Jean-Paul Riopelle
Jean-Paul Riopelle (1923 – 2002) was an Abstract Expressionist painter who gave Canadian artists an international platform in the arts. In the 1940s, Riopelle studied at the revered École des...
Jean-Paul Riopelle (1923 – 2002) was an Abstract Expressionist painter who gave Canadian artists an international platform in the arts. In the 1940s, Riopelle studied at the revered École des Beaux-Arts and the École de Meuble and was an apprentice to Paul Émile Borduas. In the 1950s, Riopelle coined “Abstract Landscapism” as a defining term to his surrealist-adjacent work. He soon fell into a relationship with fellow Abstract Expressionist, Joan Mitchell, who was an integral influence on Riopelle’s work until she passed in 1992 and Riopelle ceased painting. Riopelle’s work stood alone on an international stage and was admired for his unconventional ways of painting and creating abstract works. Riopelle died in 2002 with an impressive and extensive collection of works and a lasting impact on the art world. Riopelle’s works reside at museums such as the National Gallery of Canada, the Tate Gallery in London, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Peggy Guggenheim Collection in Venice, among others.