Alex Colville Biography

Overview

• Lifespan: 1920-2013
• Career Highlights: Official war artist in WWII, consistent artistic style from the 1950s
• Common Subjects: Family, home environments in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, animals (often pets)

Formative Years

• Birth: August 24, 1920, in Toronto, Canada
• Family Background: Second son of David Colville (Scottish immigrant, construction worker) and Florence Gault
• Early Childhood Moves: St. Catharines, Ontario, and later Amherst, Nova Scotia
• Health: Contracted pneumonia, leading to a long recovery and stimulated interest in art
• Art Education: Took art classes at an early age under Sarah Hart, influenced by Post-Impressionism

Art Education and Early Influence

• Mentor: Stanley Royle at Mount Allison University
• Education: Initially planned to study law, but shifted to art due to encouragement from Royle
• Artistic Style: Early works influenced by Post-Impressionism

War Years

• WWII Service: Enlisted in 1942, became an official war artist in 1944
• Art during War: Documented Canada's war effort, including the liberation of Bergen-Belsen
• Impact of War: The war had a significant personal impact, though Colville resisted being defined by it

Post-War Life and Career

• Mount Allison University: Faculty member post-war, balancing teaching and painting
• Style Development: Transitioned from war-influenced art to a more personal style by the early 1950s
• Family Life: Married Rhoda Wright in 1942, raising four children

Professional Success

• Exhibitions: Regular exhibitions in New York, Toronto, and Canadian galleries
• Key Works: Nude and Dummy, Four Figures on Wharf
• Themes: Focus on intimate settings, family, and the interplay between human and animal life

Later Life

• Move to Wolfville, Nova Scotia: Continued success in art with commercial and public shows
• Accolades: Honorary degrees, Order of Canada, Governor General's Award
• Artistic Style: Consistent throughout his career, stayed true to his unique style

Legacy

• Death: Passed away in 2013, shortly after his wife's death
• Exhibitions: Posthumous exhibition at AGO became the most attended Canadian show in its history
• Public Perception: Despite criticism, maintained a strong public following

Personal Reflections

• Artistic Philosophy: Painted for those capable of experiencing art, hoped for a growing audience

Key Quotes

• "True love is never long enough" - in reference to his long marriage with Rhoda
• Colville believed in painting for an audience capable of understanding and appreciating art

Notable Works

• Self Portrait (1940)
• Interior Owens Art Gallery with Figure (1941)
• Nude and Dummy (1950)
• Family and Rainstorm (1955)
• Church and Horse (1964)

Images

• Various portraits and notable works are included throughout his biography, depicting his signature style and subjects.