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Born in Montreal in 1963, Louis Robichaud is a self-taught painter. His artistic career started at the age of 13 when he painted in public. In 1979, he designed the scenery for two plays and has maintained his love for large scale paintings ever since. In 1985, he taught drawing and painting. At the same time, he did a thorough study on the composition, drawing, color, technique and materials of past masters. Today he holds permanent exhibitions in Quebec. Robichaud uniquely remodels and reinterprets the cities and towns he paints, by combining different elements gathered during his excursions and in his research of archives. Beyond the realism and masterful compositions showing us this artist's virtuosity, Robichaud's paintings convey an affection for the places they illustrate and invite us to discover them. Louis Robichaud beckons us into his world, sometimes imaginary, sometimes real, and always full of light and nostalgia. These urban scenes composed with great meticulousness and an obvious concern for detail, illustrate both present and past. Full of charm, his work emphasizes the importancce of the urban architectural heritage in the life of city dwellers and of their pride. The picturesqueness of these places and the spirit of the people are subtly brought out in the various shop windows, signs and inscriptions which animate each painting. The human presence is therefore very real although no person is actually portrayed. |