Philippe Caron Lefebvre
Philippe Caron Lefebvre’s artistic approach revolves around a reflection that focuses on the complexities of nature, on the impact of science fiction through culture and on material determinism. His practice pays particular attention to the notion of evolution through the morphology of species, an interest that premise on the peculiarities of the fauna and flora demonstrating surprising characteristics. This curiosity is influenced by biomimicry, an area of applied science that emphasizes finding solutions that mimic nature. Otherwise, Philippe Caron Lefebvre’s affinity for science fiction is recurrent, guiding and shaping my aesthetic. The reference to this genre is a way of perceiving the state of our time, through alternative fiction of the past or the future. Literally, it inspires him to build a personal narrative and create speculative works, in particular, spaces that manifest utopian representations. His artworks are formed through multiple media, including installation, sculpture, drawing, collage and video. At last, his practice is conveying ideas of ecology, promoting sharing of knowledge and the democratization of art and crafts, as well as stimulating the perception through a dedicated material experience.
Born in Saint-Sauveur (Quebec), Philippe Caron Lefebvre lives and works in Montreal. He holds a BFA from the Université du Québec à Montréal and a MFA from Concordia University. Caron Lefebvre actively exhibits his work in Canada, Mexico and Japan. His most recent individual exhibitions include Cycles (Maison de la culture Claude Léveillé, 2019 & Plein sud, 2018), Syzygy (Galerie Nicolas Robert, 2018), Instinct I (Sporobole, 2016), Instinct II (Galerie McClure, 2016), La position de l’apex (Optica, 2016). His work can be found in several institutional and corporate collections, including the Collection Prêt d'œuvres d'art du Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec, the collection of the Musée d'art contemporain des Laurentides, the collection of Alice and Thomas Tisch (New York) as well as the corporate collection of Deloitte, Microsoft and the City of Montreal. In 2021, he was a finalist at the Pierre-Ayot award.
Recent Exhibitions
Philippe Caron Lefebvre - Cette pièce est un désir
From July 10 to August 28, 2021
Philippe Caron Lefebvre - Syzygy
From May 26 to June 29, 2019
Philippe Caron Lefebvre - Les faïences de l’abîme
From March 3 to 31, 2018
Philippe Caron Lefebvre - Mimetic Yoke
From January 7 to February 18, 2017
Selected Artworks
+ CV
EDUCATION
2016 - MFA, Concordia University, Montreal (QC)
2010 - BFA, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal (QC)
2005 - Diploma of College Studies Fine Arts, Cégep de St-Jérôme, St-Jérôme (QC)
RESIDENCIES
2019
- Art OMI, Ghent, New York, USA
2018
- Clay revival, Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, Banff (CB)
2015
- Studio Kura, Fukuoka, Japan
2014
- Research and creation residency, VON, Cuernavaca, Mexico
2013
- Research and creation residency, El Cholula Studio, Mexico
2011
- Production residency, support for emerging artists, CLARK, Montréal (QC)
2009
- Produire et Expirer, laboratoire de création, La Baraque, Montréal (QC)
COLLECTIONS
Microsoft
Collection Prêt d’oeuvres d’art du Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec
Musée d’art contemporain des Laurentides
Deloitte
Alice and Thomas Tisch, New York (USA)
City of Montréal
ART OMI Collection
GRANTS AND DISTINCTIONS
2019
- Research and creation, Canada Art Council
2018
- Development Grant, Canada Art Council
- Brenda and Jamie Mackie Endowed Fellowships for Visual Artists, Banff Centre (CB)
2017 -
- Bourse Plein sud, Longueuil (QC)
- Brett Littman Jury Award, Art Olympia International Art Competition, Tokyo, Japan
- Research and Creation Grant, Canada Art Counsil
2015 -
- Mobility Award, Concordia University, Montréal (QC)
- Traveling Grant, Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec
- Traveling Grant, Canada Art Council
2014
- Conference Grant, Mexico, Concordia University
2013
- Young Visual Arts Artist from the Laurentides region, Musée d’art contemporain des Laurentides
- Research and Creation Grant, Conseil des Arts et Lettres du Québec
2010
- Le prix d’excellence Robert-Wolfe, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal (QC)
+ Solo Exhibitions
2021
- (Upcoming) Galerie Nicolas Robert, Montréal (QC)
2020
- Ceramics, Corkin Gallery, Toronto (ON)
2019
- Cycles, Maison de la cultrue Claude Léveillé, Montréal (QC)
- Syzygy, Galerie Nicolas Robert, Montréal (QC)
2018
- Cycles, Centre Plein-Sud Art Actuel, Longueuil (QC)
- Les faïences de l’abîme, Galerie Nicolas Robert, Montreal (QC)
2017
- Joug mimétique, Galerie Nicolas Robert, Montréal (QC)
2016 -
- Instinct II, McClure Gallery, Montréal (QC)
- Instinct I, Sporobole, Sherbrooke (QC)
- La position de l’apex, Optica, Montréal (QC)
2015 -
- Fathomless, Galerie Fofa, Université Concordia, Montréal (QC)
- Shibuya, dreams and scapeshifts, Gallery Studio Kura, Fukuoka, Japan
2014
- Insondable, Musée d’art Contemporain des Laurentides, St-Jérôme (QC)
- Préface, Usine C, Montréal (QC)
- Thanatopsis, CIRCA art actuel, Montréal (QC)
2011
- Essaim mythique, Centre d’exposition de Val-David, Val-David (QC)
+ Selected Group Exhibitions
2019
- Chat, chat, joli quoi, curated by Nicolas Ranellucci, Maison de la culture du Plateau-Mont-Royal, Montréal (QC)
2018
- FEU, curated by André-Louis Paré, Maison de la culture Mont- royal, Montréal (QC)
2017 -
- The Adjacent Possible (TAP-1), curated by Marx Wilson, Montréal (QC)
2016 -
- Huile de coude, Atelier Gris, Montréal (QC)
- Illusion, Galerie Nicolas Robert, Montréal (QC)
2015 -
- Pyramide, curated by Samuel Roy-Bois, L’oeil de poisson, Québec (QC)
- You Maniacs you blew it up!, curated by Gillian King, PDA Projects, Ottawa (ON)
2014 -
- Dessins de sculpteurs, Galerie Nicolas Robert, Montréal (QC)
- VON , curated by Marcelino Barsi & Minerva Ayon, U. CMAEM, Cuernavaca, Mexico
- Playlist, galerie antoine ertaskiran, Montréal (QC)
2013 -
- D3 Drawing Lab Dessin, MFA Gallery, Concordia University, Montréal (QC)
- Autour de l’UQÀM, curated by Jacques Champagne, Galerie d’Este, Montréal (QC)
- Peinture fraîche et nouvelle construction, Galerie Art Mûr, Montréal (QC)
- Statuts et postures, Caravansérail, Rimouski (QC)
- New Shit, El Cholula Studio, San Andrès Cholula, Mexico
- No tengo tiempo. Museo Erasto Cortez, Puebla, Mexico
2012 -
- Filigrane, benefit exhibition, CIRCA art actuel, Montréal (QC)
- Latitude L, Maison de la culture Côte-des-Neiges, Montréal (QC)
- Collectionner, Maison de la culture Rosemont, Montréal (QC)
- Jusqu’à épuisement des stocks, Galerie B-312, Montréal (QC)
2011 -
- Ambiguïtés, benefit exhibition, CIRCA art actuel, Montréal (QC)
- Pavillon levé, CIRCA art actuel, Montréal (QC)
2010
- Première Impression, Galerie Arprim, Montréal (QC)
- Peinture fraîche et nouvelle construction, Galerie Art Mûr, Montréal (QC)
- Passage à découvert, Galerie de l’UQÀM, Montréal (QC)
- Déjà vu, Complot 7, Galerie Art Mûr, Montréal (QC)
2009
- Du pain et des jeux, Chat des artistes, Montréal (QC)
2008
- Paramètre, Galerie de l’UQÀM, Montréal (QC)
- Passage(s), Centre d’artistes L’art passe à l’est, Montréal (QC)
+ Art fairs
2020
- Art Toronto, Toronto (ON)
- Papier, Montréal (QC)
2019
- Art Toronto, Toronto (ON)
- Papier, Montréal (QC)
2018
- Untitled, art Miami Beach, Miami Beach, FL, USA
- Art Toronto, Toronto (ON)
- Papier, Montréal (QC)
- Art Los Angeles Contemporary, Los Angeles, CA, USA
2017
- Art Toronto, Toronto (ON)
- Papier, Montréal (QC)
2016
- Papier, Montréal (QC)
+ Press and publications
2019
- LALOU ROUSSEAU, Charlotte (2019) « Énigme de la figure et futurs alternatifs », esse arts + opinions,[Online], published on June 26, https://bit.ly/2TQQP8u
2018
- CALAND, Claire (2018). « Les 30 ans de Circa art actuel : Tout feu tout flame », Vie des arts, summer, no. 251, p. 44-47
- DELGADO, Jérôme (2018). « Du 3D aux trois-espaces », Le Devoir, [Online], published on May 19, https://bit.ly/2UEu8WZ
2017
- BONNEAU, Danielle (2017). « Roche Bobois célèbre les 150 ans du Canada », La Presse, [Online], published on November 20, https://bit.ly/2IrU9SF
2016
- DELGADO, Jérôme (2016). « Entre mer et monde (de l’art). Philippe Caron Lefebvre fait partie des artistes de la relève les plus prometteurs et prolifiques », Le Devoir, [Online], published on February 13, https://bit.ly/2DhJuG1
- BÉLANGER, Gentillane (2016). « Philippe Caron Lefebvre, La position de l’apex, Optica, centre d’art contemporain, Montréal / Instinct, Sporobole, centre en art actuel, Sherbrooke », esse arts + opinion, [Online], https://bit.ly/2GtERuB
- FECTEAU, Cynthia (2016). « Philippe Caron Lefebvre : Instinct », Espace : Art actuel, fall, no. 114, p. 92-94
2015
- DART, Christ (2015). « Philippe Caron Lefebvre's sculptures combine natural forms with eerie, sci-fi finishes », CBC Arts, published on November 2nd
- DE BLOIS, Ariane (2015). « Le corps sculpté dans le champs élargi de la sculpture », Espace Art Actuel, Formes de d’écologie, spring-summer, no. 110, p. 76-79
2014
- CORBEIL, Julie (2014). « Philippe Caron Lefebvre : l'univers parallèle de la mousse d'isolation », La Fabrique culturelle et Télé-Québec, [Online], published on November 27, https://bit.ly/2UlONdb
- BRACMORT, Cécilia (2014). « Review: Playlist – A Collection of Collectors at galerie antoine ertaskiran, Montreal », M-Kos, [Online], published Jully 9, https://bit.ly/2V4PrAb
2012
- Inter art actuel : Langage plastique, [Portefolio], n°110, Winter 2012**
2010
- DELGADO, Jérôme (2010). « Pièges et complots », Le Devoir, [Online], published on March 13, https://bit.ly/2Ul7Vbu
- GRANJON, Émilie (2010). « Vent de fraîcheur sur la relève », Vie des Arts, fall, no. 220