signed upper right; signed, titled, dated 1991 and inscribed “Cold Lake” on the reverse
60.25 × 48 in (153.0 × 121.9 cm)
Auction Estimate:$50,000 - $70,000
Sale date:May 30, 2024
Price Realized
$120,000
(including Buyer's Premium)
Provenance
Private Collection, Toronto
Literature
Greg A. Hill, "Alex Janvier", Ottawa, 2016, page 18
A founding member of the Professional Native Indian Artists, established in 1973, Dene and Anishinaabe (Salteaux) artist Alex Janvier of Cold Lake, Alberta, is an important figure in the reformation of Indigenous Art in Canada. Janvier developed a highly individualistic style deeply infused with the symbolism of his Dene heritage and culture. His abstract paintings often feature titles that address colonialism, identity and references to the land. This painting’s title refers to Janvier’s Dene background ("dene" is also the common Athabaskan word for “people”) as well as his hometown of Cold Lake, which is inscribed on the reverse of the canvas. Janvier’s abstractions possess an endless fluidity, while seeming on the verge of settling into recognizable images. Curator Greg Hill noted, “Spirituality is also evident in Janvier’s work in subtle ways, such as in his characteristic sinuous lines. The lines... are reminiscent of the graceful and ever– changing movement of tobacco smoke and steam intermixing in shafts of light, or the dance of the aurora borealis spanning an entire night sky, the movement and patterns transcribed to feelings, colour and paint.” Janvier’s distinctive paintings allude to nature, indigenous culture, and spirituality.
