Alfred Pellan (1906–1988) is celebrated as one of Canada’s most influential modernist painters. His artistic journey evolved from representational imagery to abstract forms and surrealist creations, leaving an indelible mark on Canadian and international art. In addition to painting, Pellan designed murals, theatre costumes, stained glass, and illustrated books, showcasing his multifaceted creativity. Girl with Anemones (1932), a pivotal work, bridges his early representational style with his later abstract and surrealist interests.

Pellan began his formal art education in 1920 at the École des Beaux-Arts in Quebec City, where his exceptional talent was quickly recognized. At just 17 years old, the National Gallery of Canada acquired his work A Corner of Old Quebec (1922). In 1926, he earned a prestigious Quebec government scholarship to study in Paris, working under Lucien Simon at the École des Beaux-Arts. During this period, Pellan immersed himself in the works of Van Gogh, Matisse, Picasso, and Miró, which profoundly influenced his use of bold color, abstracted forms, and flattened perspectives.

Pellan’s first solo exhibition took place in 1935 at the Académie Ranson in Paris. Alongside painting, he contributed to the fashion world by designing fabrics for couturier Elsa Schiaparelli. In 1939, he exhibited alongside Picasso, Dalí, and other renowned artists in the Washington exhibition Paris Painters of Today. With the onset of World War II, Pellan returned to Quebec, where his exhibitions in Quebec City and Montreal inspired a new generation of local artists.

Settling in Montreal, Pellan became head of the advanced painting course at the École des Beaux-Arts in 1943. His work extended beyond painting to include book illustrations and costume designs, notably for a 1946 Montreal production of Twelfth Night. As a leader of the Prisme d’Yeux group (1948), he championed an art free from ideological constraints, emphasizing pure expression and universal creativity.

In 1952, Pellan returned to Paris on a research fellowship from the Royal Society of Canada. His three-year stay culminated in a major retrospective at the Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris in 1955. After returning to Montreal, Pellan continued to produce groundbreaking work and exhibit widely, cementing his legacy as a pioneer of Canadian modern art.