis, Page couverture d'Agenda des Arts, 2008
  • Pamphlet, Contemporary Realism, In association with Galleries, 2008
  • Bangkok Post, A Splash of colors Canadian Artist Rene Lemay, 2007
  • Parcours des arts, René Lemay - Du côté de l'orient, 2007
  • The Nations, Canadian Artist René Lemay Exhibits in Bangkok, 2007
  • Bangkok Post, Exhibition Carpediem Galleries, Canadian Artist Rene Lemay, 2006
  • VietNamNet Bridge, Canadian Painter open new horizons, 2006
  • Vietnam News - The national English Language Daily, Happy days in Vietnam, 2006
  • Art Knowledge News, Canadian René Lemay exhibits in Bangkok, 2006
  • Vietnam National Television, Opening exhibition - Happy Days in Vietnam, 2006
  • LARASATI, Asia Fine Art Auction in Singapore, 2004
  • Bali local television, News on Foreigner – Interview by Agung Rai, Artist René LemayTraveling in Asia, 2004
  • Guide Parcours, 1994, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003
  • Espace Musique - Radio-Canada, Interview avec Chantal Joli, 2002
  • The First Informer, Symposium on the island, 1998
  • Le Radar, Magdelen Island to Asia, 1998
  • Magazin’art, Comtemporary Realism - Celebration on canvas by Paul Gladu,1996
  • Peinture, culture et réalités québécoises, La Palette ed., 1992.
  • Radio-Canada, Interview avec Lise Bonnenfant sur l’exposition solo «Leitmotive» à la Galerie Basque, 1991
  • 200 visions nouvelles, La Palette ed., 1990