Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec opens Espace Riopelle

The Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec (MNBAQ) has inaugurated the Espace Riopelle – Pavillon Michael Audain, a new three-story facility located on the Plains of Abraham. The $84 million project, designed by the firm Les Architectes FABG, covers more than 5,600 square meters and serves as the largest space in Canada dedicated entirely to a single artist.

The pavilion houses 235 works, including 131 pieces by Jean Paul Riopelle, such as paintings, sculptures, and works on paper. The exhibition ‘Riopelle. L’expression du geste’ spans over 1,000 square meters and traces more than fifty years of the artist's career.

Funding for the project was provided through a partnership between the Government of Quebec, which contributed $44 million, the City of Quebec, and various philanthropists including Michael Audain and Pierre Lassonde. The construction utilized 218 tonnes of black spruce, 90% of which was sourced from Quebec.