Galerie Saint-Paul

I am the only Québécois and Canadian artist to receive the First Prize at ArtExpo New York — Award Winner for Excellence, on April 11, 2026. More than 600 painters from several countries were present, all highly talented.

I also invested a substantial amount over the past few years to produce three hard‑cover art books: Riverin Modern Impressions Book One, Riverin Modern Impressions Book 2, and Book 3. Their presence on my table during the exhibition certainly helped, but it was above all the extraordinary quality of my paintings that led to my success.

I was born on December 2, 1942, in Québec City.

After earning a B.Sc. in Chemistry from the Université de Sherbrooke in 1965, I worked as a chemist for Peintures Laurentides in Shawinigan.

On December 18, 1970, I co‑founded, with Anthony Fernandez, a specialized paint manufacturing company, Encoat Chemicals Ltd., located in Ville Saint‑Laurent (Montréal).

In 1975, I sold my shares to my associate and acquired from Claude Goyer, president of PanArt Ltée, an art gallery franchise at Carrefour Laval. When PanArt ceased operations, I incorporated the franchise under the name Galerie d’Art du Carrefour Laval Inc. on April 19, 1982.

In 1994, I obtained an E‑2 visa from the U.S. Consulate and opened an art gallery in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

In 1998, I moved my gallery to Naples, Florida, and in 2004, relocated it to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.

In 1999, facing financial difficulties, I could no longer afford to purchase artwork — my only option was to create my own paintings. With 24 years of experience as a gallery owner, I knew the art market well and understood that my work had to surpass that of the great artists represented in the galleries of Naples. I began painting every day, destroying canvas after canvas out of frustration. The talent simply wasn’t there, yet I continued daily, hating the process, praying for help — and then, a miracle happened. I began creating true masterpieces, and six months later, I became one of the best‑selling artists in Naples, Florida.

From 2002 to 2014, I exhibited my work at ArtExpo New York. Each year, I ranked among the most successful exhibitors.

I stopped exhibiting when I opened Galerie Saint‑Paul in Old Montréal in 2014. Managing two galleries left me no time.

I closed both galleries — Montréal and Hilton Head Island — in 2020 with the arrival of COVID‑19.

For the following five years, I remained inactive.

Last winter, at the age of 83, I began painting again every day in preparation for my participation in ArtExpo New York 2026, held from April 8 to 12. I rented a large booth and prepared my paintings by painting the sides of the canvases black, knowing I would not have the strength to exhibit them framed.

I became the featured artist of the exhibition and received the First Prize.

This success encouraged me to exhibit at Spectrum Chicago (ArtExpo Chicago) next October. I have already reserved and paid for a large booth, the hotel room, the airline tickets, and I have prepared and packed the 46 paintings I will present.

On my websites, www.galeriesaintpaul.com and www.richardriverin.com/en, you can view the 600 paintings I have posted. My technique is unique — no artist has ever painted the way I do. Each painting is different, yet my signature is recognizable in all of them. Collectors appreciate the spontaneity, the thick texture, the diversity, and the harmony of the colors. Each painting offers a comforting and engaging presence to those who live with them every day.