The Life and Career of Michel Picotte

Born in Montreal in 1947, Michel Picotte remains settled in his native Canada. His practice operates across both Canada and Europe, spanning a career of approximately four decades. Throughout this period, he has produced a vast body of works utilizing different media. His approach often involves mixed media, where he combines found objects with patches of brilliant color tones.

The scale of his exhibition history reflects a consistent presence in the international art scene. Michel Picotte has participated in more than 75 group exhibitions throughout Europe and America. Beyond these collective displays, he has also shown his works in numerous solo shows in reputed galleries internationally. His output remains prolific, moving through various media with an imaginative touch that defines his professional trajectory.

Notable Works and Auction History

The trajectory of Picotte's output is marked by a shift in medium and scale. In 1974, he produced Sans titre, a work held within the Musée Des Beaux in Québec City. By 1984, his practice moved toward paper, resulting in Black and Red Abstract. This piece, an acrylic on paper, bears his signature and date in pen.

Auction records provide a specific window into the market value of his acrylic works. On June 25, 2015, the work titled Sanguine appeared at Waddington's in Toronto. This sale established a high point for his acrylic paintings, fetching C$228.

Public and Private Collections

The presence of Michel Picotte's work in institutional settings spans across Canada and into the United States. In Quebec, his pieces reside within the Musée du Québec, the Musée de Valcourt, and the Musée du Saguenay-Lac St-Jean. Other regional holdings include the Musée Régional du Bas du Fleuve and the Musée des Beaux in Québec City. These locations anchor his visual record within the provincial landscape.

Academic institutions also maintain his works within their permanent holdings. The Université du Québec à Montréal holds his pieces in Montreal, while Simon Fraser University maintains them in British Columbia. The reach of his collection extends further south to Morehead State University in Kentucky, U.S.A. This distribution across diverse educational and regional museums marks the physical footprint of his career.