Artist Jean Gaudreau opened an exhibition titled “Dialogue avec Corno” on July 2, 2026 [3], featuring 30 paintings [1] that reinterpret the work of Joanne Corneau.
The exhibition serves as a formal bridge between two generations of Quebec artists. By re-interpreting Corneau's style, Gaudreau seeks to give a second life to her artistic legacy a decade after she died.
Located at Espace 400e in the Vieux-Port de Québec [2], the collection marks the 10-year anniversary [2] of Corneau's death in 2016. Gaudreau developed the series as a direct response to the influence Corneau had on his own creative trajectory.
“Je voulais être comme elle,” Gaudreau said [1].
The artist said Corneau's work possessed an “énergie flamboyante,” or flamboyant energy [1]. This energy served as the catalyst for the 30 pieces [1] currently on display. Each painting acts as a visual conversation, blending Gaudreau's perspective with the foundational elements of Corneau's aesthetic.
The project was designed to honor the late painter's contributions to the arts in Quebec, and the Saguenay region [2]. By utilizing the space at Espace 400e, the exhibition places the dialogue within the historical context of the city's waterfront.
Gaudreau said the goal of the exhibition is to ensure that Corneau's influence continues to resonate with contemporary audiences through new interpretations of her original vision [1].
““Je voulais être comme elle,” Gaudreau said.”
This exhibition represents a curated effort to preserve the influence of 20th and 21st-century Quebecois art. By reinterpreting the work of a deceased artist rather than simply archiving it, Gaudreau is employing a method of 'active memory' that keeps the original artist's style evolving within the current art scene.
