Jean-Daniel Rohrer

Biography

Jean-Daniel Rohrer is a Canadian painter of Swiss origin, born in 1960 in Tramelan, Switzerland. A graduate of SAWI (the Swiss Center for Advertising and Communication Education) and holder of a federal diploma earned in 1983, he began his career in graphic arts before fully devoting himself to painting. He immigrated to Canada in 1989 and has since lived and worked in Montreal. A member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts, Rohrer has participated in over a hundred solo and group exhibitions across Canada, the United States, Europe, and Africa. Among his notable achievements are the painting Montreal, City of Peace, exhibited at Montreal City Hall, and a commemorative artwork celebrating the 25th Formula 1 Grand Prix of Canada. He is also the creator of the sculpture The Man of Peace, installed at the Hiroshima International Conference Center in Japan. This bronze sculpture, standing two meters tall, was presented by the City of Montreal to the City of Hiroshima in 2008 to mark the 10th anniversary of the signing of the protocol for sustainable world peace. From this major work, about a hundred smaller bronze sculptures (22 cm tall) were cast and given as gifts to distinguished visitors welcomed by the City of Montreal. In 2010, his artistic universe was featured in the documentary The Image Teller, directed by Julien Lombard and officially selected for the International Festival of Films on Art (FIFA). The film delves into Rohrer’s world and reflects on the current state of visual arts in Quebec, with insights from several art professionals. In 2016, he created the mural Mundus Novus, installed at Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport. The following year, in recognition of his artistic contributions, he was inducted as a member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts.