Born in Bathurst, New Brunswick, in 1945, Léopold L. Foulem (1945–2023) was an internationally renowned ceramist and a pioneer of conceptual ceramics.
An artist of rare technical genius, celebrated for his vast erudition, Foulem revisited a variety of genres and forms drawn from the history of ceramics, while integrating the principles and codes of the ready-made, kitsch, and pop art.
With a delightful mix of irreverence, humor, and provocation, Foulem challenged traditions and defied established conventions in ceramics, contributing to the deconstruction of stereotypes associated with the medium. Through his work, the artist questioned our relationship to objects and material culture, while also probing hierarchies between genres and reexamining the notion of “good taste.”
His bold and subversive creations are filled with references to popular culture and queer allusions. Santa Claus, Mickey Mouse, priests, and even the Royal Canadian Mounted Police frequently populate his distinctive iconography.
Léopold L. Foulem’s works are part of the collections of prestigious institutions around the world, attesting to the originality, quality, and remarkable significance of his work.
Léopold L. Foulem holds a Master’s degree in Visual Arts from Indiana State University (1988) and an honorary doctorate in Visual Arts from the Université de Moncton in New Brunswick.
In 2019, Léopold L. Foulem was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada. He has also received numerous awards, including the Jean A. Chalmers National Craft Award (1999), the Saidye Bronfman Award (2001), and the Éloizes Award (2003). In 2003, he was named a member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts.
He has participated in numerous solo and group exhibitions in Canada and internationally throughout his life.
His works are part of the following collections:
Victoria and Albert Museum, London, England
Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris, France
Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Texas, United States
Museum of Art and Design, New York, United States
Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, Quebec, Canada
Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), California, United States
National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design, Oslo, Norway
Royal Ontario Museum (ROM), Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Rhode Island School of Design Museum, United States
Shigaraki Museum of Ceramic Art, Kohga-gun, Japan
WOCEF Collection, Yeoju-Kun, South Korea
Contemporary Museum, Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Gardiner Museum, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Canadian Museum of History, Gatineau, Quebec, Canada
Global Affairs Canada
Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
