There is an enthralling energy present in Canadian artist Arcade Latour’s expressive abstractions, a vitality and rhythm which resides in the viscosity of his creations. Working in printers’ ink on canvas in both black and white and bold color, Latour’s vividly fluid and gestural marks alternate between broad, confident movements and a more choppy and staccato stroke, as the artist seems to search for the structure of his forms as they emerge before him. Thick and precise, the nature of Latour’s medium creates an exhilarating challenge for the artist. Powerful emotions emerge as he builds and carves through the inks, revealing vibrantly illuminated hues and textures.
Born in Drummondville, Quebec, Latour now lives and works in the Saint-Sauveur valley in the scenic lake and mountain region of Quebec. In addition to his career in the fine arts, Latour worked for many years in visual design and advertising, including designing the official “popemobile” for Pope Jean Paul II’s Canadian visit in 1984, and this aspect of his career has contributed to sharpening his vision as an artist.