Martine St-Clair: Biography, Songs, Awards & Painting Career

Few Quebec artists have managed to balance a microphone and a paintbrush with the same grace. Martine St‑Clair built a pop career on platinum‑selling singles like On va s’aimer, then quietly turned a childhood hobby into a serious painting practice that has drawn collectors since 2001.

Born: 22 July 1962 ·
Origin: Quebec, Canada ·
Albums sold: Over 1 million ·
Major awards: 6 Félix, 2 Métrostar, 2 Trophées Artis

Who is Martine St‑Clair?

Early life and background

Martine St‑Clair was born Martine Nault on 22 July 1962 in Montreal, Quebec (Wikipedia biography). She grew up in a French‑speaking household and began singing and painting at a young age — two passions that would later define her public identity.

In 1981, at age 19, she was chosen by lyricist Luc Plamondon to play Cristal in the rock opera Starmania (Martine St‑Clair official website). That role launched her into the Quebec music scene and set the stage for a solo career that began two years later.

Career beginnings

St‑Clair’s debut solo album Coeur Ordinateur arrived in 1983 (Martine St‑Clair official website). Her sophomore effort, Il y a de l’amour dans l’air (1985), produced hits that would become staples of Quebec radio. The single Ce soir l’amour est dans tes yeux sold over 100,000 copies (Canadian Music Blog article), an impressive feat for a Francophone artist in Canada.

Personal details

St‑Clair has kept her private life largely out of the spotlight. Her marital status and the identity of a potential husband are not documented in public records. What is known: she balances a music career with an active painting practice, and her official site (Martine St‑Clair official website) describes her as “both a singer and a painter.”

The pattern: St‑Clair has deliberately constructed a multi‑dimensional public persona that leaves room for privacy. Her art career provides an outlet that doesn’t require the same exposure as pop stardom.

What are Martine St‑Clair’s most popular songs?

Breakthrough hits

St‑Clair’s biggest singles define an era of Quebec pop. Her official site (Martine St‑Clair official website) lists Ce soir l’amour est dans tes yeux, On va s’aimer, and Il y a de l’amour dans l’air as signature successes. On Spotify (Spotify artist page), L’amour est dans tes yeux, Danse avec moi, and Il y a de l’amour dans l’air remain her most‑streamed tracks.

She recorded a duet with French legend Gilbert Bécaud — L’amour est mort (1982) — and collaborated with the Canadian rock band The Box on Closer Together (1986) (Martine St‑Clair official website). She also worked with Italian‑born singer Gino Vannelli, showing range beyond strict pop (Martine St‑Clair official website).

• Ce soir l’amour est dans tes yeux – 1986 single, 100,000+ copies sold
• On va s’aimer – defining Quebec pop anthem
• Il y a de l’amour dans l’air – 1985 album title track
• Closer Together – collaboration with The Box
• L’amour est mort – duet with Gilbert Bécaud

On va s’aimer

On va s’aimer is arguably St‑Clair’s most recognized song, a staple of Quebec radio and a track that still appears on nostalgia playlists. It embodies the optimistic pop sound of mid‑80s Quebecois radio and helped cement her status as a top‑selling Francophone artist.

Popular albums

The album chronology shows a steady ascent: each release refined her pop sound and expanded her audience.

Three albums, one pattern: each release pushed deeper into Quebec’s pop mainstream while St‑Clair experimented with collaborator pairings. The 1986 LP alone moved over 100,000 copies — a concrete sign of her reach.

What awards has Martine St‑Clair won?

Félix Awards

St‑Clair’s trophy case is dominated by the Félix Awards, Quebec’s equivalent of the Junos for Francophone music. She won four Félix awards in 1986 alone (Canadian Music Blog article), including categories for pop song, best‑selling single, pop LP, and female performer of the year (Canadian Music Blog article). In total, she has won six Félix awards over her career.

“Four Félix awards in a single year is a rare feat for any Quebec artist.” — Canadian Music Blog

Métrostar and Trophées Artis

Beyond the Félix orbit, St‑Clair earned two Métrostar awards and two Trophées Artis — industry prizes that recognize audience popularity and media presence in Quebec (Wikipedia biography). She also received Juno Award nominations in 1986 for Female Vocalist of the Year and Best Selling Single (Wikipedia biography), a sign that her Quebec popularity had begun to register on national radar.

The implication: her success is deeply regional, which is both a limitation and a source of authentic connection with Quebec audiences.

Does Martine St‑Clair paint?

Painting career

Since 2001, St‑Clair has maintained a parallel visual‑art practice. A profile from BERTHELET.art (BERTHELET.art gallery profile) describes her as a “self‑taught artist” who began expressing herself “on canvas and in songs” in the early 2000s. She works primarily in oil and acrylic, and her pieces incorporate unconventional materials including Swarovski crystals and gold leaf.

“She is a self‑taught artist who began expressing herself on canvas and in songs in the early 2000s.” — BERTHELET.art gallery profile

Abstract art is the label that best fits her visual output, according to gallery descriptions (BERTHELET.art gallery profile). Her official site (Martine St‑Clair official website) features a dedicated section for her artwork, alongside music and biography.

Exhibitions

St‑Clair’s paintings have been shown through galleries in Quebec, though specific exhibition dates and venues are not aggregated in English‑language sources. The gallery representation via BERTHELET.art indicates an ongoing professional commitment — not a hobbyist sideline. The use of precious materials like Swarovski stones signals an audience willing to invest in her visual work.

The trade‑off: By splitting her creative output between music and painting, St‑Clair has built two audiences that only partially overlap. Her paintings reach art collectors who may never stream her 80s singles, and vice versa.

What is Martine St‑Clair’s net worth?

Estimated net worth

St‑Clair’s net worth is not publicly confirmed by any credible source. Unlike major‑label international pop stars, Quebec’s music industry does not require public financial disclosures, and St‑Clair has not shared figures in interviews.

Sources of income

What can be reasonably inferred: St‑Clair generates revenue from three streams — music sales and streaming royalties, concert performances (including the planned 2026 spectacle), and painting sales through gallery representation. Over one million albums sold (Wikipedia biography) would provide a meaningful royalty base, though streaming payouts for Francophone pop are modest compared to global English‑language acts.

The catch: Without verified financial statements, any net worth figure would be speculation. The responsible answer is: “not disclosed.”

Timeline

The chronology of Martine St‑Clair’s career reveals a steady trajectory from stage to canvas, with a clear pivot in 2001 toward visual art.

Clarity section

Confirmed facts

• Born 22 July 1962 in Montreal, Quebec (Wikipedia biography)
• Over 1 million albums sold (Wikipedia biography)
• 6 Félix Awards, 2 Métrostar, 2 Trophées Artis (Canadian Music Blog article)
• Painting practice since 2001, works in oil and acrylic (BERTHELET.art gallery profile)
• Notable collaborations: Gilbert Bécaud, The Box, Gino Vannelli (Martine St‑Clair official website)
• 1986 single Ce soir l’amour est dans tes yeux sold over 100,000 copies (Canadian Music Blog article)

What is unclear

• Net worth — not publicly confirmed
• Marital status and husband identity — not publicly documented
• Spectacle 2026 — specific dates, venues, and ticket details unconfirmed
• Painting exhibition history — dates and venues not compiled in English sources

Fans interested in her transition from pop stardom to visual arts can explore Martine St-Clairs art and music for a deeper look at her creative journey.

Frequently asked questions

Martine St‑Clair’s ability to sustain two distinct creative paths demonstrates a rare equilibrium in Quebec’s cultural landscape.