Pierre Coupey
Canadian
Pierre Coupey was raised and educated in Montreal. He graduated from Lower Canada College and received his BA from McGill University, and then studied drawing at the Académie Julian and printmaking at the Atelier 17 in Paris. He received his MA in English and Creative Writing from the University of British Columbia, and a Certificate in Printmaking from the Art Institute, Capilano University.
He was a founding Co-editor of The Georgia Straight and the founding Editor of The Capilano Review. His work has received awards, grants, and commissions, including grants from the Conseil des Arts du Québec, the Canada Council, and the British Columbia Arts Council. He has published several books of poetry, and exhibited internationally. Major public collections include the Burnaby Art Gallery, the Canada Council Art Bank, the Kamloops Art Gallery, the Kelowna Art Gallery, Simon Fraser University Art Gallery, the University of Lethbridge Art Gallery and the Vancouver Art Gallery
Coupey explores a nexus of emotional, cultural, technical and aesthetic challenges. Colour, texture, and scale are often punctuated with allusions to, and quotations from, a range of classic, modern, and contemporary poets. In Coupey’s Field paintings, he focuses on the field in all forms and meanings; the fields of the Prairies, France and Ukraine, the field of battle, field of knowledge, the field of experience, the field of the past, and the field of language. Language is integral to his art and is pronounced through line, indecipherable script, and symbols. The lines inscribed in red paint from his Field paintings were inspired by Erin Moure’s ‘The Unmemntioable’ (Anansi, 2012), book of poems that cross “borders of culture and memory” in multiple languages.
Coupey continues to explore intensities of mark-making and layered, structured colour. His 2017 series “Across | Between | Within” examines a non-linear style, which the artist refers to as “clusters”. Coupey’s colourful and emphatic application transcend an underlying spiritual observation that entice viewers to contemplate the value of intuition and mystery. His assertive clusters created by a vibrant palette maintain a rhythmic and momentous style.
Selected Awards/ Grants/ Commissions
| 2019 | Faculty Emeritus, Capilano University, North Vancouver |
| 2018 | RCA, Royal Canadian Academy of Arts, Ottawa |
| 2017 | Alumni Profile/Nos Anciens, Lower Canada College, Montreal |
| 2015 | Painting Commission, 745 Thurlow, Vancouver, BC |
| 2013 | Distinguished Artist Award (Visual & Literary Arts), FANS, North Vancouver, BC |
| Exhibitions Grant, Audain Foundation for the Arts, Vancouver, BC | |
| 2003 | Aichi Gakusen Faculty Exchange, Tokyo, Japan |
| 2000 | Millenium Print Project, North Vancouver Arts Council, Vancouver, BC |
| 1998 | Exhibitions Grant, Canadian Embassy, Tokyo, Japan |
| 1996-97 | Visual Arts Grant, British Columbia Arts Council, Vancouver, BC |
| 1986 | Mural Commission, The Prow Restaurant, Canada Place, Vancouver, BC |
| 1980-81 | Visual Arts Grant, Canada Council |
Notable Public Collections
| Art Gallery at Evergreen Cultural Centre, Coquitlam |
| Artists for Kids Trust, North Vancouver |
| Belkin Art Gallery, University of British Columbia |
| Burnaby Art Gallery |
| Canada Council Art Bank, Ottawa |
| Capilano University, North Vancouver |
| Carleton University Art Gallery, Ottawa |
| City of North Vancouver |
| Contemporary Art Gallery (City of Vancouver) |
| District of North Vancouver |
| District of West Vancouver |
| Kamloops Art Gallery |
| Kelowna Art Gallery |
| Lions Gate Hospital Art Collection |
| Maltwood Gallery (Coast Art Trust), Victoria |
| Nanaimo Art Gallery |
| North Vancouver Arts Council |
| North Vancouver Museum |
| North Vancouver School District |
| Province of British Columbia, Canada |
| Simon Fraser University Art Gallery, Burnaby |
| St Paul’s Hospital Foundation, Vancouver |
| Two Rivers Art Gallery, Prince George |
| University of Alberta Art Collection, Edmonton |
| University of Guelph Collection / Macdonald Stewart Art Centre |
| University of Lethbridge Art Gallery |
| University of Victoria Art Collections |
| Vancouver Art Gallery |
| Vancouver General Hospital Foundation |
| West Vancouver Museum |
| West Vancouver School District |
Notable Corporate Collections
| Aldo Group, Montreal |
| Barometer Capital, Toronto |
| bcIMC, Calgary |
| bcIMC, Vancouver |
| Braeside Resources, Vancouver |
| Christopher Investments, Vancouver |
| Citibank Canada, Toronto |
| College & Institute Educators Association, Vancouver |
| Denbigh Fine Art Services, Vancouver |
| Hyatt Regency, New Orleans |
| Image This Photo, Vancouver |
| Kernaghan Adjusters, Vancouver |
| Koerner Graduate Student Center, UBC, Vancouver |
| Lower Canada College, Montreal |
| McCullough O’Connor Irwin, Vancouver |
| McGill Student Society, McGill University, Montreal |
| Metrix Insurance, Vancouver |
| North Shore News, North Vancouver |
| Protechnical Insurance, Vancouver |
| RSVP Reservations, Vancouver |
| Securiguard Services, Vancouver |
| Segal Group, Toronto |
| Toronto-Dominion Bank, Toronto |
| Larry Young & Associates, Vancouver |
Selected Solo Exhibitions
| 2023 | Echo’s Bones, Gallery Jones, Vancouver, BC |
| 2022 | Léon Coupey: My Dearest Kate, West Vancouver Art Museum, BC |
| 2021 | Work on Paper & Rainy River, Gallery Jones, Vancouver, BC |
| 2020 | Walking the Cat Back, Gallery Jones, Vancouver, BC |
| 2019 | Manifest/Trace, Seymour Art Gallery, North Vancouver, BC |
| 2018 | Rock Pool, Gallery Jones, Vancouver, BC |
| 2017 | Across | Between | Within, Odon Wagner Contemporary, Toronto, ON |
| 2016 | New Work, Gallery Jones, Vancouver, BC |
| 2014 | Measures, Odon Wagner Contemporary, Toronto, ON |
| 2013 | Cutting Out the Tongue: Selected Work 1976-2012, Art Gallery at Evergreen / West Vancouver Museum |
| Field Work, Gallery Jones, Vancouver, BC | |
| 2011 | Featured Artist, Gallery Jones, West Vancouver, BC |
| 2010 | Between Memory and Perception, Gallery Jones, Vancouver, BC |
| Projects, Capilano University Art Gallery, North Vancouver, BC | |
| 2008 | Counterpoint, Gallery Jones, Vancouver, BC |
| 2006 | Tangle, Burnaby Art Gallery, Burnaby, BC |
| Requiem Notations I-IX, Richmond Art Gallery (Gateway Theatre) | |
| 2004 | Paintings / Prints, West Vancouver City Hall |
| BlackWhiteGrey, Capilano University Art Gallery, North Vancouver, BC | |
| Artist in Residence, The Urban Garage, West Vancouver | |
| 2002 | Notations: Recent Work, Ballard Lederer Gallery, Vancouver, BC |
| 1999 | Requiem Notations I-IX, Art Gallery at Evergreen, Coquitlam, BC |
| 1998 | Notations 1994-1998, Canadian Embassy Gallery, Tokyo |
| Work from the Notations Series, Montgomery Fine Art, Vancouver, BC | |
| 1997 | Work in Process: Drawings, Proofs, Prints, Capilano University Art Gallery, North Vancouver, BC |
| 1995 | Notations 12-15 (For Eva), Seymour Art Gallery, North Vancouver, BC |
| From the 80’s: Trellis, Wedge, Montgomery Fine Art, Vancouver, BC | |
| From the 70’s: Selected Journal Drawings / New Work on Paper, Atelier Gallery, Vancouver, BC | |
| 1994 | Notations: Painting the Lion from a Claw, Atelier Gallery, Vancouver |
| 1992 | Recent Work: Prints, Atelier Gallery, Vancouver |
| 1991 | Paintings 1970-1990, Capilano University Art Gallery, North Vancouver, BC |
| 1990 | Variations done for bpNichol, Atelier Gallery, Vancouver |
| 1988 | Pierre Coupey: Recent Works, Surrey Art Gallery, BC |
| 1987 | A Book of Days I-XII, Crown Gallery, Vancouver, BC |
| 1982 | Recent Paintings, Studio Nine Gallery, Toronto, ON |
| Journal Drawing Series, The Gallery, Scarborough College, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON | |
| 1981 | Seven Paintings, Capilano University Art Gallery, North Vancouver, BC |
| New Work 1980-1981, cPresentation House Gallery, North Vancouver, BC |
Selected Group Exhibitions
| 2022 | Art Toronto, Odon Wagner Gallery, Toronto, ON |
| Abstraction: Selected Gallery Artists, Gallery Jones, Vancouver, BC | |
| Group Show, Seymour Art Gallery, North Vancouver, BC | |
| 2021 | Selected Stories: West Vancouver Art Museum’s Artist Editions Prints, Kay Meek Centre, West Vancouver, BC |
| Cave Light Flickers, Pendulum Gallery, Vancouver, BC | |
| Imaginary Portraits, Canton-Sardine, Vancouver, BC | |
| House of All Sorts, Gordon Smith Gallery of Canadian Art, North Vancouver, BC | |
| 2020 | Written on Water, Grosvenor Ambleside, West Vancouver, BC |
| 2019 | Art Toronto, Odon Wagner Gallery, Toronto, ON |
| The Raiders: Ceramics, Terminal Creek Contemporary, Bowen Island, BC | |
| Celebrating 30 years at the FBG, Ferry Building Gallery, West Vancouver, BC | |
| The Poets Have Always Preceded, 1960 – present, Griffin Art Projects, North Vancouver, BC | |
| 2018 | Transformations: Selected Work from the AFK Collection, Gordon Smith Gallery of Canadian Ar, North Vancouver, BC |
| Through the Memory Atlas: 40 Years of Collecting, Kamloops Art Gallery, Kamloops, BC | |
| A Generous Spirit: Work from the Permanent Collection, West Vancouver Art Museum, BC | |
| 2017 | Art Toronto, Odon Wagner Gallery, Toronto, ON |
| Art Palm Beach 2017, Odon Wagner Gallery, Toronto, ON | |
| Canada 150: Celebrating Our Artists, Odon Wagner Contemporary, Toronto, ON | |
| Vivid Dimensions, Odon Wagner Contemporary, Toronto, ON | |
| The Big Picture, Kelowna Art Gallery, Kelowna, BC | |
| 2016 | Summer Show: Gallery Artist, Gallery Jones, Vancouver, BC |
| 2012-16 | Art Toronto, Odon Wagner Contemporary, Toronto, ON |
| 2015 | 30 Years, Seymour Art Gallery, North Vancouver, BC |
| Small Works: Gallery Artists, Gallery Jones, Vancouver, BC | |
| 2014 | Gallery Jones: Celebrating 10 Years, Gallery Jones, Vancouver, BC |
| West Coast Innovators, West Vancouver Library / West Vancouver Museum, BC | |
| The And of the Land, West Vancouver Museum, BC | |
| The Material Form: Contemporary Abstract Painting, Gallery Jones, Vancouver | |
| 2011 | The Point Is, Kelowna Art Gallery, Kelowna, BC |
| The Artist’s Circle, West Vancouver Museum / Harmony Arts Festival, BC | |
| Manifestos Now!, Teck Gallery, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, BC | |
| 2010 | Gallery Artists, Gallery Jones, West Vancouver, BC |
| 2009 | Gallery Artists, Gallery Jones, Vancouver, BC |
| Coast Art Trust: Works, Art Gallery at Evergreen, Coquitlam, BC | |
| 2007 | Coast Art Trust: Early Works, North Vancouver Museum, BC |
| 2006 | New Acquisitions: City of Burnaby Permanent Art Collection, Burnaby Art Gallery, Burnaby, BC |
| 2004 | Totally Manipulated: Digital Art, Cityscape Gallery, North Vancouver, BC |
| Celebrating 20 Years of Printmaking, Grand Forks Art Gallery, BC | |
| 2003 | Celebrating 20 Years of Printmaking, Burnaby Art Gallery, Burnaby, BC |
| 2002 | Art Institute Prints, Pacific Northwest College of Art, Portland |
| 2001 | Prints from Canada’s Pacific Province, Graphic Studio Gallery, Dublin |
| Youthful Visions, Artists for Kids Trust Gallery, North Vancouver, BC | |
| Printmaking Possibilities: Photo/Digital, Capilano University Art Gallery, BC | |
| Common Ground, Cityscape Gallery, North Vancouver, BC | |
| 2000 | From the Collection: Dispatches & Inscriptions, Vancouver Art Gallery, Vancouver, BC |
| Impressions and Expressions, Seymour Art Gallery, North Vancouver, BC | |
| Reflections of Place, West Vancouver Museum, BC | |
| First Folio, Sunshine Coast Art Center, Sechelt | |
| 1996 | The Chair, Seymour Art Gallery, North Vancouver, BC |
| 1995 | Works on Paper: Canadian, American & European Artists, Atelier Gallery, Vancouver, BC |
| 1993 | Abstraction: Which Way from Here? Canada Trust Tower, Calgary, AB |
| Prints from the Art Institute, Canadian Consulate, Nagoya, Japan | |
| 1980 | Salon des Refusés 1980, Soames-Dunn Building, Seattle |
| 1979 | Affinities: Ten Painters of this Region, Vancouver Art Gallery, BC |
| 1978 | Three Person Show, Presentation House Gallery, North Vancouver, BC |
| 1972 | The Private Patron: BC Art, Simon Fraser University Art Gallery, Burnaby, BC |
| Microprosophus: International Concrete Poetry Show, Evergreen State College, Evergreen, Washington | |
| 1969 | Three Person Show, Bau Xi Gallery, Vancouver, BC |
| Group Show, Bau Xi Gallery, Vancouver, BC | |
| 1968 | Two Person Show, Graduate Student Center, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC |
| Festival of Technology & Art, Ryerson Institute of Technology, Toronto, ON | |
| 1964 | J.A.M.M. Collects, Stable Gallery, Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, Montreal, QC |
| Quebec Painters under Thirty, Stable Gallery, Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, Montreal, QC |
Education
| 1992 | Certificate (Printmaking), Art Institute, Capilano University, North Vancouver, BC |
| 1971 | Master of Arts (English / Creative Writing), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC |
| 1964-65 | Académie Julian (Drawing) / Atelier 17 (Printmaking), Paris, France |
| 1964 | Bachelor of Arts (English / Creative Writing), McGill University, Montreal, QC |
| 1960 | Senior Matriculation, Lower Canada College, Montreal, QC |
| 1959 | Junior Matriculation, Lower Canada College, Montreal, QC |
