Contemporary Arts Society
The Contemporary Arts Society was founded by John Lyman in 1939 to promote modern art in Montreal, at a time when Canada was dominated by academic art. Lyman was the Society's first president. The additional officers were vice-president Paul-Émile Borduas, secretary Fritz Brandtner, and treasurer Philip Surrey.
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The Contemporary Arts Society was founded by John Lyman in 1939 to promote modern art in Montreal, at a time when Canada was dominated by academic art. Lyman was the Society's first president. The additional officers were vice-president Paul-Émile Borduas, secretary Fritz Brandtner, and treasurer Philip Surrey.
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Early membership
Early membership
The Society lasted until 1948.
Early members included Alexander Bercovitch, Paul-Émile Borduas, Simone Mary Bouchard, Stanley Cosgrove, Louise Landry Gadbois, Eric Goldberg, Jack Humphrey, John Goodwin Lyman, Louis Muhlstock, Alfred Pellan Goodridge Roberts, Jori Smith, and Philip Surrey. Moe Reinblatt was included later. The Society had up to 62 members: artists, but also collectors and art professionals, such as historian and critic Maurice Gagnon.
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Contemporary Arts Society is associated with Canada.
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These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.The Contemporary Arts Society, Montréal, 1939-1948 = La société d'art contemporain, Montréal, 1939-1948. Edmonton Art Gallery. 1980. 0-88950-013-4.
- 2.La place des femmes dans la Société d'art contemporain. Université du Québec à Montréal. 2007.
- 3.L'Art d'aujourd'hui. Le jour. 13 mai 1939.
- 4.Maurice Gagnon. Exposition : Peinture contemporaine. Le Devoir. 30. 116. 20 mai 1939.
- 5.Chronique du mouvement automatiste québécois, 1941-1954. Lanctôt Editeur. 1998. 2-89485-057-3.
- 6.Il y a rupture entre le public et les vrais artistes. Le Canada. 38. 239. 15 janvier 1941.
- 7.Conférence et exposition du peintre Fernand Léger. Le Devoir. 34. 119. 26 mai 1943.
- 8.Reynald. L'activité artistique : Nos aspirants au modernisme résolu. La Presse. 56. 58. 23 décembre 1939. 45.
- 9.Alice B.-Huot. Les arts graphiques : Exposition chez Morgan. Le Devoir. 32. 279. 2 décembre 1941.
- 10.Pierre Daniel. De Borduas à M. Bouchard. La Presse. 14 novembre 1942. 44.
- 11.Ferrier Chartier. Les expositions : La Société d'art contemporain. Le Devoir. 34. 262. 15 novembre 1943.
- 12.La Société d'Art Contemporain. Le jour. 10. 11 novembre 1944.
- 13.Chronique du mouvement automatiste québécois, 1941-1954. Lanctôt Editeur. 1998. 2-89485-057-3.
- 14.The Contemporary Arts Society, Seven Annual Exhibitioin. The Contemporary Arts Society. février 1946.
- 15.Charles Hamel. Les arts : Grande variété de l'exposition de la S.A.C. Le Canada. 44. 195. 21 novembre 1946.
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Naming and authority record. Those registers additionally record the form Contemporary Arts Society (Winchester). A count of publications is evidence of attention, not of standing, and is given here only as a measure.
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 16 August 2026.
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