Denise died peacefully at home, surrounded by her loved ones, at the age of 75. Spouse, mother and adored grandmother, she was brilliant, caring and so kind.
Born on September 20, 1947, Denise grew up in Quebec City and Château-d’Eau. She was educated by Ursuline nuns, then at Saint-Jean-Eudes college, where she was one of the first young women admitted to its classical studies program. She obtained an M.A. in Art History from the University of Montreal. Denise then moved to Ottawa to teach at Algonquin College before pursuing a career at the National Gallery of Canada, where she was curator of modern Canadian art until her retirement in 2011.
At the Gallery, she organized the exhibitions The Crisis of Abstraction in Canada: The 1950s (1992), Prelude to Automatism (1994), Robert Murray: From Workshop to Factory (1999), Alex Colville: Milestones (2000), The 60s in Canada (2005), and the installation project combining indigenous and settler art known as Art of this Land. Denise’s work lives on in her acquisitions and publications, which represent a significant contribution to Canadian art history.
Over forty years ago, Denise met Murray Wilson and it was love at first sight. From their union were born their daughters Ariel and Alexandra. Together, they traveled across Canada, the United States and the world. Denise's broad interests ranged from politics to literature, from film to international cuisines.
Denise is survived by her husband Murray, her daughters Ariel and Alexandra, her son-in-law Marc, her grandchildren Evelyne and Félix, her brothers Jacques and Guy and their spouses. She also leaves her nephews and nieces from the Forgues, Leclerc and Wilson families, as well as other relatives and friends. Her mother Pauline Couture, her father Jules Leclerc, her sister Jacqueline Forgues (née Leclerc) and her brother-in-law Yvan Forgues predeceased her.
A celebration of life will be held in the Sacred Space of Beechwood Funeral, Cemetery and Cremation Services on Friday, March 17 at 2 pm. The family will receive condolences at 1 pm. Those who wish to honor her memory can do so by making a donation to the Canadian Cancer Society.
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Denise est décédée paisiblement à la maison, entourée de ses proches, à l’âge de 75 ans. Conjointe, mère et grand-maman adorée, elle était brillante, attentionnée et d’une grande gentillesse.
Née le 20 septembre 1947, Denise grandit dans les villes de Québec et de Château-d’Eau. Éduquée auprès des Ursulines, elle poursuivit ses études au Collège Saint-Jean-Eudes, où elle fut une des deux premières jeunes filles admises au cours classique. Elle obtint une maîtrise en histoire de l’art à l’Université de Montréal. Elle déménagea à Ottawa pour enseigner au collège Algonquin avant de faire carrière au Musée des beaux-arts du Canada, où elle était conservatrice de l’art canadien moderne jusqu’à sa retraite en 2011.
Au musée, Denise organisa les expositions La crise de l’abstraction au Canada. Les années cinquante (1992), Prélude à l’automatisme (1994), Robert Murray. De l’atelier à l’usine (1999), Alex Colville. Jalons (2000) ainsi que Les années soixante au Canada (2005). Elle organisa aussi le projet d'installation mêlant art autochtone et colonisateur connu sous le nom d’Art d’ici. L’apport remarquable de Denise se perpétue dans ses acquisitions et publications, qui représentent une contribution significative à l'histoire de l'art au Canada.
Il y a plus de quarante ans, Denise rencontra Murray Wilson et ce fut le coup de foudre. De leur union sont nées leurs filles Ariel et Alexandra. Ensemble, ils voyagèrent à travers le Canada, les États-Unis et le monde. Les vastes intérêts de Denise variaient de la politique à la littérature, du cinéma à l’exploration des cuisines du monde.
Denise laisse dans le deuil son conjoint Murray, ses filles Ariel et Alexandra, son gendre Marc, ses petits-enfants Evelyne et Félix, ses frères Jacques et Guy et leurs conjointes. Elle laisse également ses neveux et nièces des familles Forgues, Leclerc et Wilson ainsi que d’autres parents et ami(e)s. Sa mère Pauline Couture, son père Jules Leclerc, sa sœur Jacqueline Forgues (née Leclerc) et son beau-frère Yvan Forgues sont décédés avant elle.
Une célébration de vie aura lieu dans l'Espace Sacré de Beechwood Services funéraires, cimetière et crémation vendredi, le 17 mars, à 14h. La famille recevra les condoléances à compter de 13h. Ceux qui veulent honorer sa mémoire peuvent le faire en faisant un don à la Société canadienne du cancer.
Digital Guestbook
Greg Hill
Morgan Wood
Denise was brilliant, she worked hard to include Canadian Indigenous Art in the gallery. I had the great pleasure of working with her. Our days were filled with laughter, understanding cross-cultural art movements across Canada. The world has lost a great soul. She will be missed
David steven Litchfield
Although I never had the privilege of meeting Denise, I found that this lady was most helpful when I contacted her back in 2011. I had a mother that came from London Ontario and she was adopted as a small child, I just wanted a little information . which Denise kindly sent me. So I would like to send my condolence to her family , I am sorry that it is a little late in the year but I have been very busy with my wife's health. kind regards David Litchfield.
Denise hired me as her curatorial assistant in 2000. In doing so she opened the door to the NGC to me and to Indigenous art. We worked together on the integration of Indigenous art into the Canadian galleries in a project we called Art of This Land. It may be hard to comprehend today, but until then there was not one work of art by an Indigenous artist on view in those galleries.
I learned a great deal from Denise about how to be a curator in a large institution and I am forever thankful for her bright enthusiasm, openness and generosity. Nyawen kowa Denise.