The Mario Bartolini Exhibit is returning with a new collection of art from May 15 to May 30, this time kids will also have the chance to paint mini 3-D copies of his sculptures on May 23 and May 30.
After the success of the 10th anniversary retrospective of the late Mario Bartolini’s (1930-2015) sculptures, Galerie Art Mûr on rue St-Hubert will host a new edition of “BARTOlini RETROspective” featuring a series of never-before-displayed works by the late Montreal artist.
This time the focus is on terracotta and tile works, along with select metal sculptures and wood sculptures.
The first exhibition, in the fall of 2025, focused on large and small-scale metal sculptures and almost sold out.
Bartolini’s son Dino organized the 2025 show, keeping a commitment he made before his father passed away following a long struggle with Alzheimer’s.
Despite creating art throughout his life, Mario Bartolini never pursued it as a career. He was a teacher at the École des Beaux-Arts de Montréal for many years while raising his four children.
He showed his works in New York and Paris at various outlets, including the Musée Rodin; and his work was previously exhibited at Expo ’67.
Disdaining the commercial side of the art world, Bartolini refused to get an agent or sell his work to private buyers. Most of his creations simply remained in his basement. His son Dino frequently suggested exhibiting them. Instead, during a particularly dark period, Bartolini told his son to burn everything after he died. He later relented, on the condition that it not be exhibited until ten years after his death. His son is now carrying out those final wishes.
