Born in Montreal on May 10, 1931, Martin Gagnon was a Quebec painter known for his sensitive and luminous landscapes. The eldest of a large family, he developed an early interest in drawing and the visual arts. In the 1950s, he attended the École des beaux-arts de Montréal, where he studied drawing and graphic design for several years, before largely pursuing a self-taught artistic path.
For over two decades, Gagnon worked as a commercial letterer while continuing to refine his painting practice. He further developed his technique under the guidance of painter Charles Harolds Boyes, whose influence helped shape his approach to oil painting.
In 1976, Gagnon made a decisive shift in his career, leaving Montreal to settle in the Charlevoix region, a landscape that would profoundly inspire his work. From that point on, he devoted himself entirely to painting. He began exhibiting in the late 1970s, notably at Galerie L’Art Français in Montreal in 1976 and 1980, followed by exhibitions in several prominent Quebec galleries, including Galerie Charles-Huot in Quebec City, La Corniche in Chicoutimi, Galerie Drummond in Drummondville, and La Falaise in Sherbrooke.
Working primarily in oil on canvas, Gagnon embraced the tradition of Quebec landscape painting, capturing the poetry of rural life and the subtle shifts of the seasons. His works have appeared at auction on multiple occasions, reflecting a continued interest among collectors.
Martin Gagnon passed away in 2003, leaving behind a sincere body of work deeply rooted in Quebec’s artistic landscape.