BARTOLINI, Mario (1930-2015)

Mario Bartolini studied at the École des beaux-arts de Montréal. He later taught at the school, as well as at the Université du Québec à Montréal, between 1952 and 1969. He received third prize at the Concours artistique de la province du Québec in 1953 and second prize in 1956 and 1963. He has participated in several major group events such as the Salon de la jeune sculpture at the Musée Rodin (Paris, 1965) and the Paris Salon international de la sculpture (1966). His work was also represented in the following exhibitions: La sculpture au Québec. Naissance et persistance 1946-1961 at the Musée du Québec (1992) and Panorama de la sculpture québécoise 1945-1970 at the Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal and at the Musée Rodin (1970-1971). Bartolini’s clay sculptures from the 1950s, such as Jouet, La grande fille, Jeu d’une silhouette and Sentinelle, resemble abstract figures as much as particular characters, whether from an imaginary game or existing within a fictitious space. His welded metal works consist of simple geometric forms perched atop vertical elevations, evoking birds or cacti.