The work of Marcelle Ferron is about freedom, both in artistic expression and in life. Ferron, one of the members of Les Automatistes, and a signatory of the Refus Global, frequently engaged in political battles. As a woman, an abstract painter and a Québeçoise, she situated herself against the ruling class in both art and politics. She has been a firm proponent of the idea that art can be a transformative power in society. In 1953, Ferron left Quebec to live in France, where she remained for 14 years. During this period she studied printmaking with Stanley Hayter at Atelier 17 and stained glass techniques with Michael Brun.

Untitled, of 1960, is an excellent example of Ferron’s vigorous paint handling and her method of using a palette knife to apply bright colours, which appear almost transparent on a white background. Ferron has been a constant presence in the national art scene since her return to Canada in 1966, and has achieved recognition for her contribution to abstract painting and for numerous public commissions in the medium of stained glass.

© Oeuvres Ferron / CARCC Ottawa 2024