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The Collection

Collection Loto-Québec

Proud supporter of Québec arts and culture

The Collection Loto-Québec is one of the largest corporate art collections in the province. It includes prints, sculptures, paintings, sketches, objects and photographs created by Québec artists. 

In addition to showcasing the invaluable cultural heritage it represents, the Collection sets up initiatives and partnerships to foster creation, especially with emerging artists. 

Our commitment to promoting Québec arts and culture led us to ask four Québec artists to create a collective work using scratch art, a form of direct engraving where they scratch or scrape off a dark surface to reveal a lighter layer beneath. 

The four works by Judith Berry, Rafael Sottolichio, Berirouche Feddal and Wendy-Alexina Vancol will be displayed together at Place des Arts from September 18 to October 6. 

A LOOK AT THE COLLECTION

The Collection Loto-Québec illustrates Québec’s artistic production landscape.

It’s one of the largest corporate art collections in the province and includes prints, sculptures, paintings, sketches, objects, and photographs. 

Robert WOLFE

Soir tourmente, 1988


Etching, 31/70
30 cm x 24.5 cm


Collection Loto-Québec, NAC 0133

 

Winner of the print contest in 1988

 

Louis MUHLSTOCK

Sans abris, 1930


Pastel and charcoal on paper
33 cm x 45 cm


Collection Loto-Québec, NAC 0511

Albert DUMOUCHEL

Passage de caribous, 1965


Lithography, 6/17
64 cm x 50 cm


Collection Loto-Québec, NAC 0597

Dominique VALADE

Un espace à vivre, 1990


Lost-wax cast bronze, patinated, 1/15
38 cm x 14 cm x 12 cm


Collection Loto-Québec, NAC 1106

Deborah CHAPMAN

Rouge printemps, 1996


Etching and burin, H.C., 9/10
30 cm x 24.5 cm


Collection Loto-Québec, NAC 1407


Winner of the print contest in 1990

Aline BEAUDOIN

La barque du passeur, 2001


Linocutting, silk-screen printing and stamping, 1/10
46 cm x 66 cm


Collection Loto-Québec, NAC 2545

Ernst NEUMANN

Nude #3, n.d.


Wash drawing
25 cm x 32 cm


Collection Loto-Québec, NAC 3042

Marcel BARBEAU

Les voûtes bordières, 1998


Silk-screen printing, 30/60
56 cm x 78 cm


Collection Loto-Québec, NAC 3253

Bonnie BAXTER

Le lac des signes, 1998


Wood engraving, silk-screen printing, computer graphics and digital printing, 9/20
50 cm x 66 cm


Collection Loto-Québec, NAC 3309

Elyse DE LAFONTAINE

Huit feuillages d’où émane un cycle de vie, 2002


Feathers, cotton yarn and fantasy yarn
47 cm x 264 cm


Collection Loto-Québec, NAC 3348.1-8

Monique MONGEAU

No 461, L’Herbier series, 2004


Oil and wax on wood
38 cm x 56 cm


Collection Loto-Québec, NAC 3452

Louis-Pierre BOUGIE

Deux personnes dos à dos, 1988


Burin, 5/35
120 cm x 80 cm


Collection Loto-Québec, NAC 3498

Judith BELLAVANCE

D’une brève tendance mue, 2003


Acrylic on wood
61 cm x 61 cm


Collection Loto-Québec, NAC 3686

Frédéric BACK

Cheval, 1943


Pencil and gouache on paper
31.5 cm x 48 cm


Collection Loto-Québec, NAC 3865

Jean-Pierre MORIN

Sourdine 2, 2002


Aluminium and rubber
21.5 cm x 33 cm x 23 cm


Collection Loto-Québec, NAC 4140

Marie-Hélène LEBLANC

La résistance, 2008


Digital photography, diptych
100 cm x 140 cm


Collection Loto-Québec, NAC 4141.1-2

François-Xavier MARANGE

L’ombre clandestine, 2005


Acrylic on canvas
122 cm x 107 cm


Collection Loto-Québec, NAC 4200

Maude BUSSIÈRES

The Illusion, Dans ma tête series, 2007


Flameworked glass
43 cm x 45 cm x 13 cm


Collection Loto-Québec, NAC 4260

Patrick PRIMEAU

Sans titre, 2010


Incalmo and reticello
90 cm x 30 cm x 8 cm


Collection Loto-Québec, NAC 4265

Pierre JULIEN

Sans titre, 2006


Pastel and linseed oil on paper
62 cm x 82 cm


Collection Loto-Québec, NAC 4530

Michael MERRILL

Studio B #2, 2011


Ink on paper
75 cm x 56 cm


Collection Loto-Québec, NAC 4535

Martin BOURDEAU

Sans titre, 2011


Oil and oil pastel on paper
71 cm x 56 cm


Collection Loto-Québec, NAC 4543

Betty GOODWIN

Parceled Shoes for the Long Distance Runner, 1970


Etching and drypoint, A/P
52 cm x 65 cm


Collection Loto-Québec, NAC 4592

Myriam DION

4 avril 2013, 2013


Clipped newsprint
56 cm x 37 cm


Collection Loto-Québec, NAC 4623

Laurent LAMARCHE

Diffraction, trace 1, 2011


Inkjet printing, 1/3
76 cm x 50 cm


Collection Loto-Québec, NAC 4693

Alain LEFORT

Seraph 046, 2013


Inkjet printing, 1/10
61 cm x 46 cm


Collection Loto-Québec, NAC 4730

Stéphane LANGLOIS

Konos, 2014


Soldered marine aluminium
174 cm x 88 cm x 62 cm


Collection Loto-Québec, NAC 4839

Cultural Legacy

As part of the Collection’s 35th anniversary, a cultural legacy project was developed in collaboration with Université de Sherbrooke and regional contributors. The legacies, which combine art, the environment and the community, are located in Saint‑Jérôme, Rouyn‑Noranda, Jonquière, Sherbrooke, Mont‑Tremblant, Gatineau and La Malbaie.
 

Capitale-NationaleLa Malbaie (Charlevoix)

Un habitat forgé par le ciel, 2018

Work by Danielle April

Brushed aluminum, painted aluminum, coloured glass, solar collector and LED

Where to find it: At La Malbaie’s city hall

Partners: Loto-Québec, the Casino de Charlevoix and the City of La Malbaie

Video

Artist Danielle April tells us about the inspiration behind her work—the meteorite impact that created Charlevoix—and invites visitors to interact with the piece and experience it in their own way. Video available in French only.

OutaouaisGatineau

Humanitude, 2018

Work by Serge Olivier Fokoua

Stainless steel, aluminum and paint

Where to find it: Maison du citoyen, Gatineau

Partners: Loto‑Québec, the Casino du Lac‑Leamy and the City of Gatineau

Photo: City of Gatineau

LaurentidesMont‑Tremblant

L’univers des oiseaux, la volière de Mont‑Tremblant, 2016

Work by René Derouin

Latex paint over brick
Mural by MU

Where to find it: hôtel de ville de Mont‑Tremblant

Partners: Loto‑Québec, the City of Mont‑Tremblant, MU and the Casino de Mont‑Tremblant

Photo: Lucien Lisabelle

Video

Discover the collaboration between Loto-Québec and René Derouin that came to produce this one-of-a-kind project. Video available in French only.

Saguenay–Lac-Saint-JeanJonquière

Héritage du quotidien, 2015

Work by Mélissa Lavoie

Mosaic containing over 100 photographs and artefacts
Textiles, wood and epoxy resin

Where to find it: In the lobby of Chartwell Villa Jonquière (retirement complex located in downtown Jonquière)

Partners: Loto‑Québec, the Centre national d’exposition, the Institut des arts au Saguenay and Chartwell Villa Jonquière

Photo: Centre national d’exposition, Jonquière

EstrieSherbrooke

Rosace, 2015

Work by André Fournelle

Aluminum, crushed granite

Where to find it: Near the Centre culturel de l’Université de Sherbrooke

Partners: Loto‑Québec, the Sustainable Development Faculty at Université de Sherbrooke and the Centre culturel de l’Université de Sherbrooke

Photo: Université de Sherbrooke

Video

Watch the preparation of the piece by artist André Fournelle, in Sherbrooke. Video available in French only.

LaurentidesSaint-Jérôme

La marche du temps, 2015

Work by Pierre Leblanc

Oxidized steel, painted steel and polished aluminum
Mechanical and welded assembly work

Where to find it: At Parc De La Durantaye in Saint‑Jérôme

Partners: Loto‑Québec, the Casino de Mont‑Tremblant, the Musée d’art contemporain des Laurentides and the City of Saint‑Jérôme

Photo: Lucien Lisabelle

Abitibi-TémiscamingueRouyn-Noranda

Grafigner la frontière…, 2015

Work by Natacha Bernèche, architect; Alexandre Castonguay, actor and artist; and Luc Boyer, sculptor

Painted steel structures, mechanically fastened dry logs

Where to find it: In Vieux‑Noranda’s cultural district, at the corner of Avenue Murdoch and 8e Rue, close to the Aréna Iamgold

Partners: Loto‑Québec, the City of Rouyn‑Noranda, the MA musée d’art and ARTCAD

Photo: City of Rouyn‑Noranda

Historical Milestones

The Collection Loto-Québec was created in 1979 by Michel Labrosse, then director of public affairs. An art enthusiast, he wanted to invest in Québec’s artistic creativity. The very first work he commissioned, Le fantôme de Blanche de Beaumont, is a 1979 etching by Louis Pelletier, who would eventually become the Collection’s curator.

Over the years, with Michel Labrosse’s support, Louis Pelletier added to the Collection, the founding principle of which was democratizing visual arts and culture. Loto-Québec organized print contests between 1980 and 2003 to select the works the Collection now contains, using also the criteria set out in the Collection’s acquisition policy established in 1985.

The Collection’s goal has always been to support art and make it accessible to all the corporation’s employees. In fact, Louis Pelletier used to invite certain employees to various acquisition committee meetings to select some of the works. The works thus singled out decorated the walls of Loto-Québec’s head office and its subsidiaries.

Today, the Collection’s nearly 5,000 works can be seen at many exhibitions in exhibition halls across the province. The Collection is committed to fostering creation and supporting emerging artists through several partnerships and initiatives that highlight the talent of Québec artists.

 

From 1979 to 1990    From 1991 to 2000    From 2001 to 2010    From 2011 to 2020    From 2021 to today

 

1979

Loto-Québec entered the field of visual arts and organized a province-wide print contest. This contest would become an annual event and the cornerstone of the corporation's art collection. The Collection Loto-Québec was born.
 

1985

The Collection's acquisitions program was established. The corporation set aside 0.01% of its revenue to acquire works and added approximately 200 pieces to the Collection every year.

 

1987

The Collection launched an exhibition program to promote selected works across the province.
 

1989

The Collection's annual print contest was awarded the prize for best external public relations program by the Société des relationnistes du Québec (now called the Société québécoise des professionnels en relations publiques). The Collection Loto-Québec was recognized as a leader in visual art promotion both in Québec and abroad.
 

1990

The Collection, in cooperation with Loto-Québec's Human Resources department, developed the corporation's Retiree Sculpture Contest. Its very first awards went to artists Dominique Valade and Charles Daudelin.

1991

A gallery opened at the corporation’s head office to enable Montréal residents to appreciate the works in a permanent exhibition space.

Loto-Québec became the headquarters of the Corporate Art Collectors Association, an association grouping some 30 Québec corporations and businesses.

The Collection acquired its 500th work of art.

 

1994

The Collection’s sales-exhibition program was created. The corporation regularly sponsored events organized by regional museums and exhibition centres to not only diversify its regional acquisitions but also spotlight artists from every part of the province.
 

1995

The Collection continued growing and added its 1,000th work: An art print by Montréal artist Betty Goodwin.

2000

In April, the Collection acquired its 2,000th piece, Prolifération exubérante, a carved wood and acrylic work by young artist Yves Boucher.

2003

Renowned artist Guido Molinari’s acrylic painting became the Collection’s 3,000th work of art.

 

2005

At the corporation’s head office, the gallery, which had opened in 1991, became Espace Création, a space dedicated to Québec creativity in all its forms. In doing so, the corporation renewed and consolidated its commitment to contemporary artistic creativity.

 

2007

The Collection Loto-Québec acquired a major work by Jean Paul Riopelle, L’hommage à Rosa Luxemburg, on permanent display at the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec.
 

2008

The Collection acquired its 4,000th work of art, Reflet bleu, an acrylic and varnish on wood, by Rock Lamothe.

 

2009

The Collection Loto-Québec celebrated its 30th anniversary.

Loto-Québec organized a major tour of its collection. Nomade, la Collection Loto-Québec en mouvement makes stopped across the province.
 

2010

The Diane Dufresne et Richard Langevin, Mur à Mur exhibition welcomes over 10,000 visitors to Espace Création.

2011

The Collection Loto-Québec became one of two official presenters of the Québec Triennial 2011 and the main partner of the Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal for a period of five years.

 

2012

The Collection Loto-Québec partnered with the Musée de la civilisation de Québec for three years and presented the Hommage aux grands créateurs series. L’Univers de Michel Tremblay is the first exhibition shown as part of this partnership.

In December, Espace Création welcomed its 100,000th visitor during the Serge Lemoyne exhibition.

 

2013

The Collection Loto-Québec continued its partnership with the Musée de la civilisation de Québec and presented a free exhibition of Pierre Gauvreau’s works outside the walls.

Espace Création closed its doors.

 

2014-2015

In celebration of its 35th anniversary in 2014, the Collection found a new way of reaching a wider audience across Québec. The L’art de partager program was presented in 7 regions of Québec and ended its run in December 2015.

 

2015

Four community legacy projects were implemented to highlight the Collection’s 35th anniversary. Works created by Québec artists were installed in Rouyn-Noranda, Saint-Jérôme, Sherbrooke and Jonquière.

 

2016

Loto-Québec left a new legacy to the Mont-Tremblant community: The L’univers des oiseaux, la volière de Mont-Tremblant was painted on the city hall’s wall as a tribute to artist René Derouin.

 

2018

Two community legacy projects were launched. Humanitude was created in Gatineau, and Un habitat forgé par le ciel, in La Malbaie.

 

2019


Loto-Québec became a partner of Adélard, an art centre in Frelighsburg. 

The Collection becme a partner of ARTCH, whose mission is to empower and support emerging artists. 

Loto-Québec, in partnership with guest curator Laure Waridel, set up the La nature nous habite exhibition, which represents an invitation to look at nature differently. 

 

2021

Loto-Québec asked Charles Binamé and Naomi Fontaine to take a look at the Collection from a new perspective. This is how the Les pays intérieurs – Nutshimit exhibition took shape. It went on to tour several exhibition spaces across the province.  

 

2022

The Collection partnered with Les Impatients, an organization that uses artistic expression to help people with mental health issues. 

Loto-Québec and Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec joined forces to present Vues du fleuve, an exhibition showing stamps selected by guest curators Manon Barbeau and Anaïs Barbeau-Lavalette. 

Some Collection works were presented in artist Jean-Michel Leclerc’s Nouvelles occupations exhibition. 

 

2023

The Sillons: partager la Collection Loto‑Québec exhibition took place at the Centre Sagamie in Alma. Four Québec artists were invited to create works that echoed specific Collection works.