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Photos by Zia Ahmad
Luc Gauthier—a painter and a visionary in glass artwork—has found his home in Puerto Vallarta. Bringing with him decades of experience and a passion for pushing artistic boundaries, Gauthier’s work has captivated art enthusiasts locally and internationally.
It’s one of the things I love about living in Puerto Vallarta, aside from the obvious natural beauty and scrumptious food scene—the opportunity to get to know some artists living here personally. These creators of art, from various walks of life, not only bring vibrancy to this town with their craft but also have impactful stories to share from their past.
Gauthier is a down-to-earth being with a humble beginning in Chicoutimi, Quebec, a town located in the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region of Quebec along the south shore of the Saguenay River.
When Gauthier shared with me through sheer humility the number of pieces that break before one finally emerges, I felt the urge to get to know him as a person who doesn’t shy away from boldly expressing behind-the-scenes work that goes into creating a piece of art, an artist whose work proudly showcases at one of the prominent art galleries in Puerto Vallarta, Galleria Dante.
“I think I was a good teacher; my teaching was my creation,”
For nearly two decades, art enthusiasts have been captivated by the mesmerizing creations of Gauthier. A teacher of art, in Quebec, he taught drawing and painting at a secondary school, then at a community college, and also at a university toward the latter part of his career. Some of his work has been showcased in the institutions mentioned above in addition to the galleries in Montreal and Quebec City. His students consisted of a diverse group of people, inspired to teach art themselves one day.
“I think I was a good teacher,” Gauthier recalled sitting across from me when I met him that warm September afternoon. “My teaching was my creation,” he went on in his sweet, native French accent.
Raised in a family of medical professionals, Luc took inspiration in art form from his sister who was a designer herself. That led to him eventually enrolling at Laval University to study art where he earned a Masters in Arts degree. Gauthier’s decades-long career has witnessed him as the director of several galleries. His work has been presented at solo and group exhibitions in the United States, Singapore, England, Brussels, Australia, Italy, Canada, and Mexico.
“I have won several prizes and honorary awards for my work throughout my career,” he said just before running after his pet, Moka, eyeing that the dog had wandered off to the other side of the terrace atop Galleria Dante where we’d gathered.
“Creating glass art is chemistry, you see, and it also involves physics since glass has COE, coefficient of expansion.”
Gauthier’s journey into Puerto Vallarta as an artist has been remarkable, filled with passion, dedication, and a relentless pursuit of perfection. He’d been a visitor for more than a decade, but it wasn’t until a friend suggested Luc create a couple of paintings for the Art Vallarta Exhibition that P.V. art scene doors opened for him. Through the same friend, Luc got introduced to Claire Guarniere, the owner of Galleria Dante, and the working relationship between them formed. Impressed with his fusion of contemporary aesthetics and creativity—drawing inspiration from his diverse experiences and deep connection to the world around him— Claire established a dedicated space within the gallery to showcase Gauthier’s work.
Today Luc’s main focus is creating glass art. His odyssey into this art form began when his sister requested him to create a piece for one of her clients. This serendipitous encounter sparked a profound love in him for glass art and him being invited to make more creative pieces. Compared to the compact oven in P.V., he said, the one in Quebec was 5 feet by 9 feet where he could make big pieces such as doors, shower glass, and more.
“At first it was only clear glass and no color to keep the process simple,” he shared with me. “Creating glass art is chemistry, you see, and it also involves physics since glass has COE, coefficient of expansion.”
I didn’t have a clue what COE was or did.
Making no effort to conceal the excitement on his face—next, I knew—the teacher in him went on to give me a quick lesson on how each glass has a dilatation point that combines the glass and how with heat it separates and how powder glass has a different COE and how this art has science behind it.
I jotted quick notes and acted as if I understood what he was saying.
The process behind Luc’s art is a testament to his relentless pursuit of excellence. His foray into glass artwork with that simple request from his sister led to the discovery of his talent for breathing life into glass. Embracing the challenges and complexities of working with this type of material, Luc’s journey of trial and error ultimately led to creating awe-inspiring pieces that blend artistry with scientific precision.
Luc Gauthier’s art is not simply a visual indulgence but an invitation to explore the depths of human emotion
Gauthier, a self-learner, over the years, has seamlessly integrated his expertise in unique glass art creations. His transition from traditional art forms to the intricate world of glasswork is marked by an unwavering commitment to mastering the craft, resulting in a portfolio that resonates with art enthusiasts near and far.
“I love perfection.”
One of the defining aspects of Luc’s art is his unwavering commitment to pushing the boundaries of creativity. His innovative techniques and meticulous attention to detail have earned him a reputation as a trailblazer in contemporary art. Whether it’s evocative depictions of humans and animals in abstract forms or explorations of the world’s myriad emotions, Luc’s art invites viewers to delve into a realm of profound introspection and visual delight.
In essence, Luc Gauthier’s art is not simply a visual indulgence but an invitation to explore the depths of human emotion, encapsulated within the mesmerizing allure of glass. As he continues to push the boundaries of artistic expression, Gauthier’s journey stands as a testament to the transformative power of art and the impact of an artist’s unwavering passion and dedication.
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