The Automatiste Revolution:
Montreal 1940-1961

Curated by Roald Nasgaard

This landmark exhibition of 60 works from across Canada will be one of the most extensive exhibition of this iconic group of artists. For the first time the Automatistes group of artists will then be presented at the pre-eminent gallery for post war art in America, the Albright-Knox Art Gallery in March 2010. The Automatistes were the first Canadian artists to produce work that contemporary with New York and Paris. “Outside of Quebec their recognition is regrettably disproportionate to their importance to Canada and the USA and France” said John Ryerson, Gallery Director.

The Automatistes were founded by Borduas.  The artist's signed a manifesto in 1948 called Refus global that was one of the pillars of the Quebec quiet revolution. The signatories were:

Paul-Emile Borduas, Magdeleine Arbour, Marcel Barbeau, Bruno Cormier, Claude Gavreau, Muriel Guilbault, Marcelle Ferron, Fernand Leduc, Thérèse Leduc, Françoise Sullivan, Jean-Paul Mousseau, Maurice Perron, Louis Renaud, Jean-Paul Riopelle, Françoise Riopelle

The Group disbanded with the death of Borduas in 1960. However, the Automatistes included poets, a playwright, TV producer and sculptors whose works continues to influence the Quebec society and culture. 

The legendary dancer and choreographer and artist Françoise Sullivan O.C. was recently at the Varley to discuss introducing her dance works to our audiences as one of the initiatives to draw on the breadth of cross disciplinary work generated by these artists.

An accompanying hardcover book of including 60 colour plates by Automatistes historian author Ray Ellenwood and author and exhibition curator Roald Nasgaard, published by Douglas & McIntyre to be  released in October. Mr Nasgaard recently authored the sold out hardcover edition “Abstract Painting in Canada” and curated the Varley’s acclaimed show “The Urge To Abstraction” in 2007.
Louis Grachos said, "We are looking forward to hosting this exhibition of avant-garde art by members of the Canadian Automatists group of the 1940s and '50s.  By exhibiting these works at the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, our renowned collection of American abstract expressionist art will be seen in a broader international context that will complement these remarkable works by Canadian artists from the same time period."

The exhibition and publication are supported by the Varley-McKay Art Foundation and private donors.

For additional information, please contact the gallery at (905) 477-9511 or visit www.varleygallery.ca.

Complimentary exhibition tours the first Sunday of each month at 2:00 p.m.