Artist Bio
Born in Montreal in 1972, Alexandre Masino completed a B.F.A. with honors in Studio Art at Concordia University in 1996. He has been exhibiting for the past twenty years in public and commercial galleries across Canada, the United States and Europe. Since 2001, he has been painting exclusively with encaustic developing a rich vocabulary where representation and the physicality of the medium enhance each other. Masino's paintings have been recognized as a reference in their field, beeing shown in curated and juried shows across the United States and published in different books on encaustic paintings. Masino has published three catalogues accompanying solo exhibitions; his latest one includes an essay by Joanne Mattera. Masino’s paintings can be found in various public and private collections throughout North America and Europe such as the Gotland Museum of Fine Arts (Sweden), Chateau de Beaulon (France), Stephen A. Jarislowsky (Jarislowsky Fraser), Heenan Blaikie LLB and The Right Honourable Paul Martin, among others.
Click here to visit Alexandre's website.
Artist Statement
Alexandre Masino painting's border between mimesis and invention; responding to observed reality, memory and imaginative perception. The transition between what is real, remembered or imagined creates a fertile territory for the artist; fully understanding that art derives from art. The journey undertaken by the artist is not only a journey through the world but beyond time. The continent that we travel is the continent of art where human history and experience is fundamental.
Masino’s approach is foremost pictorial and is deeply rooted in the constant metamorphosis inherent to the physical act of looking. A painting must offer many different realities according to the distance from which it is viewed and the ambient lighting hitting the surface. Many painters have evoked this very instant when the painting “rises”, when it “happens” and suddenly takes all its meaning. In Masino’s work this moment may only happen when one takes the time to look and place the subject in relation with the background, the light with the shadows, the image and the surface, and all these elements in relation with the complete picture.
Masino creates encaustic paintings where the richness, sensuality and versatility of the medium echo a minimal and contemplative imagery. Whether he uses landscapes, still lifes or nudes, we can relate his subject matters to some “intimate immensity”. His use of encaustic, with its physicality, impasto and transparencies, allows him to create figurative works in which the gesture, the actual act of painting, is just as important and meaningful as the depicted subject. In this regard we can feel that he is compelled by the inevitable dualism between matter and meaning that we find at the core of painting. Consequently his work focuses on this infinite moment where these realities oscillate.
Resume
Education
1992 -1996 Concordia University, Montreal, Bachelor in Fine Arts with distinction.
1994 Intensive drawing class in Italy (credited by Concordia University).
1989 -1991 DEC in Fine Arts, CEGEP du Vieux-Montréal.
Solo Exhibitions
2013 (upcoming), Weiss Gallery, Calgary
2012 (upcoming), Galerie de Bellefeuille, Montreal (catalogue)
2012 (upcoming), R&F Gallery, Kingston, New York, USA
2008 Infini Présent, Weiss Gallery, Calgary
2007 Matière d'être, Galerie de Bellefeuille, Montreal (catalogue)
2006 Synecdoque, St-Laurent & Hill Gallery, Ottawa
2006 Paysages de l'Edda, Moore Gallery, Toronto
2004 D’ombres en lumière, Galerie de l’Astronome, Bazas, France
2003 Sanctuaires, St-Laurent & Hill Gallery, Ottawa (catalogue)
2003 Oeuvres sur papier, Le Tournesol, Sorèze, France
2002 De repos et de lumière, Galerie Terson de Paleville, Sorèze, France
2000 La Vie immédiate, galerie de la SODAC, Longueuil (catalogue)
1998 Cindy Bordeau Fine Art Gallery, Chicago, USA
1998 Les parfums de la mémoire, Concept Art Gallery, Montreal
1996 Parcelles du monde, Théâtre de la Licorne, Montreal
1995 Nudités immédiates, 11th International Poetry Festival in Trois-Rivières
1995 V.A.V. Gallery, Concordia University, Montreal
1992 Transe, collaboration with poet Jean-Marc Desgent, CaniF Gallery, Cégep du Vieux-Montréal
Group Exhibitions
2012 (upcoming), Hot Off The Press, R&F Gallery, Kingston, New York, USA
2010 The Luminous Landscape, John Stobart Gallery, Martha’s Vineyard, Ma, USA
2010 Art 2010, Galerie de Bellefeuille, Montreal (catalogue)
2010 Luminous Layers : Exploring Contemporary Encaustic, Lake Oswego Festival of the Arts, Lakewood Center, Oregon, USA - Curated by Linda Womack
2010 Foundraiser, Guido Molinari Foundation, Montreal - Curated by Tom Hopkins
2010 The Luminous Landscape, Kensington Stobart Gallery, Salem, Ma, USA
2009 Whodunit?OCAD Mystery Art Sale, Ontario College of Art, Toronto
2009 30 years, Galerie de Bellefeuille, Montréal (catalogue)
2009 Trois-Rivières dans la mire de la Collection Loto-Québec, Pierre-Boucher Museum, Trois-Rivières, Quebec - Curated by Louis Pelletier
2009 The Luminous Landscape, Montserrat College of Art, Beverly, Ma, USA (catalogue)
2009 L’oeuvre et la manière, Espace Création, Collection Loto-Québec, Montreal - Curated by Louis Pelletier
2009 Encaustic Works '09, The Castle Gallery, College of New Rochelle, organised by R&F Paints, New York, (catalogue) - Curated by Heather Hutchison
2009 Nature, Galerie de Bellefeuille, Montreal
2009 Fourth Annual Encaustic Invitational, Conrad Wilde Gallery, Tucson, AZ, (catalogue)
2009 Chroma, Weiss Gallery, Calgary
2008 Beauty, Weiss Gallery, Calgary
2007 30 years, Moore Gallery, Toronto
2007 Grand, Weiss Gallery, Calgary
2007 Art 2007, Galerie de Bellefeuille, Montreal (catalogue)
2007 Selected Works form the Loto-Québec Collection, Drummondville Cultural Center - Curated by Louis Pelletier
2007 First National Encaustic Painting Conference, Montserrat 301 Gallery, Beverly, Ma
2006 Expo Vente 06, SODAC Gallery, Longueuil, Quebec
2006 Art 2006, Galerie de Bellefeuille, Montreal (catalogue)
2006 Nature Wanted: Dead Or Alive, Stewart Hall Art Gallery, Pointe-Claire, Quebec - Curated by Joyce Millar
2006 Winter 2006, Moore Gallery, Toronto
2005 Expo vente 05, SODAC Gallery, Longueuil
2005 Tom Hopkins, (…) Amy Huertis and Alexandre Masino, Espace Création, Loto-Québec, Montreal - Curated by Louis Pelletier
2005 Cooled and Collected: Modern Masters of Encaustic Painting, Boon Gallery, Salem, Ma
2005 Art 2005, Galerie de Bellefeuille, Montreal (catalogue)
2005 Winter 2005, Moore Gallery, Toronto
2004 Hiver 2004, SODAC Gallery, Longueuil, Quebec
2004 Ils sont 19 du Québec, James Baird Gallery, St-John’s, Newfoundland
2004 Art 2004, Galerie de Bellefeuille, Montreal (catalogue)
2004 Winter 2004, Moore Gallery, Toronto
2003 Cork and Canvas, White Ribbon Fondation, Toronto (catalogue)
2003 Art 2003, Galerie de Bellefeuille, Montreal (catalogue)
2002 Nouvelle représentation, Galerie de Bellefeuille, Montreal (catalogue)
1999 A Feast of the Senses, Belloc Lowndes Fine Art Gallery, Chicago
1999 Cindy Bordeau Fine Art Gallery (during the contemporary Art Fair), Chicago
1998 Nous sommes parfois plusieurs vertiges simultanés, SODAC Gallery, Longueuil
1997 Dualité ou l'identité fragmentaire, Espace 202, Montreal
1997 Art Map, McClure Gallery, Visual Art Center, Montreal
1994 V.A.V. Gallery, Concordia University, Montreal
Art Fairs
2002 to 2011 - Toronto International Art Fair
2010 - Affordable Art Fair, New York, USA
2006 & 2007 - Palm Beach International Art Fair, USA
1999 & 2005 - Chicago International Art Fair, USA
Master Classes and Conferences
2012 (upcoming) Visiting Artist Series, teaching a three days workshop, R&F Paints, Kingston, New York, USA
2012 (upcoming) Sixth International Encaustic Conference, Provincetown, MA, USA
2010 Guest panelist for the main event at the Fourth Annual International Encaustic Conference, Montserrat College of Art, Beverly, Ma, USA.
2009 Master Class for the Arts Visuels Roussillon association, St-Constant, Quebec
2009 Speaker, Third Annual International Encaustic Conference, Montserrat College of Art, Beverly, Ma, USA.
2008 Full day workshop during the Second National Encaustic Conference, Montserrat College of Art, Beverly, Ma, USA.
2007 Artist Talk, Montserrat 301 Gallery during the First National Encaustic Painting Conference, , Beverly, Ma
2006, 2008 & 2010 Guest teacher (encaustic painting) in Susan G. Scott's Method and Material class, Concordia University, Montreal.
2006 - 2007 Guest teacher (encaustic painting) in Peter Krausz' class, University of Montreal.
BIBLIOGRAPHY - Publications (selected)
2011 Contre jour, litterature magazine, Number 25, Automn 2011 - 20 paintings reproduced in the magazine.
2010 Encaustic Art, The Complete Guide to Creating Fine Art with Wax by Lissa Rankin, Watson-Guptill Publications, New York.
2010 Encaustic with a Textile Sensibility, by Daniella Woolf, Waxy Buildup Press, Santa Cruz, 2010.
2009 The Luminous Landscape, exhibition catalogue, curators : Linda Cordner, Janet Bartlett Goodmand & Charyl Weissbach.
2009 Encaustic Works '09, exhibition catalogue, The Castle Gallery, College of New Rochelle, published by R&F Paints, New York, USA.
2009 Fourth Annual Encaustic Invitational, exhibition catalogue, Conrad Wilde Gallery, Tucson, AZ, USA.
2007 Painting reproduced for Heenan Blaikie LLB's promotion material of the Holliday Season (heenanblaikie.com).
2007 Matière d'être, exhibition catalogue, essay by Joanne Mattera.
2007 Drawing reproduced for the promotion of the Cultural Spring of Longueuil City (posters, programs and invitations).
2004 Cover of the book Réflexions éthiques contemporaines, by Alain Jacques and Claude Landry, Point de Fuite Editions.
2003 Sanctuaires, exhibition catalogue, text by Jean-Marc Desgent.
2002 Cover of Gilles Archambault’s novel La Fleur aux dents, Boréal Editions.
2000 Quasar’s compact disc cover (saxophone quartet), produced by ATMA and the CBC (www.quasar4.com)
2000 La Vie immédiate, exhibition catalogue, essay by Bernard Chassé.
1997 Cover and five paintings published in the book of poetry Les Paysages de l'extase by Jean-Marc Desgent, Les Herbes rouges Editions.
1997 Painting for the cover of Alizé's flute choir compact disc.
1996 Painting published in the text book Réflexions mathématiques 436 vol. 1, Published by C.E.C.
1994 Cover of the poetry book Ce que je suis devant personne by Jean-Marc Desgent, Les Écrits des Forges Editions.
1992 Text and drawings for a Comic Strip, Inacessible Incontournable, published in a special edition of Vestibulles magazine for the Quebec’s Literature Festival.
BIBLIOGRAPHY - Articles and Interviews (selected)
CLOUTIER, Mario. "Dans l'antre des créateurs", La Presse June 12, 2009.
LÉVY, Bernard. "À chaque artiste son atelier", Vie des Arts #215 Summer 2009, pp. 48-49.
KOZINSKA, Dorota. "Alexandre Masino Matière d'être", Vie des Arts no. 209 Winter 2007-2008, p. 82.
BOILY, Line. "Yechel Gagnon et Alexandre Masino à la galerie Moore", CBF-R FM 95.1 Société Radio-Canada, LES ARTS ET LES AUTRES, radio interview, April 10, 2006.LABERGE, Corinne. " L’art de la nature morte, vu par huit artistes contemporains", Cités Nouvelles, February 17, 2006.
LEHMANN, Henry. "The Call of Nature Wanted", The Gazette, February 18 2006, W 2.
ARCHAMBAULT, Raymond. “Exposition à la galerie de Loto-Québec”, CINQ-FM, Special programming, August 4, 2005.
MAVRIKAKIS, Nicolas. “Espace Création”, Voir, July 28, 2005, p. 35.
BILODEAU, Martin. “Tom Hopkins, Mentor et élèves à l’Espace Création de Loto-Québec”, CBF-R FM 95.1 Société Radio-Canada, ÉTÉ EXPRESS, July 21 ,2005
LAPOINTE, Diane. “LA SODAC distribue 160 000$ en bourses à ses artistes”, Longueuil Extra, December 1st, 2004.
“Une exposition d’ombres en lumière à la Galerie de l’Astronome”, Le Républicain (France), June 11, 2004.
MELLIÈS, Sylvie. “Des fruits et une démarche originale”, Sud-Ouest (France), June 2, 2004.
WAT, Emmanuel. 12-14 : Nouvelles télévisées sur France 3, February 27, 2003.
SEGONNE, Hélène. “Alexandre Masino expose chez Gigi”, La Dépêche (France), March 17, 2003.
SEGONNE, Hélène. “De repos et de lumière”, La Dépêche (France), December 20, 2002.
DESCHÊNES, Claude. Nouvelles télévisées, Radio-Canada, July 23, 2002.
CHA-FM, “La Vie immédiate” interview, November 6, 2000.
Chicago Gallery News, vol 13, no 2, September-December 1998, page 17.
TOUSIGNANT, François. Le Devoir “Dans le gris quelques perles”, April 7, 1997, page B8.
OLIVIER, Dominique. Voir, “À l’air libre”, March 17 to April 2, 1997.
Volute, no 6, Concordia University Fine Arts magazine, 1996.
OLIVIER, Dominique. Voir, “Que le meilleur gagne”, April 11 - 17, 1996.
DELAND, Monique. Trois, “Ce que je suis devant personne”, Winter 1995, page 180
Artistic Direction
1999 Visual conception for the concert Offrandes soniques by Quasar, Théâtre La Chapelle, Montréal.
1998 Visual conception for the concert De temps et d'espace by contemporary music group L'Ensemble Créaction, Théâtre La Chapelle, Montréal.
1998 Visual conception for the concert Hollande @ Québec by Quasar, Théâtre La Chapelle, Montréal.
1997 Artistic conception (with Jean-Marc Bouchard) and visual conception for the contemporary music concert Le cinquième lieu presented by L'Ensemble Créaction at l'Espace Tangente.
1996 Visual conception (exhibition, stage setting, lighting and creation of 3 short films) for the multi-disciplinary concert Parcelles du Monde by Quasar, at the Théâtre de la Licorne.
1995 Directed a short movie on his paintings entitled Pour m’étourdir.
Selected Collections
Gotlands Konsmuseum (Gotland Museum of Fine Art), Sweden
Avmor, Montreal
Me. Belhumeur, Montreal
CAniF, Cégep du Vieux-Montréal
Chateau de Beaulon, France
Elite Classics inc. , Montreal
Evans Encaustics, Sonoma, California
Heenan Blaikie LLB, Montreal
Jacob, Montreal
Stephen A. Jarislowsky, Jarislowsky Fraser, Montreal
Longueuil City
Loto-Québec, Montreal
Me. Mamy, Mayor of Sorèze, France
The Right Honourable Paul Martin
McAuslan Brewery, Montreal
Me. Ménard-Cheng, Montreal
SODAC, Longueuil
S.S.F. & Associates Ltd, Montreal
Other private collections in Canada, Europe and United-States
