Biography
Tristan Tondino was born in Montreal. From a very young age, he was surrounded by various artist-friends of his father, Montreal painter, Gentile Tondino R.C.A. In this environment, debates over art occurred on a day to day basis, and as a result, Tristan developed an appreciation for vastly divergent views on art which stimulated him to enroll in philosophy at McGill University. His studies geared him toward Irrealism as a basis for an art form, which he currently explores and elucidates in each of his art works.
Tristan has always enjoyed painting in public, both as a plein-air painter and as a muralist. His projects have an outsider quality which stems from his views on Irrealism. Many of his works are letrist (text) semi-abstractions. One which expresses his views on Irrealism reads: “That reality must be regarded as a fiction does not in any way detract from its hegemony”.
Tristan produced many large scale works on canvas, stapled to construction site barriers and exhibited these paintings for comments by pedestrians. He has had many solo shows and has participated in many group shows, both regionally and internationally. He is a member of the Canadian public art collective La Raza Group.
Education
1980-4 B.A. Philosophy – emphasis on Philosophy of Art, Aesthetics, Existentialism, Irrealism, Nelson Goodman, Ludwig Wittgenstein, Immanuel Kant. – Minor in painting and drawing.
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2005 Heart to Heart, GEORGES LAOUN/ GALERIE 1225, MONTREAL
2004 Irreality, Galerie 1225, MONTREAL
2003 Painting in Progress, OUTDOOR EVENT on DE MAISONNEUVE ET CLAREMONT, MONTREAL
2002 Irrealisme, LA GALERIE KASTEL, MONTREAL
2002-5 Five Dollars, Where Is It?, A GALLERY ON WHEELS (5 ton truck)
2002 Five Dollars: An Uninvited Guest, – MUSÉE DES BEAUX ARTS DE MONTRÉAL
2002 Five Dollars: An Outdoor Event, - MUSÉE D’ART CONTEMPORAIN DE MONTRÉAL
2002-4 Cinq Dollars, Ou est-il? Affiches et expositions – PROVINCE DE QUÉBEC
1996 Nudes, Galerie du VAN GOGH, MONTREAL
1995 Nudes, Galerie du VAN GOGH, MONTREAL
Group Shows
2007 Le Salon Officiel, Montreal
2006 MacLeod 9 Studio, Montreal
2006 Art+Vision, Montreal Retina Institute, Montreal
2006 Centro della communità della piccola Italia, Montreal
2006 Montreal General Auxilliary fundraiser, Montreal
2005 The Wizo Foundation, Montreal
2005 Arte, Amore et Poesia, – GALERIE DU PETIT RUISSEAU, LAVAL
2005 Le Group 1225, GALERIE 1225, MONTREAL
2004 Fantasie Abstraite, GALERIE DU MUSÉE DES BEAUX ARTS DE MONTREAL, MONTREAL
2003 Vivid Perceptions, AGORA GALLERY, SOHO, NEW YORK
2000 Individuazioni 4, GALLERIA MENTANA, FLORENCE, ITALY
Galleries of Representation
2004-6 GALERIE 1225, MONTREAL
2001-4 LA GALERIE KASTEL, MONTREAL
2001-4 LA GALERIE DU MUSÉE DES BEAUX ARTS DE MONTRÉAL
2003 AGORA GALLERY, SOHO, NEW YORK
2002 THE ARMOIRE GALLERY, ELLSWORTH, MAINE
2000 GALLERIA MENTANA, FLORENCE, ITALY
1998-0 GALERIE DOMINION, MONTRÉAL
1998-9 GALERIE MICHEL-ANGE, MONTRÉAL
2000-6 A.H. CAMPBELL GALLERY, MONTRÉAL
Grants, Awards and Selection Committees
2002 Finalist: 4TH ANNUAL CANADIAN PAINTING COMPETITION
2002-3 Judge, Canada Day Poster Challenge
Press Reviews TV and Radio
2006 CHTV, ARTE MONDO, with Piero Facchini, MONTREAL
2004 CHTV, ARTE MONDO, with Anita Aloisio, MONTREAL
2003 1280 AM, with Marco Luciano Castiglia, MONTREAL
2003 CBCTV, with Raymond Saint.Pierre, MONTREAL
2002 CBCTV, with Raymond Saint.Pierre, MONTREAL
2002 1280 AM, with Marco Luciano Castiglia, MONTREAL
2002 CBC FM, HOMERUN, MONTREAL
2000 RAI UNO, FLORENCE, ITALY
Selected Bibliography (and Periodicals)
VANDERLAY, Marilyn, “Abramowitz auction attracts key artists”, The Westmount Examiner, 20 October, 2005
AVMOR, “The Avmor Collection – 1965-2004”, 3 April, 2004, pp. 29, 40
BRISSON, Anne Emile, “Plurielle Ouverture,” AGIR, Septembre, 2004, p.19.
MANOLOVA, Velina, “Reality Re-evaluated”, The McGill Daily, Issue 9, 10 October, 2004.
TONDINO, Tristan/ BRUNELLE, Joseane, “An Irreal Letter, A response to Velina Manolova, Issue 10, 17 October, 2004.
VANDERLAY, Marilyn, “Ongoing Saga of $5 bill continues”, The Westmount Examiner, 16 January, 2003, p.8
MENDELMAN, Bernard, “Painting $5 bills makes sense to Tristan”, ARTSEEN, The Suburban, 9 October, 2002, p.7.
BROWNSTEIN, Bill, “Reward for returning $5 inspiration”, The Montreal Gazette, 7 February, 2002, p..
MENDELMAN, Bernard, “Tristan’s 5-dollar bill is right on the money”, ARTSEEN, The Suburban, 22 February, 2002, p 4.
Catalogs and Internet Listings
2006 Artnet.com
2005 Wikipedia.com, Tristan Tondino, Irrealism, Canadian Painters
2006 Artists in Canada, a Union list of Artists’ Files, National Gallery of Canada Library, Canadian Heritage information
2006 Collectors’ Dictionary of Canadian Artists at Auction
