Riopelle, Jean-Paul

Riopelle, Jean-Paul

(born Oct. 7, 1923, Montreal, Que., Can.—died March 12, 2002, Ile-aux-Grues, near Quebec City) Canadian painter and sculptor. He moved to Paris in 1947 and, with Paul-Émile Borduas, became associated with the group of Canadian painters known as Les Automatistes, who practiced automatism. His early lyrical, abstract paintings evolved into a denser, more powerful impasto style. He is renowned for his use of various media (including watercolour, ink, oils, crayon, and chalk), and he also produced large collage murals. He achieved international acclaim with the huge triptych Pavane (1954) and is the leading Canadian abstract painter of his generation.