The work of Claude Simard is often a joyful celebration of his own garden through the medium of acrylics on canvas. The riot of colours and shapes splashing through his paintings gives the feeling of spontaneity and excitement, but behind each canvas is the meticulous research and discipline of a master artist.

Soon after we started
to build this garden,
plants crept into my paintings.
Soon I was painting and planting the garden.
From then on,
there never was a line
between the garden and the studio.
The garden is one big evolving canvas.

-excerpt from Painting and Planting the Garden,
by Claude A. Simard, 1999, page 15.

About Claude A. Simard

Claude Simard was born in Quebec City on July 9th, 1943. He graduated in Graphic Design from the Ontario College of Art in 1966 and worked predominantly in graphic design until 1983.

He was head of Communications and Design for Simons in Quebec City from 1966 to 1973, and founded the Communikart Design Group, where he was head designer until 1984. He was selected to participate in the 1976 Canadian Graphic Designers exhibition organized by Industry and Commerce, Canada, and his symbol designs for Le Mobilier International and Scierie des Outardes were selected for publication in the "Top Symbols and Trademarks of the World" competition in Milan, Italy in 1973 and 1977.

Simard was elected to the Royal Canadian Academy of Art in 1983 and is now a Council Member. He is a professor in Laval University's Visual Communication Program, Montreal. He has painted murals for the Imperial Oil Company and Parks Canada, among others and has created eight stamps for Canada Post. Hallmark has published a collection of 48 cards by Simard. His work has appeared on the cover of Reader's Digest and Selection. In 2009 Simard's work was featured on the December issue of 'American Psychologist'.

Selected Exhibitions

The Quebec Museum, Quebec City
Ministry of Cultural Affairs, Quebec
The Folie des Arts Studio, Montreal
Villa Bagatelle, Quebec City
Château Bagatelle, Paris, France
Garrison Club, Quebec City

Selected Corporate Collections

Alcan; ABN Bank of Canada; Argus Corporation; Banque Nationale de Paris; Bombardier Inc.; Canada Steamship Lines; City of Quebec; City of Sainte-Foy; Confédération des caises Desjardins; Consolidated Bathurst; Coopvie des Artisans; Donohue inc.; Esso Resources Canada Ltd.; Gulf Canada Resources Ltd.; Hydro Quebec; Nesbitt Thomson; Noverco; Les Prévoyants du Canada; Reader's Digest of Canada; Rideau Hall; Royal Bank of Canada; Teleglobe Canada.