Richard Désautels is a Montreal-based stonemason and sculptor whose practice merges traditional craftsmanship with a contemporary artistic vision. Trained at the Centre de formation professionnelle Le Granit in Lac-Mégantic and holding a college-level diploma (AEC) in Heritage Craft Techniques from Cégep du Vieux Montréal, he has developed a refined expertise in both the transformation and restoration of stone.

His education has also been shaped by hands-on apprenticeships with master artisans, including training with Ateliers Buissière, Créa-Pierre under Alexandre Maquet, and Les Ateliers de Régis, led by Régis Eroyan, the Quebec representative of Les Compagnons du Devoir.

Before dedicating himself fully to stone carving and sculpture, Richard spent over a decade working in technical drawing and architectural design. He conceived and built several real estate projects inspired by the Second Empire style. This visual foundation continues to inform his sculptural approach, which remains attentive to lines, structure, and spatial harmony.

A committed artist and community builder, he is a founding member of Les Ateliers de la pierre du Québec, a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and transmitting the knowledge and techniques of stone trades. Within this collective space, he has embarked on a new chapter, exploring sculpture as a full-fledged artistic medium. His first works were presented during the collective’s inaugural exhibition in May 2025.

From 2010 to 2020, Richard divided his time between Montreal and the U.S. West Coast, particularly Santa Barbara, California, where he joined the interdisciplinary collective Fishbon. The group is dedicated to creating immersive and collaborative art experiences. During this decade, he also participated in several large-scale community art projects, including the Santa Barbara Solstice Parade and the Burning Man Festival in Nevada, contributing to monumental, human-powered sculptures made from recycled materials.

Richard Désautels’ work lies at the intersection of skilled craftsmanship and aesthetic inquiry. Inspired by raw material and ancient traditions, he shapes forms rooted in time yet open to contemporary narratives.

To come

GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2024 Les Ateliers de la pierre du Québec, Montreal
2022 L’atelier Michèle Lavoie, Montreal