Jean McEwen

Jean McEwen (Canadian, 1923–1999), known for being in the forefront of Canadian Abstract painting, was born in Montréal. While studying pharmacy at the University of Montréal in 1944, he wrote poetry and had his works published in literary journals.

His artistic interests changed in 1946, when he saw The Moon and Sixpence—a film about Paul Gaugin (French, 1848–1903)—and decided that painting and poetry were equal forms of expression. Inspired by the film, he taught himself to paint in a Figurative style while still pursuing his degree. He met the Abstract painter Paul Emile Borduas (Canadian, 1905–1960) in 1949, who became a great influence on McEwen’s life and artistic style. The 1950s were a time of great change and growth for McEwen; he went to Paris for a year in 1951, where he met the artists Jean-Paul Riopelle (Canadian, 1923–2002) and Sam Francis (American, 1923–1994), and was introduced to the works of Jackson Pollock (American, 1912–1956).

Upon his return to Montréal, he transitioned into removing all figures from his work. Working at a pharmaceutical company during the day, he still continued to gain momentum in the art world. He was exhibited in an avant-garde group show at the Montréal Museum of Fine Arts, and became a member and later president of the Non-Figurative Artists of Montréal (AANFM). In the 1960s, he painted the five panel mural Rouge en Liesse at the Toronto International Airport, began working in watercolors, and created his renowned series Les Drapeaux Inconnus (Unknown flags). In 1965, he started to use acrylics almost exclusively, and didn’t go back to oils until 1970.

During the 1970s, McEwen quit his pharmaceutical job to focus solely on his art. He was awarded the Victor Lynch-Staunton, traveled to Paris for the second time, and when he returned to Canada, began lecturing at two different universities. His first retrospective took place in 1987 at the Montréal Museum of Fine Arts.

He died suddenly in 1999, a year after receiving the highest artistic award in Québec, the Paul-Emile Borduas Prize.