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BIOGRAPHY - Mark Laguë (Born 1964)

Mark Laguë

Raised in Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Québec, a suburb of Montreal, Mark Laguë enjoyed a sports-oriented childhood, playing hockey and baseball along with his two brothers and three sisters. Although cultural activities and the arts were not particularly emphasized in his family, Laguë took an early interest in drawing, commenting that he was “always doodling and drawing...on books or desks or anything.” It was not until his last year of high school, however, that he received any formal instruction in the visual arts; and his aptitude for drawing so impressed his teacher that she encouraged him to continue studying art after graduation.

When he graduated at age sixteen, Laguë moved on to the educational program known as CEGEP (Collège d'enseignement général et professionnel). This is a two-year program unique to the province of Québec which replaces the period that would typically be identified as the senior year of high school and the freshmen year of university. It is intended to allow students to prepare more thoughtfully for university- level work.

With the encouragement of his parents, Laguë began his studies as a fine arts major at John Abbott College in 1981. Located adjacent to the campus of McGill University’s Macdonald College in Montreal’s West Island community, John Abbott College had been accredited as a CEGEP school in 1970. There, Laguë was introduced to a formal course of study in drawing, painting, printmaking and art history, working with the artist Steve Bloomer (1920-2005), who had helped to establish the visual arts curriculum for the college when it first opened. Laguë recalls him fondly, noting that he was a “great teacher”.

As a student, Laguë hoped to establish a career as an illustrator and he recognized the importance of strong drawing skills as a foundation for building that future. He remarks that his parents instilled a strong work ethic in him and his siblings, in part by setting an example in their own lives. When he finished his two-year CEGEP education, Laguë continued to study art, but also went to work at the local Sears warehouse to pay the bills. From 1983-84, he enrolled in a number of classes at the Visual Arts Center (VAC), an independent art school that offered courses at all levels of instruction. With a flexible schedule that could dovetail with his warehouse job, the VAC was an ideal program for a young artist to refine his artistic skills and knowledge. As a result, he began to think more seriously about art as a career.

By 1985, he had begun his final stretch of formal art education at Concordia University in Montreal where he received his BFA in Design three years later. The highlight of these years was the live model studio time on Thursday evening and Friday afternoon. Laguë remembers these studios as central to his art education; each model would pose for a time-period of thirty seconds to five minutes. Students had to capture the essentials of each pose quickly, training their eyes and hands through repetition and intense focus. There was no formal supervision beyond the imperative to “just draw”. Laguë loved it.

As he was completing his last year of study, Laguë noticed a job ad on a school bulletin board; he applied for the position and started working for Pedie Pedia Animation two months before he graduated. Although it was an informal three-person firm, Pedie Pedia gave him an introduction to animation. He prepared the backgrounds for 26 ten-minute educational films, and more importantly, began to establish himself within the animation industry of Montreal. Within two years, he was working as a contract employee for Ciné-Groupe Animation, a “real animation studio”. This furthered his knowledge of the business of animation and paved the way for his eventual move to Cinar Animation in 1989.

As he was finishing his schooling, he also met the young woman who would eventually become his wife. When he and Lori married in 1993, Laguë was an established commercial artist working for Cinar Animation as a background designer and art director. Throughout these years, however, he also maintained his practice of drawing and painting watercolors.

In 1996, he started to exhibit his work in a small gallery in Lancaster, Ontario. This experience also served as his inauguration to the art market and gallery business practices. An initiation of another sort arrived on Christmas Eve with the birth of his son. The following year, he began teaching watercolor painting classes at the Dollard Civic Center in Dollard-des-Ormeaux.

Although it may not have appeared to be a turning point at the time, the waning years of the twentieth century contained the seeds of Laguë’s career as a full-time painter. The century closed happily with the birth of his daughter in 1999, but the twenty-first century opened with a significant—and very public—embezzlement scandal at Cinar Animation.  The scandal unfolded over the course of a few years, ultimately ending with the destruction of the company. Before that eventuality, Laguë had already decided to become a full-time painter.

He had prepared the ground for his career shift by entering a number of juried exhibitions in the US, focusing on both watercolor and oil painting shows. In 2002, he won an award at the Oil Painters of America-Eastern Regional exhibition, and came to the attention of the Brazier Art Gallery of Richmond, Virginia. That led to his first solo show in 2004, followed by another solo exhibition in Santa Barbara, California the following year. For the next five years, Laguë’s career as a professional painter thrived; there were more solo shows in Richmond and Santa Barbara, but also in Boulder, Colorado, Scottsdale, Arizona, and in several galleries in Québec and Ontario. Likewise, he was a participant in a number of juried shows for the Oil Painters of America, the American Watercolor Society and the American Artists Professional League annual exhibition at the Salmagundi Club in New York.

The future looked very bright until the advent of the recession in 2009 when the economic downturn dealt a severe blow to the market for most art. Laguë was fortunate that his wife’s work remained steady, but the next few years were financially bleak. Since 2012, with the return of stable economic growth, the market for Laguë’s work has regained a healthier position.

He works primarily in oil now, typically painting cityscapes and occasional figural scenes. Laguë strives for originality, noting that “honest work is best”, eschewing iconography for abstraction. Over the years, he has become more and more of a studio painter as his work has become looser. When asked about how he sees his work developing, he replies that he hopes to keep simplifying it, adding that “growth is slow and must be both earned and meaningful.”


Janet Whitmore, Ph.D.


Juried Exhibitions

Oil Painters of America 2005
Hilligoss Gallery - Chicago Illinois

Oil Painters of America 2004
Howard/Mandville Gallery - Kirkland Washington

Salon International 2002, 2003, 2004
Greenhouse Gallery - San Antonio Texas

2004 Plein Air Magazine Publisher's Award

American Watercolor Society Annual Exhibition 1996, 2003

Salmagundi Club - New York New York

Oil Painters of America 2002
Brazier Fine Art - Richmond Virginia - Award of Excellence

American Artists Professional League Annual Exhibition 1996, 2002
Salmagundi Club - New York New York - 2002 American Artists Fund Award

AVAILABLE WORKS
Notre Dame Aerial - Mark Laguë
Mark Laguë
(Born 1964)
Notre Dame Aerial
Oil on panel
30 x 30 inches
Signed
Quai aux fleurs, Paris - Mark Laguë
Mark Laguë
(Born 1964)
Quai aux fleurs, Paris
Oil on panel
30 x 30 inches
Signed
Brooklyn Bridge Afternoon - Mark Laguë
Mark Laguë
(Born 1964)
Brooklyn Bridge Afternoon
Oil on panel
30 x 30 inches
Signed
Sixth Avenue Night - Mark Laguë
Mark Laguë
(Born 1964)
Sixth Avenue Night
Oil on panel
18 x 24 inches
Signed
Florence Afternoon (Ponte Vecchio) - Mark Laguë
Mark Laguë
(Born 1964)
Florence Afternoon (Ponte Vecchio)
Oil on panel
30 x 30 inches
Signed
London Haze - Mark Laguë
Mark Laguë
(Born 1964)
London Haze
Oil on panel
30 x 30 inches
Signed
Flatiron Blue - Mark Laguë
Mark Laguë
(Born 1964)
Flatiron Blue
Oil on panel
30 x 30 inches
Signed
Lady Liberty Two - Mark Laguë
Mark Laguë
(Born 1964)
Lady Liberty Two
Oil on panel
36 x 36 inches
Signed
Under the L Train - Mark Laguë
Mark Laguë
(Born 1964)
Under the L Train
Oil on Artefex Panel
30 x 30 inches
Signed
Paris Light - Mark Laguë
Mark Laguë
(Born 1964)
Paris Light
Oil on panel
39 x 29 inches
Signed
Manhattan Alley - Mark Laguë
Mark Laguë
(Born 1964)
Manhattan Alley
Oil on panel
36 x 24 inches
Signed
Over the Brooklyn Bridge - Mark Laguë
Mark Laguë
(Born 1964)
Over the Brooklyn Bridge
Oil on panel
30 x 48 inches
Signed
Fifth Avenue Church Light - Mark Laguë
Mark Laguë
(Born 1964)
Fifth Avenue Church Light
Oil on panel
34 x 22 inches
Signed
Chrysler Building - Mark Laguë
Mark Laguë
(Born 1964)
Chrysler Building
Oil on panel
24 x 24 inches
Signed
Empire State Blue - Mark Laguë
Mark Laguë
(Born 1964)
Empire State Blue
Oil on panel
39 x 23 1/2 inches
Signed
Open Door - Mark Laguë
Mark Laguë
(Born 1964)
Open Door
Oil on panel
30 x 30 inches
Signed
Trinity Church Light - Mark Laguë
Mark Laguë
(Born 1964)
Trinity Church Light
Oil on panel
36 x 18 inches
Signed
Thoroughbreds One - Mark Laguë
Mark Laguë
(Born 1964)
Thoroughbreds One
Oil on panel
12 x 18 inches
Signed
Sold Works
Grand Palais, Paris - Mark Laguë
Mark Laguë
(Born 1964)
Grand Palais, Paris
Oil on panel
30 x 30 inches
Signed
Moulin Rouge - Mark Laguë
Mark Laguë
(Born 1964)
Moulin Rouge
Oil on panel
30 x 30 inches
Signed
Charleston - Mark Laguë
Mark Laguë
(Born 1964)
Charleston
Oil on panel
38 x 38 inches
Signed
Harbour Town - Mark Laguë
Mark Laguë
(Born 1964)
Harbour Town
Oil on panel
38 x 38 inches
Signed
Paris Aerial - Mark Laguë
Mark Laguë
(Born 1964)
Paris Aerial
Oil on panel
36 x 36 inches
Signed
Basilica della Salute, Venice - Mark Laguë
Mark Laguë
(Born 1964)
Basilica della Salute, Venice
Oil on panel
30 x 48 inches
Signed
Yellow Trolley After Rain, San Francisco - Mark Laguë
Mark Laguë
(Born 1964)
Yellow Trolley After Rain, San Francisco
Oil on panel
40 x 30 inches
Signed
Over Arc de Triomphe - Mark Laguë
Mark Laguë
(Born 1964)
Over Arc de Triomphe
Oil on panel
40 x 30 inches
Signed
New York Red Umbrella - Mark Laguë
Mark Laguë
(Born 1964)
New York Red Umbrella
Oil on panel
24 x 18 inches
Signed
Notre Dame, Paris - Mark Laguë
Mark Laguë
(Born 1964)
Notre Dame, Paris
Oil on panel
30 x 40 inches
Signed
Champs de Mars - Mark Laguë
Mark Laguë
(Born 1964)
Champs de Mars
Oil on panel
30 x 48 inches
Signed
Lady Liberty - Mark Laguë
Mark Laguë
(Born 1964)
Lady Liberty
Oil on panel
11 x 11 inches
Signed
The Eye - Mark Laguë
Mark Laguë
(Born 1964)
The Eye
Oil on panel
30 x 48 inches
Signed
Paris Vertical - Mark Laguë
Mark Laguë
(Born 1964)
Paris Vertical
Oil on panel
40 x 20 inches
Signed
Afternoon on the Thames - Mark Laguë
Mark Laguë
(Born 1964)
Afternoon on the Thames
Oil on panel
30 x 48 inches
Signed
Through the Tower - Mark Laguë
Mark Laguë
(Born 1964)
Through the Tower
Oil on panel
24 x 30 inches
Signed
London Night - Mark Laguë
Mark Laguë
(Born 1964)
London Night
Oil on panel
20 x 20 inches
Signed
Flibert Street - Mark Laguë
Mark Laguë
(Born 1964)
Flibert Street
Oil on panel
40 x 30 inches
Signed
Holy Trinity Rain - Mark Laguë
Mark Laguë
(Born 1964)
Holy Trinity Rain
Oil on panel
36 x 24 inches
Signed
Brooklyn Bridge Afternoon - Mark Laguë
Mark Laguë
(Born 1964)
Brooklyn Bridge Afternoon
Oil on panel
30 x 40 inches
Signed
Notre Dame Afternoon - Mark Laguë
Mark Laguë
(Born 1964)
Notre Dame Afternoon
Oil on panel
39 x 30 inches
Signed
Venice Afternoon - Mark Laguë
Mark Laguë
(Born 1964)
Venice Afternoon
Oil on panel
40 x 30 inches
Signed
Big Apple Store - Mark Laguë
Mark Laguë
(Born 1964)
Big Apple Store
Oil on panel
31 x 40 inches
Signed
London Red - Mark Laguë
Mark Laguë
(Born 1964)
London Red
Oil on panel
36 x 30 inches
Signed
Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridge - Mark Laguë
Mark Laguë
(Born 1964)
Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridge
Oil on panel
30 x 48 inches
Signed
Alone at a Paris Cafe - Mark Laguë
Mark Laguë
(Born 1964)
Alone at a Paris Cafe
Oil on panel
40 x 30 inches
Signed
Red Cable Car in San Francisco  - Mark Laguë
Mark Laguë
(Born 1964)
Red Cable Car in San Francisco
Oil on panel
30 x 24 inches
Signed
Over Tel Aviv - Mark Laguë
Mark Laguë
(Born 1964)
Over Tel Aviv
Oil on panel
30 x 48 inches
Signed
Thoroughbreds Two - Mark Laguë
Mark Laguë
(Born 1964)
Thoroughbreds Two
Oil on panel
16 x 16 inches
Signed
Manhattan Night - Mark Laguë
Mark Laguë
(Born 1964)
Manhattan Night
Oil on panel
40 x 30 inches
Signed
Saint Thomas on Fifth - Mark Laguë
Mark Laguë
(Born 1964)
Saint Thomas on Fifth
Oil on panel
36 x 24 inches
Signed
London Night - Mark Laguë
Mark Laguë
(Born 1964)
London Night
Oil on panel
40 x 30 inches
Signed
Tower by the Seine - Mark Laguë
Mark Laguë
(Born 1964)
Tower by the Seine
Oil on panel
30 x 40 inches
Signed
Thoroughbreds Three - Mark Laguë
Mark Laguë
(Born 1964)
Thoroughbreds Three
Oil on panel
8 x 10 inches
Signed
Thoroughbreds Four - Mark Laguë
Mark Laguë
(Born 1964)
Thoroughbreds Four
Oil on panel
16 x 20 inches
Signed
Saint Patrick\'s Candles - Mark Laguë
Mark Laguë
(Born 1964)
Saint Patrick's Candles
Oil on panel
36 x 24 inches
Signed
Saint Patrick\'s Afternoon - Mark Laguë
Mark Laguë
(Born 1964)
Saint Patrick's Afternoon
Oil on panel
36 x 24 inches
Signed
Lowes - Mark Laguë
Mark Laguë
(Born 1964)
Lowes
Oil on panel
39 x 30 inches
Signed
Fifth Avenue Night - Mark Laguë
Mark Laguë
(Born 1964)
Fifth Avenue Night
Oil on panel
36 x 39 inches
Signed
Trinity Church - Mark Laguë
Mark Laguë
(Born 1964)
Trinity Church
Oil on panel
40 x 24 inches
Signed
NYSE From Below - Mark Laguë
Mark Laguë
(Born 1964)
NYSE From Below
Oil on panel
36 x 24 inches
Signed
Radio City Night - Mark Laguë
Mark Laguë
(Born 1964)
Radio City Night
Oil on panel
40 x 30 inches
Signed
NYSE Red, White and Blue - Mark Laguë
Mark Laguë
(Born 1964)
NYSE Red, White and Blue
Oil on panel
24 x 36 inches
Signed
NYSE Light - Mark Laguë
Mark Laguë
(Born 1964)
NYSE Light
Oil on panel
24 x 36 inches
Signed
Eiffel Tower, Dusk - Mark Laguë
Mark Laguë
(Born 1964)
Eiffel Tower, Dusk
Oil on panel
20 x 16 inches
Signed
Flatiron Shadows - Mark Laguë
Mark Laguë
(Born 1964)
Flatiron Shadows
Oil on panel
40 x 30 inches
Signed
Over Florence - Mark Laguë
Mark Laguë
(Born 1964)
Over Florence
Oil on panel
30 x 40 inches
Signed
Symphony Ten - Mark Laguë
Mark Laguë
(Born 1964)
Symphony Ten
Oil on panel
30 x 30 inches
Signed
St. Mark\'s Reflections - Mark Laguë
Mark Laguë
(Born 1964)
St. Mark's Reflections
Oil on panel
36 x 36 inches
Signed
Sun on the River Seine - Mark Laguë
Mark Laguë
(Born 1964)
Sun on the River Seine
Oil on panel
30 x 36 inches
Signed