Dr. Gagnon

François-Marc Gagnon, Director of the Gail and Stephen A. Jarislowsky Institute for Studies in Canadian Art

     A dynamic and inspiring teacher, he taught at the Université de Montréal for thirty-five years where he developed many research programs. Dr. Gagnon is a prolific researcher and has received the Governor General's Award for his 1978 critical biography of Paul-Émile Borduas. Since 1996 only, he published more than fifteen important books and catalogues, including the award winning Chronique du mouvement automatiste québécoise 1941-1954 (1998). He also wrote many essays on artists such as Marcel Barbeau, Jacques Hurtubise, Jean-Paul Riopelle and, more recently, Cornelius Krieghoff for the touring exhibition Krieghoff's Canada, organized by the Art Gallery of Ontario.

     Dr. Gagnon has been working for a long time in close collaboration with many cultural institutions and associations devotes to the study of Canadian art. He was a member of the acquisition committee of the Musée d'art contemporain and of the National Gallery of Canada. Known for his deep knowledge of Canadian history and art and for his exceptional popularizer talent, he presented a series of video conference titled: Introduction à la peinture moderne au Québec at Canal Savoir, in 1998. He is convinced of the importance of educating the public using various media, Dr. Gagnon does bring a precious support to the Institute in its mission to advance the greater appreciation and richer understanding of Canadian visual culture of all eras.