Fritz Brandtner
Four Decades of Innovation

April 11th - 25th

Too influential to ignore. Too complex to categorize.

Over a career spanning four decades, Fritz Brandtner played a pivotal yet insufficiently recognized role in the development of modern art in Canada. Active in Montreal’s avant-garde during a formative period, in 1934 Brandtner brought with him a direct engagement with European modernist ideas—introducing formal and conceptual approaches that would quietly reshape artistic production in this country.

Yet Brandtner’s legacy resists easy classification. Moving fluidly between styles, techniques, and materials, he produced a body of work defined less by adherence to a movement than by a sustained commitment to experimentation. This very plurality, which made his work vital and forward-looking, has also contributed to his relative absence from institutional narratives that have historically favoured more cohesive artistic identities.

Bringing together works from across four decades, this exhibition invites a reconsideration of Brandtner’s place in Canadian art: not as a marginal figure, but as a key innovator whose legacy continues to resonate.

Some works featured in this exhibition come from the personal collection and estate of the great art dealer Paul Kastel and passionate private collectors including that of Canadian Fine Arts owner Michel Bigué who have recognized the significance of this unique figure in Canadian Art.

Featured Works

Collage in Blue

Mixed Media

10” x 14.5”

12,000.

City at Night

ink

11” x 15”

4,500.

Landscape with Figures, 1943

Oil

14.5” x 18.5”

15,000.

Automation

Oil

27” x 18”

35,000.

Still Life

graphite

11” x 15”

5,500.

Horses and Riders, 1940

Oil

40” x 30”

Price on Request

Exhibition Works

Interested in a work from this exhibition?

Request pricing, availability, or further details from the gallery

Installation Views

Canadian Fine Arts Exhibition: ‘Land & Legacy’ 2025

Fritz Brandtner

Photography: Walter Abell, c. 1935
Collection of the Library and Archives, National Gallery of Canada

Fritz Brandtner (1896–1969) was a German-born Canadian modernist whose work brought the force of European modernism—especially German Expressionism—into the Canadian context. Working first in Winnipeg and later in Montreal, he developed a striking practice that ranged from socially charged figuration to bold abstraction. A prolific artist and influential teacher, Brandtner remains an important figure in Canadian art history, valued for the strength, range, and conviction of his vision

Some facts about Brandtner:

Brandtner, considered the father of modernist art in Canada, is credited with mounting the first fully abstract art exhibition in Canada in 1936 at Morgan’s department store in Montreal
Brandtner emigrated to Canada in 1928 at the age of 33. He landed in Winnipeg and eventually moved to Montreal in 1934. The Montreal move connected him with a more vibrant art scene than Winnipeg and found many opportunities for him to connect with forward thinkers, but also with galleries which could connect to his broad approach to making art.
And yet, Brandtner remains one of the most difficult artists to define. His work moves across styles and techniques with unusual freedom, resisting the categories that have traditionally shaped art history. As a result, his impact has often been larger than his reputation.
Michel Bigue discovered Brandtner in the early 70’st through his close relationship with mentor and Montreal Art dealer Paul Kastel.
His relationship with art dealer Paul Kastel of Kastel Gallery over many decades placed his work in numerous collections throughout the country, we are always delighted, but not surprised to find a Brandtner beloved by collectors, hidden within great collections of Canadian art. In charge of the estate, Kastel continued the promotion of Brandtner’s work following his passing in 1969.