MARCEL DESBIENS
ARTIST
www.marceldesbiens.com art@marceldesbiens.com
0457 174 596
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Marcel was born in Quebec, Canada living and studying in the French speaking region. He studied art
at CEGEP DE SHERBROOKE for 2 years after his grade 12 and decided to be a full time artist straight
away. His research for the ultimate oil painting technique leads him to the Old Masters in the
renaissance period. Marcel has been painting and teaching those methods for the last 40 years,
winning prestigious art prize and public art projects.
Born on June 15, 1954, in Péribonka, Québec, Canada
Living in Brisbane, Australia since 1990
ARTIST STATEMENT
I would like my painting to initiate a dialogue with the observer, to offer a subtle reminder of our
fundamental task, a search for happiness. By painting a representation of a real object and achieving
the illusion of reality, I wish to lead the viewer towards an emotional reaction that is soothing and
inspiring.
Communicating through a complex assemblage of line and form, colour and tone, harmony, unity
and rhythm, I seek to create a magical scene, reminiscent of the natural world, but which goes
beyond the natural reality – a reflection of that timeless beauty present and enduring in all of us,
and which at heart must compose the fabric of our social relations. For beauty, witnessed even in
fleeting moments, buries deep in our mind and soul to provide a haven for suppressed tears and as
yet unrealized dreams. It is an inspiration to journey within, to touch the light of true happiness, and
thus bring forth the full measure of our compassion to join with the collective breath of community.
Education:
1973 –1975
Sherbrooke Cegep, Fine Arts
Since 1975 Research and experimentation on the painting techniques.
Solo
Exhibitions:
2011
2009
2008
2007
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2000
1997
1996
Lethbridge Gallery, Brisbane, Australia
Gallery 2120, Brisbane, Australia
Gadfly Gallery, Delkeith, Perth, Australia
Delshan Art Gallery, Modern Art, Melbourne, Australia
Gadfly Gallery, Delkeith, Perth, Australia
Delshan Art Gallery, Modern Art, Melbourne, Australia
Maria Perides Gallery, Brisbane, Australia
Delshan Art Gallery, Modern Art, Melbourne, Australia
Musee Louis Hemon, Peribonka, Quebec, Canada
Galerie la corniche, Chicoutimi, Canada
Delshan Art Gallery, Modern Art, Melbourne, Australia
Valerie Cohen Fine Art Gallery, Sydney, Australia
Jan Murphy Gallery, Brisbane, Australia
1994 “Le moment présent”, Ipswich Regional Gallery, Ipswich, Australia
1992 “De la fiction à la réalité”, exposition itinérante :
Centre culturel de Dolbeau, Dolbeau, Canada
Salon du Conseil régional de la culture, Jonquière, Canada
Promenade du Vieux-Québec, Québec, Canada
1985 Caisse Populaire de Sherbrooke-Est, Sherbrooke, Canada
1983 Galerie coopérative des arts visuels, Chicoutimi, Canada
1980 Galerie Menasen, Sherbrooke, Canada
1975 Café de la Cour, Québec, Canada
Group Exhibitions:
2014 Art Spectacular, Brisbane, Australia
2013 10,000 Lethbridge prize, Brisbane
2013 Art Spectacular, Brisbane, Australia
2013 10,000 Lethbridge prize, Brisbane
2012 Mortimore Prize
2011 Lethbridge Gallery
1996-2014 Tattersall’s Club Landscape Prize, Brisbane, Australia
2002-2014 Combined Brisbane Rotary Club Brisbane
2006-07 The Black Snake Art Award, Queensland, Australia
2005 Whyalla Art Prize, South Australia
2005 Works for the blues, Brisbane, Australia
2005 Reflections of life, Art Prize, Brisbane
2002 Warwick Art Gallery Art Prize
2001 Works for the blues, Brisbane, Australia
1999 Verlie Just Town Gallery, Brisbane, Australia
Western Gallery, Toowoomba, Australia
1998 Alice Bale, Art Award, Melbourne, Australia
Ex. Cat. Smith & Stoneley Gallery, Brisbane, Australia
Redlands Art Awards, Cleveland, Australia
The Gold Medal Art Show, Melbourne, Australia
1995 “The Sky is the Limit”, The Contemporary Art and Design Gallery, Brisbane,
“When Angels Prey”, The Bauhaus Art Gallery, Brisbane, Australia
1994 “Drawing Connection”, Metro Arts, Brisbane, Australia
Moreton Shire Exposition, Ipswich, Australia
1993 “Crossing”, BEMAC – Institute of Modern Art, Brisbane, Australia
1989 “Rencontre parallèle”, Montréal, Canada
1988 “Living Nature”, Natural Sciences Museum, Ottawa, Canada
1986 “Du beau dans l’espace”, Galerie de la B.C.P., Alma, Canada
1985 “Québec-France”, Expo Prestige, Joliette, Canada
1984 Centre international d’art contemporain, Paris, France
Galerie Pierre Labrecque, Trois-Rivières, Canada
1975-84 Various exhibitions in different regions in Canada
Awards:
2007
2006
2006
2004
2003
First prize, Best of show, The Black Snake Art Award, Queensland, Australia
First prize, Best of show, The Black Snake Art Award, Queensland, Australia
Best Landscape, The Black Snake Art Award, Queensland, Australia
Commended, Tattersall’s Club Landscape Prize Brisbane, Australia
Best Oil or Acrylic, Art Spectacular, The Combined Brisbane Rotary Clubs,
Brisbane, Australia
1996 First prize, Tattersall’s Club Landscape Prize Brisbane, Australia
1994 First prize, Moreton Shire Exposition, Ipswich, Australia
1989 Le prix d’excellence, Concours national des arts visuels, “Rencontre
parallèle, Montréal, Canada
Mentions:
Art in Vogue, 100 Contemporary artists, Hardcover 256 pages, 2010
"Who is who of Australian Visual Artists", 1995
"Royaume aux cents trésors", Ed. Promotion Ad Librum, Canada, 1994 : p. 27, 94
Félix Vallée, "Le guide Vallée", 1986 et 1992, Montréal, Canada
Guy Fournier, “Mieux connaître”, Roberval, Canada, 1986 : p. 34-36.
Clément Fortin, "Cent peintres rendent hommage à Maria Chapdelaine", C.F. ed.
Alma, Canada
Collections:
Domtar Inc., Dolbeau, Québec, Canada
Musée Louis-Hémon, Péribonka, Québec, Canada
Hotel de ville et Centre sportif, Girardville, Canada
Minto Construction Ltée, Ottawa, Canada
First Provincial Building Society, Ipswich, Australia
Caisse Populaire de Sherbrooke-Est, Sherbrooke, Canada
Caisse Populaire de Girardville, Girardville, Canada
Rydges Hotel, Southbank, Brisbane, Australia
Tattersall’s Club, Brisbane, Australia
Ehime Women’s College, Ehime, Japan
Maharaji Center, Amaroo, Queensland, Australia
Robina Hospital, Queensland , Australia, completion 30-1-2011
Catalogues:
"Ex. Cat.", Brisbane, Australia, 1998
"Le moment présent", Ipswich, Australia, 1994
"Drawing Connections", Brisbane, Australia, 1994
"Crossing", Brisbane, Australia, 1993
"Rencontre parallèle", Montréal, Canada, 1989
"Living Nature Vivante", Ottawa, Canada, 1988
"Sélection 1984", Paris, France, 1984
Artist Directories :
Art in Vogue, 100 Contemporary artists, Hardcover 256 pages, 2010
Queensland Art Workers Alliance, Australia, www.artworkers.org
Queensland College of Art Library, Griffith University, Australia.
The Dictionary of Australian Artists, CD ROM, Maquarie University, Australia
Index of Canadian Artists (VisualArts)
Répertoire des artistes canadiens (Arts visuels) Ottawa, Canada
Murale painting projects :
1979 Mural dyptique, Sport Centre Girardville, Canada, 2 sections of 10’ x 20’ each (3m. x 12m.)
2001 Commission in a private house, Hawthorne, Qld, 2.4m. High x 8m. Long
2003 Commission in a private house, Broadbeach Qld, 3.5m. High x 8m. Long
2004 Mural Chermside Library, Concept, design, supervision and final coat in cooperation with a high school
art students group, 2.4m x 10m.
2008 Commission for Delshan Gallery’s client, Melbourne, 1.5m x 2.5m
2007 Murale Environment Centre, Jardin Scullion, Lac St Jean, Canada 120 squares metre, concept, design and
painting with 3 artists.
2010 Public art, Robina Hospital, Queensland Australia, completed 03-2011
Represented by:
Gallery Beneath
Sirocco Plaza, First Ave
Mooloolaba, Queensland, Australia
07 5444 7775
www.gallerybeneath.com.au
Mackay Harrison Galleries
79 Bayview Drive
East Ballina 2478, phone
(02) 6686 3053
Updated 27 February 2014