Interview with Joe Boudreau (2013)

Video of Tribute at Thomas Masters Gallery

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 Tribute, May 9th, 2018

The Joe Boudreau Tribute at Thomas Masters Gallery in Chicago, IL.

Tribute

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. 

Joe Boudreau Tribute

Tuesday, May 9^th, 5:30-8pm

Thomas Masters Gallery, Chicago

Chicago Artist Joe Boudreau (b.1960) passed away peacefully in the early morning hours of April 24^th 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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