Education

BA (Concordia, Université de Montréal), MA (Hunter College, Université de Montréal)

Biography

Michel Daigneault’s art practice has for many years focused on Investigating what constitutes abstraction today and thereby exploring how abstraction relates to larger social forces.

A key for understanding his recent work lies in what is unstated, but implied, in the titles, eg: It was once abstract.. and Don’t look at me like that! If it was once abstract what is it now? How is it still? Similarly, the imperative tone of Don’t look at me like that! challenges and critiques opticality as the dominant visual model for abstraction.

Michel Daigneault has exhibited his paintings in numerous solo and group shows across Canada, in the US and France. His work is represented in many public collections including the National Gallery of Canada, Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal, Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec, Musée de Joliette and the Canada Council Art Bank. His most recent exhibitions have been at Rodman Hall Arts Centre, Brock University, St. Catharines; Art Gallery of Outremont, Outremont; and Trois Points Gallery, Montreal.

Professor Daigneault held teaching appointments at Ohio State University, Nova Scotia School of Art and Design, Emily Carr School of Art and Design and University of Lethbridge before joining York’s Department of Visual Arts in 2002. He has also guest-taught at Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières and École nationale d’art de Cergy Pontoise, France.