JOE BOUDREAU
Sunday, May 13, 2018
Saturday, May 12, 2018
Thank you Joe Boudreau supporters!!!
Thanks to Joe Boudreau's family, friends, collectors and admirers that attended the Tribute in his honor on May 9th, 2018. More than 120 people crowded into the Thomas Masters Gallery, the place that Joe exhibited his work in a few years ago. Owners Thomas and Agnoska were kind enough to give up the space for this special commemoration. Tom had a soft spot for the artist, and encouraged him to paint and show over the years. Thank you again for your generosity...
Joe's biggest supporters stayed until the end of the Tribute, taking the opportunity to blow bubbles in his honor!
Joe Boudreau (Nov 2, 1960 - April 24, 2018)
Joe (born George Joseph Boudreau, American, 1960) was an unusual child, insofar that he hid his near blindness until his family discovered it at the age of five. From that point on he became a ravenous artist, taking to multiple mediums and mastering shading and volume by nine. His creative drive lead him to leave home at 17 to study graphic design at the Pratt Institute in New York. He was influenced by the new street art around him in the early 1980’s, created by artists later recognized as Jean-Michelle Basquiat and Keith Haring. Ultimately Joe ended up at the Maryland Institute College of Art where he settled into his painting style. Baltimore was the city his first solo exhibitions were held.
The artist was in the restaurant industry in Ohio and Florida through his 20’s and 30’s, because it allotted him enough time to paint during the week. Joe settled into Chicago in the 1990’s, and was pleased to call it home until his passing. In the last decade of his life, Joe regained the prolific creative energy of his youth. More than 100 unique works were created, often times on a hot radiator box used as an easel in a friend’s tiny kitchen. It was not unusual to see the artist wrangle 6-foot canvases down the narrow stairwell of his apartment in Uptown. His work was boldly off-balanced and brilliant. Headless, striding figures in suits often “fell” from all corners of his compositions. He paired paint colors most artists would avoid, and the results were startlingly beautiful. An avid thrifter, Joe would bring home neglected paintings and photographs, painting over the scenes and into their frames. The results were surprisingly interesting. Joe used deep symbolism to work through a lifetime of memories; tents from his time of homelessness, images of his beloved dog Bruno, dark black shapes hinting at the pain his troubled organs gave him. He didn’t like to talk about his own work much, but he wasn’t afraid to lay himself bare on the canvas.
Joe’s unique compositions, featuring blocks of flat paints, heavy drips and unusual subject matter is what drew people to his work, and ultimately to him. There aren’t many of his collectors that didn’t develop a friendship with the artist. Gallery owners also took to his artwork. He had multiple shows in the city at Las Manos and Thomas Masters Galleries, and was represented by Interior Designer Michael Del Piero. His shows were well attended and the work flew off the walls. Joe also has more than a dozen large works on permanent display at the DePaul Arts and Letters Hall here in Chicago. The public can view the paintings there, Monday-Friday, 8am-11pm.
Friday, April 27, 2018
Joe Boudreau Tribute
Tuesday, May 9th,
5:30-8pm
Thomas Masters Gallery,
Chicago
Chicago Artist Joe Boudreau
(b.1960) passed away peacefully in the early morning hours of April 24th
after a prolonged illness. His sister and close friends spent the last few days
with him, reminiscing about his childhood, friendships and artwork. If you knew
Joe as a friend, confidant or were a collector of his works, please join us in
celebrating his unusual and prolific life.
This Tribute event is meant
to bring together those who gravitated towards Joe, his infectious humor and boundless
energy for anything art-related. We will be celebrating his life through
pictures, video and any artwork of his that YOU want to bring and show
off. We hope to create a pop-up art
exhibition by reuniting as many of his (small/medium sized) works for this last
exhibition. Works will be placed against
the walls of the gallery for the duration of the event for everyone to enjoy.
Join us for Joe’s favorite
pastime: pie and coffee from 5:30-7:00pm, as well as an open-forum for anyone
who has a wonderful memory to share with his family and friends from 7-8pm.
Please consider making a donation to help this event be successful. A GoFundMe
donate button can be found on this event page. Thank you for your generosity.
GOFUNDME
Joe brought many of us
together; let’s gather again- one more time- to be joined through his art and life.
We are looking forward to
reconnecting with all the people Joe loved and cared about in Chicago and
beyond.
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Wednesday, August 7, 2013
Modern Luxury Interiors Chicago
Work featured in Modern Luxury Interiors Chicago this month. Thanks to Interior Designer Robyn Shapiro for incorporating three of Joe's paintings into her client's home!
Thursday, July 4, 2013
Summer 2013 Notice
The lack of recent work is due to a year-long medical leave.
I am hoping to have new work ready for the blog by Fall 2013.
Thank you- Joe
Photo by Katlyn Hubner
I am hoping to have new work ready for the blog by Fall 2013.
Thank you- Joe
Photo by Katlyn Hubner
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Friday, June 15, 2012
Monday, April 2, 2012
New Work April
Untitled #230, 331 available at Michael Del Piero Good Design HERE.
Untitled #230 4' x 5' Mixed Media
Untitled #231 4' x 5' Mixed Media
Untitled #230 4' x 5' Mixed Media
Untitled #229 4' x 8' Diptych Mixed Media
In Private Collection in New York City, NY
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
New Work
Monday, February 6, 2012
February, 2012
Untitled #226 available at Michael Del Piero's Good Design HERE.
Untitled #227 - 5' x 4'
Oil, Enamel, Polyurethane stain, Acrylic and Latex on canvas
In Private Collection
In Private Collection
Untitled #226 - 4' x 5'
Oil, Enamel, Polyurethane stain, Acrylic and Latex on canvas
Monday, January 2, 2012
December, 2011
Untitled #223, available at Michael Del Piero's Good Design HERE.
Untitled #225 - 5' x 6'
Untitled #224- 5' x 8' Diptych
Oil, Enamel, Polyurethane stain, Acrylic and Latex on canvas
In Private Collection in Chicago, IL
In Private Collection in Chicago, IL
Untitled #223 - 4' x 5'
Oil, Enamel, Polyurethane stain, Acrylic and Latex on canvas
Saturday, November 19, 2011
New Works, November 2011
Untitled #221 available at Thomas Masters Gallery
Untitled #222 - 4' x 5'
Oil, Enamel, Polyurethane stain, Acrylic and Latex on canvas
In Private Collection
In Private Collection
Untitled #221 - 4' x 5'
Oil, Enamel, Polyurethane stain, Acrylic and Latex on canvas
Thursday, October 20, 2011
New Works, October 2011
Oil, Enamel, Polyurethane stain, Acrylic and Latex on canvas
DePaul University, Lincoln Park Campus, Chicago
Untitled #219 - 4' x 5'
Oil, Enamel, Polyurethane stain, Acrylic and Latex on canvas
DePaul University, Lincoln Park Campus, Chicago
Untitled #218 - 4' x 5'
Oil, Enamel, Polyurethane stain, Acrylic and Latex on canvas
DePaul University, Lincoln Park Campus, Chicago
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Monday, August 15, 2011
Monday, August 1, 2011
July 2011
Untitled #201, 210, 211 available at Michael Del Piero Good Design HERE.
Untitled #212 - 4' x 5'
Untitled #212 - 4' x 5'
Oil, Enamel, Polyurethane stain, Acrylic and Latex on canvas
DePaul University, Lincoln Park Campus, Chicago
Oil, Enamel, Polyurethane stain, Acrylic and Latex on canvas
Untitled #211b Mixed Media
In Private Collection
Untitled #211b Mixed Media
In Private Collection
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
New Works, Summer 2011
Oil, Enamel, Polyurethane stain, Acrylic and Latex on canvas
DePaul University, Lincoln Park Campus, Chicago
Untitled #205 - 5' x 12' (three panels 5' x 4')
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