Celebrating our 50Th Year in Percé

We arrived in the Gaspé in the winter of 1975. John moved from Barrie (Ontario) to Percé to join Lucie, who was working for the Canadian Wildlife Service. Arriving in the middle of a classic winter blizzard, John was captivated by the landscapes, the proximity to the ocean, the diversity of birds and wildlife and the culture of the Gaspé. In moving to such dynamic new surroundings, John's primary goal was to establish a studio where he could pursue his chosen career as an artist. Percé and the Gaspé provided an ideal and challenging environment.

 In the early years, John returned regularly to exhibit at various venues in Ontario, including Toronto, Burlington, Barrie, Ottawa and Muskoka, as well as in the United States. For a decade, John also had major exhibitions at the Musée le Chaffaud in Percé, the Musée de Gaspé, the Musée Acadien de Bonaventure, the Musée Villa Bagatelle and various galleries in Quebec.

In 1987, we embarked on a major renovation of our old homestead, built in 1843. The aim was to establish our own gallery, a new studio and custom frame shop. It was a major project that freed John from the vagaries and demands of galleries. John could now devote all his time to following his own inspirations, developing his watercolour techniques and exploring other artistic avenues.

 This year's exhibit represents the culmination of this project. The original paintings and drawings on display span the years 1974 to 2025 making for a broad representation of John's body of work. You can also peruse our extensive selection of limited edition lithographs and giclées. The giclées have been produced in our studio since 2004. Over 245 images are available.

The gallery also features stone sculptures by the Gaspesian artist Roland Nicolas, whose work we represented and collected until his death in 2007. We share with you part of our private collection of agates, minerals, beetles and butterflies from around the world. And for those who appreciate handmade knitwear, Lucie offers a colourful collection of tuques, mittens and other accessories.

We are proud of the work we have accomplished and the quality we have offered since 1975. La Maisonart Gallery is celebrating its 37th anniversary this year and we look forward to welcoming you. Our summer opening hours are from 9am to 6pm every day from May to mid-October. During the off-season, we are generally open and available every day, but would advise contacting us in advance.

 Thank you for your continued interest and encouragement.

New in 2025