He studied in Montreal under Ludger Larose and Edmond Dyonnet, then under Edward J. Timmons at the Art Institute of Chicago.

[2][6] His work was shown in Montreal in the Galerie L'Art français from about 1945[7] and in the Walter Klinkhoff Gallery.

[9] On 22 May 1981 Canada Post issued 'Marc-Aurèle Fortin' designed by Pierre Fontaine in the Canadian Art series.

The 17¢ stamps are perforated 12.5 mm and were printed by Ashton-Potter Limited[9] The electoral district Marc-Aurèle-Fortin is named in his honour.

[11] In 2007, the Musée d`Marc-Aurèle Fortin donated its entire collection to the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts.