Gilles Payette

Gilles Payette graduated in 1973 from the renowned sculpture school Saint-Jean Port-Jolie in Quebec. Following this, he taught wood sculpture for many years before pursuing his career as an independent artist. Payette had the opportunity to study internationally, in New York and Seattle, under the instruction of Francois Houdé, Bertil Vallien, Gene Koss and Hank Murta Adams.

Payette started his own studio in 1995 in Drummondville, Quebec where he worked for several years before moving to the countryside outside of Montreal, where he currently resides. His pieces have been part of exhibits internationally and nationally, and are part of private and public institutions and collections. Payette has also received several awards for his work, such as a Gold Medal for sculpture at the International Gala for Visual Arts in Montreal.

Gilles Payette's artistic process evolved from working with molding metals, bronze and aluminum to molding glass and integrating this into his sculptures. He has now become well-known for his unique technique of casting glass in sand moulds and creating beautiful and dynamic sculptures from these pieces. Payette's pieces are a reflection on the body, their interaction with these materials and the forms they take, whether it is to adorn, protect, clothe or decorate. He has said of his work: "By concentrating on and deconstructing these objects that protect, that cover, that engirt the body, this evolves into a meditation on our physicality."

All of Payette's pieces have a beautiful and precious quality to them and exude an aura that is warm and energetic. Payette's original style and expertise of sculpture has made him an important figure in the crafts community in Quebec.