Shadows Touched

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of Marcelle Ferron, a major figure on Quebec’s visual arts scene. In the 1940s, she joined the circle of artists around Paul-Émile Borduas, known as the Automatistes, and added her signature to their revolutionary manifesto, the Refus global, which in 1948 challenged the conservative norms of Quebec society.


Showcasing her spontaneous approach to abstraction, bold use of colour and interest in light, this work was made in Paris, home to Ferron from 1953 to 1966. Beginning in 1964, she translated her painterly practice into stained glass, leaving behind remarkable public artworks in two of Montreal’s metro stations. Another stunning example of her work in glass is found in the Museum’s collection, and is on display across the street, in Bourgie Hall.