André Schirmer's distinctive style shifts between abstraction and realism. His expressions of everyday life capture people in motion, city life and portraits of a moment in time.
Montreal artist, Andre Schirmer studied at the École des Beaux-Arts de Montréal. In 1967, after completing his Fine Arts degree, he began a career as a graphic designer and illustrator. After a successful career, Schirmer retired from the business to devote himself to painting, his first love and passion.
Schirmer's subject matter is diverse. His urban and rural landscapes beat with the pulse of life. His figures in motion are suggestive of 'street photography' where human presence, buildings and fashion are all in context with one another. The dynamic energy of daily life is expressed by bold, gestural lines and bursts of colour. It offers a glimpse into Schirmer's experiences of the city and its people.
The artist most recent body of work consists of portraits, often of women, that move between stillness and movement. Interested in the aesthetics of beauty Schirmer's women are beautiful, sensual, confident and captivating, often looking back directly at the viewer. At the same time, the artist is able to capture an essence of something intimate and revealing about his subjects, as though the portrait is verging on a candid moment. His female portraits are painted in a style reminiscent of magazine covers or evoke the portraiture style of Henri Cartier-Bresson.
Schirmer's medium of choice is acrylics. His painting style is informed by his training in graphic art. Bold imagery, balanced and thoughtful composition, and saturation of colour are all characteristics of his work. His paintings are often accentuated by the use of various techniques and mixed media elements, all working together to interpret and strengthen the authenticity of his subject matter.
In each piece he strives for authentic personal expression and aesthetic beauty.
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS | ||
2011, 2012 | Stephen Lowe Art Gallery, Calgary, Alberta | |
2011 | Galerie Onessimo Fine Art - West Palm Beach, Florida | |
Galerie Knowlton - Knowlton | ||
Lise Leclerc, courtier en oeuvres d'art - Québec | ||
Mensi & Rioux - Montréal | ||
Galerie MX - Montréal | ||
Galeries d'Art Beuchamp - Québec | ||
Las Olas Fine Arts - Fort Lauderdale, Florida | ||
Café Les Entretiens - Montréal | ||
2011 | Exposition Les Dames de la Fontaine - Montreal | |
2010 | Koyman Galleries - Ottawa | |
2010 | Gallery Déjà Vu, inc. Fine Art - Miami, Florida | |
2009 | Cercle des Artistes Peintres et Sculpteur du Québec - 3e Grand Prix en frontière figurative | |
2008, 2009 | Galerie Bistrot Carpe Diem - Knowlton | |
2009 | Exposition Galerie Dentaire - Montréal | |
2006, 2008 | Studio 261 - Montréal | |
2007 | Galerie Baliz - Montréal | |
2007 | Galerie Harwood - Hudson | |
2007 | Exposition La Farandole des arts visuels du Lac Masson | |
2002 | Exposition Galerie Henry Giroux - St-Sauveur | |
1998 | Galerie Harrison - Montréal | |
1998 | Exposition au Centre de commerce mondiale | |
1996 | Exposition privée - rue St-Jean, Montréal | |
1994 | Exposition au Centre d'Histoire de Montréal | |
1993 | Exposition TRAFFIC - Vieux-Montréal | |
1984 | Exposition à la Galerie Clarence Gagnon | |
1980-1987 | Plusieurs autres expositions privées |
PRIVATE & PUBLIC COLLECTIONS | |
DuMaurier Imperial Tobacco - Avmor, Montréal | |
Journal La Presse - Montréal | |
Magil Construction - Montréal | |
Organisation de l'aviation civile internationale (OACI) - Montréal | |
Bell Canada - Montréal | |
Aéroport de Montréal- Montréal | |
Union des municipalités du Québec (UMQ) |
MEDIA COVERAGE | |
MAGAZIN'ART, Édition Automne 2010, p 84 - 87 |