The Montreal Painter
Born in Montreal, Canada, Gabriel Bastien lived a life shaped by the textures of his home city. He was a painter and a muralist who understood how color could occupy a space, whether on a canvas or a public wall. His presence in the Montreal art scene was marked by a commitment to formal training and the development of others. In 1960, he helped found the École professionnelle d’art commercial, a step that anchored his influence in the local creative community.
His work often moved between the private intimacy of a studio and the public scale of urban architecture. He worked with various materials to leave a mark on the city he called home.
Works and Collections
His work is found in specific locations, often tied to the geography of Quebec. He focused on both the painted surface and the integration of art into the city's structure.
- Labyrinthe jaune - Musée Des Beaux, Québec City
- Ceramic mural at Sherbrooke subway station, Montreal
His ceramic mosaic mural at the Sherbrooke metro station in Montreal was a collaboration with Andrea Vau. These pieces were designed to exist within the movement of the city, moving from the easel to the permanent, tactile surfaces of the urban environment. This work is part of the public landscape of Montreal.
A Quiet Legacy
Bastien passed away in Montreal in 1977. He left behind a body of work that spans the transition from traditional painting to the functional application of art in public spaces. His contribution to the founding of an art school ensured that his influence would persist through the hands of those he helped train. He remained a fixture of the Montreal landscape until the end of his life.
