Untitled (Cowboy with Lasso)

Mark Robichaud was born in 1962 and is based near Belliveau Cove on Nova Scotia's French Shore. Before becoming a full-time carver in the early 1980s, he worked as a mill worker, laborer, clam digger, and in a fish plant. Self-taught and working primarily in wood, Robichaud developed a distinctive approach to folk art that has influenced his contemporaries and earned recognition throughout North America.

Robichaud's work is characterized by his creative use of "as found" materials and primary colors, combined with an unpredictable approach that reinterprets traditional forms. He employs the flat-plane carving method to create delicately executed pieces, often working in series that explore specific subjects such as penguins, swans, jesters, and fish. His constructions can be intricate, with some pieces composed of multiple separate components carefully assembled. Working with painted wood, his style balances technical skill with a playful sensibility that engages viewers through color and form.

Active in the folk art community, Robichaud attended the Lunenburg Folk Art Festivals and participated in significant exhibitions including a 1994 show in Paris, France. His work has been collected internationally across three continents, and his creative and well-executed pieces remain valued examples of contemporary Canadian folk art.