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            Marcel studied at the Ecole des Beaux Arts in Montreal and became a professor at UQAM in 1969, where he directed the Fine Arts department from 1986 to 1991. From 1973 to 1975 he was a visiting professor at Mount Alison University in New Brunswick, and he is a Member of the Royal Canadian Academy.

            His career in sculpture encompassed exhibitions around the world, including in France, Mexico and the United States. His works are held in many public and private collections, including those at the Art Gallery of Ontario, the Winnipeg Art Gallery and the Montreal Museum of Fine Art. In the Hudson area, beside the sculpture at the entrance to the Village Theatre, his work graces the gardens of several residences. .

            In addition to his sculpture, Marcel has authored literary works. His collection, "Le temps, l'artiste et ses traces," the writings and testimony of 21 sculptors, was published in édition Fini-Infini in 1993. His memoirs, "Enfant traqué, enfant caché," "Story of a Hidden Child" in English, tells the story of his growing up during the war. After retiring in 1998, he wrote two science fiction novels, "Les Mystères de l`île de Saber," and "Saber dans la jungle de l`Antarctique." His artist's book, "Nocturnes," was published in 2003 as a signed, limited edition with pictures of his work and matching poetry. He is an occasional contributor to online magazine Sunday@Six, at sundayat6mag.wordpress.com .

            Marcel can be reached through email at mbraitstein@yahoo.ca and he has a website at http://braitstein.com/ . He lives with his wife, Elaine Steinberg, in a unique home and elaborate garden in the Hudson area, both house and garden full of examples of his work. He continues to create sculpture in his on-site workshop, complete with lifts, drills, welding and other metal-working equipment while experimenting with new materials.

            Marcel Braitstein considers himself an "artiste engagé," using sculpture to portray his vision of the world and to perhaps influence it for the better. He draws on his experiences as a hidden child during the war and on his sense of injustice, based on his own life and on conditions he sees in the world around him.

            He feels his themes are those of destruction, hatred and the human condition. While he initially found influences for his work in the silhouettes of bombed houses and the bodies of the dead and woumded from the war, he finds he can continue to draw inspiration from more contemporary events. Many of his pieces have a raw, unfinished look, speaking to an impression that something has happened to arouse the subject, that there is something left to do or left undone.

            Works often have a cryptic title, such as "Masquarade," on the top far left or "Insect," lower left. The large piece in the lower left corner of the facing page is called, "Cosmic Warrior," and is located at the Musée du Québec. Birds, insects or skeletal animals are a favorite theme, as shown on the images on this page. Many are large, outdoor works designed to weather with the elements and others, such as the intricate "Apocalypse" below left, are smaller works for interior display.

Marcel writes that he believes now that artists have only a negligible effect on society and he has come to terms with that. He does not propose solutions, but description can also be a powerful tool.