Born in Lausanne, Switzerland the Bieler family moved to Canada in 1908.  Attracted early in life to architecture Andre would spend years in the First World War until a severe gassing led to convalescence in Canada and Florida.  It was in Florida where he began to paint using a set of watercolours given to him by his mother.  His studies began at Stetson University under Harry Davis Fluhart.  Later he studied in Woodstock, New York and in Europe under his uncle artist Ernest Bieler before returning to Canada to become a “Canadian Painter”.  Living in Quebec in rural villages he developed his painting interests.  Unlike the Group of Seven who looked for intimate contact with the Canadian wilderness, Bieler was drawn to discover the people of Canada and their roots to the land.  Despite a life long struggle with asthma Bieler had a long and fruitful career.  He taught for many years in Montreal and Kingston Ontario, while bringing to his work floods of light, amidst colourful energy.  Bieler’s paintings are sensitive and sincere while being grounded in a hardheaded realism.