Dominic Besner

Dominic Besner (born 1965) is a Canadian artist. He was born in North Lancaster, Ontario, and completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in Architecture at the University of Montreal in 1992. His training as an architect influenced his artistic direction. Besner uses a mixed-media technique on canvas; working mostly in oil and exploiting its rich color palette. His works also employ acrylic paint, structural mortar, china marker and aerosol paint.

Early life

Besner was born in 1965 in North Lancaster, Ontario. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Montreal in 1992. His Architectural training, which he took at Algonquin College in Ottawa a few years before he begun his undergraduates studies allowed him time to reflect on the city and the parts that make it up. He was mostly interested its humanlike character and in the tradition that must be respected in any city planning as well as in the elements necessary for survival in a cultural milieu. His presence in a university setting gave him the critical thinking skills that allowed him to define his vision of a world based on human beings, preoccupied with the past, the present and the future. This training also brought him the discovery of painting, his true passion.^[1]

Mensi-Rioux

In 1996, Besner met Michael Mensi from the art agency Mensi-Rioux, based in Montreal, who asked to collaborate with him. Since 2000, Benoit Beauchamp have also joined the Mensi-Rioux team. Because of this merger, many events have been produced, namely La démesure des convoités, on November 9, 2004, at the Centre CDP Capital (1000, place Jean-Paul-Riopelle in Montréal), and the publication of three artist catalogues : La démesure des convoités. Dominic Besner (2000–2004), Dominic Besner (1993–2000) and Hundred Words (2010). The event-exhibition La démesure des convoités, as the title suggests, featured larger than life objects – faces of men and beasts, animals, women and even the city, from which all of the characters originate.^[1]

Past Exhibitions

Solo Exhibitions

• September 2009 Exhibition La voyageuse du temps, Galerie Iris, Baie-St-Paul (Canada)
• October–November 2008 Opening event, Thompson-Landry Gallery Calgary, ‘’Au Fil de l’Art’’, Alberta (Canada)
• November 2007 Au Fil de l’Art, Galerie MX, Artworks of Besner presented alongside Haute-couture fashion by six Quebec designers in addition to three Moroccan designers, Montreal (Canada)
• October 2007 Nacarat banquet, Venise Cadre Gallery, Casablanca (Morocco)
• November 2004 La démesure des convoités, CDP Capital Center, Montreal (Canada).
• November 2004 La Xe cité révolue, Head office of the Cirque du Soleil, Montreal (Canada).
• March–April 2002 Le cri des lunes, Estampe Plus Gallery, Quebec (Canada).
• November 2000 Saint-Dizier Gallery, Montreal (Canada)
• May 2000 Iris Art Gallery, Baie-Saint-Paul (Canada).
• October 1998 Coup de théâtre, Estampe Plus Gallery, Quebec (Canada).
• Octobre 1995 Naomi Gallery, Montreal (Canada).

Group Exhibitions

• December 2008 Make-A-Wish Fundraising event, Galerie MX Montréal (Canada)
• December 2008 Galerie MX, ’’12 x 12’’, Montréal, (Canada)
• June 2007 Galerie MX, soirée Rendez-vous, Montréal (Canada)
• March 2006 Las Olas Fine Arts, Strawberries–Champagne, Fort Lauderdale, Floride (USA)
• January 2006 Rosetta Stone Fine Art, A Night at the Circus, Juno Beach, Floride (USA)
• May 2005 Dixième anniversaire Galerie Saint-Dizier, Montréal (Canada)
• 2003-2004 Galerie 479, Ottawa (Canada)
  • Galerie du Dauphin, Honfleur (France).

• March 2009 Galerie Estampe Plus, Québec (Canada).

• 2000-2007 Represented by Galerie Estampe Plus, Québec (Canada)

• 2000-2003 Teodora Art Gallery, Toronto (Canada).

• November 2002 Les Impatients, Centre d’expression et d’interprétation, Montréal (Canada).

• Novembre 2002 Galerie Saint-Dizier, Montréal (Canada).

• 1999 Artrageous Gallery, New York (USA)
  • Galerie Drabinsky, Toronto (Canada).

• 1997 Galerie d’art du Petit Champlain, Québec (Canada).

• 1996 Galerie Le Portal, Québec (Canada); Louise Smith Gallery, Toronto (Canada).

• 1995 Galerie Leclerc-Churchill, Montréal (Canada).

Exhibitions in Institutions

• September–December 2009 Espace création of Loto-Quebec (Canada)
• September–November 2007 Vaudreuil-Soulanges Museum (Canada)
• January–March 2007 Villa des Arts Museum in Casablanc (Morocco)
  • Espace Creation of Loto-Québec (History of Passion Exhibit)
• March–June 2007 La Villa des Arts de Rabat Museum, Fil de l'Art exhibit, (Morocco)
• November 2003-January 2004 Musée de Las Artes of Guadalajara University (Mexico)

Future Exhibitions

In 2010, Besner will represent Canada in the International exhibition in Shanghai. In the Canadian pavilion of the exhibition, two of his large format pieces will be featured, which will give him worldwide visibility.

Dominic Besner and his agents are planning an event-exhibition that is scheduled to take place in an undisclosed location in Montreal in 2011. The title of this event MORA, is also the title of a novella written by the artist that links together all of the places, people and animals in his works and allows fans to gain a new perspective on his unique universe. 250 people are currently working on this project and are being led by Guy Caron, the first art director for Cirque du Soleil in 1984. Caron is collaborating with Danielle de Bellefeuille, and College Lasalle students are being used to provide costumes for the event. Although Michael Mensi and his team plan on taking MORA on tour elsewhere in the world, the premiere is said to take place in Montreal to thank all of Besner’s supporters in Quebec that have helped make his career what it is today.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Mensi Rioux. "Biographie." La Nuit Des Cités (2007): 5-6. Print.

External links

• Djogo, Martina (29 November 2007) De la toile au tissu published by Communications Voir.
• Mills, Michael (27 September 2001). Driven to Abstraction published by New Times Broward/Palm Beach.
• Galerie MX, Montreal, Quebec, artist representation [1] www.galeriemx.com
• Chatar, Khadija (September 2008) [2] published by L'Express de Toronto
• Bernier, Robert (September 2011) [3] by Parcours Art et Art de vivre

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Name	Besner, Dominic
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Date of birth	1965
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