Dominique Blain’s worldview is crystallized in her oeuvre, which is in a constant state of renewal. Often considered political, her practice is a formal translation of her critical viewpoint on the world. Her body of work speaks to universal topics close to human fate. Major exhibitions have been dedicated to her work, including at the UQAM gallery, the Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal, the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec and the Arnolfini International Centre for Contemporary Arts, in Bristol, UK, and have circulated in several large cities across Canada, the UK, Europe and the US. She has created several major public works of art, namely at the Maison symphonique and the Musée des beaux-arts de Montréal, as well as at the CBC headquarters, in Toronto. In 2014, the Quebec government bestowed upon her its highest distinction, the Paul-Émile Borduas Award. In 2019, the Canadian Cultural Centre in Paris presented a major exhibition that was then circulated to the Centre de creation contemporaine Olivier Debré, in Tours, France, in 2020, and at the Château de Chambord, in 2021. Dominique Blain lives and works in Montréal, Quebec.
See the artist’s works that are part of the Canada Council Art Bank collection.
“Dominique Blain has worked as a visual artist for more than 40 years. The excellence of her work has not diminished during that time and finds expression in the aesthetics and commitment through which she has had a powerful impact on the Canadian and international art scene. […] Blain’s worldview is expressed in a constantly renewed œuvre that combines objects and images that reveal a world bereft of benchmarks. Often regarded as political, her art primarily speaks to us in the language of humanism.”
Nominator: Louise Déry, Galerie de l’UQAM
“Often regarded as political, her art primarily speaks to us in the language of humanism.”
Selected works
Dominique Blain, Stars and Stripes, exhibition view of WarZones, Vancouver Art Gallery (1999), 1985, screen printing on fabric, 300 x 160 cm (series of 12 flags).
Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec and Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity collections.
Photo credit: Trevor Mills Vancouver Art Gallery
Dominique Blain, Untitled, 1987, cigar, bullet, lipstick and wooden box, 40 x 45 x 6 cm (series of 50).
Collection of the artist.
Photo credit: Richard Max Tremblay
Dominique Blain, La République, 1990, emulsion on film, wood, microphones, 50.8 x 147.3 x 50.8 cm.
UQAM artwork collection.
Photo credit: Galerie de l’UQAM
Dominique Blain, Missa, exhibition view at Meyers/Bloom Gallery, Los Angeles, USA, 1992, one hundred pairs of combat boots, nylon thread, metal grille and wood, 7 x 7 m.
Musée des beaux-arts de Montréal collection.
Photo credit: Robert Wedemeyer
Dominique Blain, Village, 2004, cardboard, paper mache, newspaper, wood, lamps, 396 x 122 x 122 cm.
Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal collection.
Photo credit: Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal
Dominique Blain, Village (détail), 2004, cardboard, paper mache, newspaper, wood, lamps, 396 x 122 x 122 cm.
Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal collection.
Photo credit: Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal
Dominique Blain, The Trials of Patricia Isasa, 2016.
Development of the set design for the contemporary opera produced by Chants Libres, presented at the Monument national, in Montréal.
Photo credit: Chants Libres
Dominique Blain, Monuments, 2020, view of the installation at the Centre de création contemporaine Olivier Debré, in Tours, France, 390.55 x 630 cm.
Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec collection.
Photo credit: François Fernandez, Centre de création contemporaine Olivier Debré
Discover the 2024 Winners
View video portraits of the artists, read their biographies, view images of their artwork, and find out why they were nominated.
Do you know someone who deserves a GGArts award?
The next deadline for nomination is June 1.
For more information, view the guidelines.