Marcelle Ferron (1924-2001) is one of the most important artists from Quebec. A master of abstraction, she is one of the two women who signed the Refus Global in 1948 and exhibited with Les Automatises. Her reputation goes beyond Montreal, with recognition across the country and beyond. 

Although Ferron was one of the key members of the Automatistes, in 1953 she decamped to Paris for 13 years. Despite working in Europe, she maintained the aesthetic philosophy and approach of her Automatiste contemporaries. Ferron returned to Montreal during a time of great change, energy, and creativity as the city prepared for Expo67. 

Ferron is a master colorist and often employs a "sweeping" technique by utilizing a palette knife, or something comparable, to create striking contrasts, multicolored filaments  and ripples of texture. 

This untitled work serves as a striking example of Ferron's distinctive aesthetic and her European séjour. Shades of turmeric, slate, cork, smoke grey, navy and midnight black are applied in broad, angular strokes that seamlessly intertwine and overlap while maintaining the integrity of the tones without any blurring or alteration.

Ferron's masterful use of negative space accelerates the bold, gliding swathes of paint, offering breaks in the composition that yield an unexpected and evocative graphic appeal.

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“Untitled”

Canada, 1965

Oil on paper laid down on canvas

Signed and dated by artist

36"H 23.25"W (work)

40.25"H 27.75"W (framed)

Provenance: Walter Moos, Toronto,  Private collection, Vancouver Private collection, Montreal

Note: price is $21,500 CAD