Biography

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Born and raised in Drummondville, Quebec, Arcade Latour was a serial entrepreneur with a successful career in visual arts, publishing and graphic design before fully dedicating his time to his art. He is known for having designed the now-famous Popemobile for the visit of John Paul II to Canada in 1984. Latour discovered inks and their potential while still a teenager, among the discarded inks of a neighborhood print shop. Fascinated by the intensity of these colors and the density of their thick, malleable textures, he made it his mission to explore and master their possibilities. He held his first exhibition at only 15 years old and has been painting for over 50 years. 

Today, Latour's paintings are sold around the world at established galleries in Canada, the United States, and South Korea, among others.

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Artistic approach

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Contemporary Art with An Age-Old Medium: Ink

Canadian Arcade Latour (1950) is an established, self-taught artist known for his vibrant abstract paintings created using the age-old medium: Press Ink. Latour’s artworks, characterized by intense colors, complex surfaces and sculptural appeal, are created with ink traditionally used for books, catalogs, magazines, posters and packaging. He sources and recycles surplus ink gallons from well-established commercial printing companies and suppliers, giving him access to a fantastic medium that would have been otherwise discarded. Following a rigorous and precise method, Latour first liquefies ink pastes to make them more malleable, and then he develops precise blends for his desired palette. After decades of experimenting with this unique medium, he has a deep understanding of how the different densities and colors react, bond and impact one another. And yet, unexpected elements appear in every piece Latour creates. Layer by layer, the ink slowly finds its place, sometimes transforming along the way, and it finally settles after months -and even years- of curing. 

 

Captivating Details Everywhere You Look

Using his fingers and spatulas, Latour lays on canvas an intriguing universe of wondrous forms and movements. With spontaneous strokes, Latour transfers energy and emotions to the canvas. His ink, usually fluid, sometimes become flexible, allowing the artist to create topographic-like solidities with thick, raised textures that entice the fingers into yearning for a tactile caress. At first, viewers initially perceive a comprehensive and captivating ensemble, and a closer look at his paintings reveals projections, ridges and ledges that unveil fascinating details. Allowing our eyes to gaze inside each form, we discern breathtaking transparencies that contrast with opaque sceneries with irregular shapes and lines. Colors merge and mingle in unexpected ways, and details emerge that might have escaped our notice at first glance, capturing our attention and bringing us to try and understand how this is all possible. Deeply inspired by music and the work of painter Salvador Dali, Latour's world is intriguing and mysterious. This captivating universe of forms and movements opens to the imaginary, an invitation into magical, never-ending stories.