Born in Montreal, P.Q., he studied at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts (1949) under Paul Emile Borduas (1949-1952). From 1950-52 he exhibited in group shows with Borduas, Ferron, Mousseau, Barbeau and others. He then studied in Paris (1952) at the Academie Ranson with Henri Goetz. He spent six months visiting exhibitions of art and then travelled to Spain where he lived in a small fishing village near a beach. There, he came in contact with gypsies who invited him to accompany them on many trips and gatherings.
He completed a number of paintings which he exhibited in Madrid through the assistance of Camilo Jose Cela, a member of the Royal Society of Spain. He returned to Paris where he was taken by his teacher Henri Goetz to the Cote d'Azure to meet Picasso and Pignon. Back in Paris, he married a french girl from Periord and they owned and operated a bookstore. He continued to paint during his slack moments. After their first child they sold the store and moves into a large house in the heart of the Latin Quarter of Paris.
In 1958, he was awarded a large contract to design the colour scheme for a large factory and this led to other jobs. He also participated in the Salon des Réalités Nouvelles, Paris, 1954; group show at Iris Clert gallery, Paris, 1955; solo show at Cannes, 1961; Galerie Arditti, Paris, 1962; Galleries Levi, Milan, 1962; Galerie Semia Huber, Zurick, Germany, 1962; Festival at Spoleto, Italy, 1962; La Galerie Soixante, Montreal, 1963, 1965. There is must in Jean Le Febure's work which reminds one of canvases of Paul-Emile Borduas.
He is represented in the collections of the Musee d’Art Contemporain, Montreal, Musee d’art de Joliette, PQ, Musee national des beaux-arts du Quebec and many private collections.
He taught at Laval University and CEGEP St-Laurent for twenty years finally retiring to the country in the Eastern Townships. Jean Lefebure died peacefully in Montreal March 21, 2013
Source: "A Dictionary of Canadian Artists, Volume I: A-F", compiled by Colin S. MacDonald, Canadian Paperbacks Publishing Ltd, Ottawa, 1977
