A Pioneer of the Plasticiens Movement
Jean-Paul Jérôme was a Montreal-born painter, designer, sculptor, and art educator who emerged as a central figure in the abstract art scene of Quebec. After studying at the École des Beaux-Arts de Montréal, where he practiced fresco painting under Stanley Cosgrove, Jérôme’s career expanded through various exhibitions and professional roles. He worked in props and decoration for Radio Canada and participated in several significant shows, including the annual Art Association of Montreal Spring Shows and a solo exhibition at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts.
In 1955, Jérôme became a co-founder of the Les Plasticiens movement, contributing to the "Manifeste des Plasticiens" alongside Louis Belzile, Jauran, and Fernand Toupin. This movement sought a shift toward geometric structure and control. Following his travels through Europe, including stays in Paris, Italy, Switzerland, and Austria, he returned to Montreal to teach visual arts at the École des Beaux-Arts.
Artistic Evolution and Recognition
Jérôme's artistic journey was marked by a deep engagement with abstraction and form. During his time in Europe, he encountered artists such as Giacometti and Vasarely, developing an affinity for the harmony between color and shape. His work has been showcased in numerous solo exhibitions, such as those at Galerie Arnaud in Paris and Galerie Libre, and he was eventually elected a member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts in 1978.
His legacy is preserved in several prominent public collections, including:
In his later years, after retiring from teaching in 1973, Jérôme continued to create nonrepresentational art from a large studio in his former family home.
