Kenneth Lochhead (1926-2006) – Artist Biography
Born in Ottawa in 1926, Kenneth Lochhead studied art at Queen’s University, the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, and the Barnes Foundation. He was appointed Director of the School of Art at the University of Saskatchewan's Regina campus in 1950 and remained in Regina until 1964. In 1955, while in Regina, he initiated the Emma Lake Professional Artists’ Workshops, which brought about a renaissance in Saskatchewan art and helped propel it onto the international scene. He was also a member of the Regina Five painters who exhibited at the National Gallery in 1961 and who were considered to be at the forefront of Canada’s modern art movement at that time. He later taught at the University of Manitoba (1964-1973), York University (1973-1975), and the University of Ottawa (1975-1989). He retired in 1989 and worked in his studio on a full-time basis until his death in 2006. From 1953 until 2006 Lochhead exhibited in over three hundred national and international exhibitions and received over 18 major Canadian and international art commissions. His public commissions included a mural for the Regina Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion, a mural for the Gander International Airport, the design for Manitoba’s Centennial Stamp, relief decoration for the Canadian Chancery in Warsaw, Poland, and a mural for the Department of Foreign Affairs, Ottawa. In 2005 the Mackenzie Art Gallery marked Saskatchewan's Centennial celebrations with a sixty-year retrospective of Lochhead’s career. Kenneth Lochhead-Garden of Light paid homage to the art, teaching, education, and vision of this man who helped to establish contemporary art in Canada. Aside from his distinguished career as an artist and educator, Lochhead served on many national and provincial public boards, committees, and organizations. He was awarded The Order of Canada in 1971, an Honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of Regina in2001, and the Governor General’s Award in Visual and Media Arts in 2006. Awards: Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, Tuition Scholarships, 1946, 1947, 1948 Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, Emlin Cresson Memorial Travelling Scholarship Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, Lewis S. Ware Memorial Travelling Scholarship O’Keefe Art Awards Competition, Toronto, 1950. First Prize Canada Council Grant, for Travel in Europe, 1958 Winnipeg Art Gallery, Biennial, 1962. First Prize: Painting Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, 80th Spring Exhibition, 1963 Jessie Dow Award Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, 81st Spring Exhibition, 1964 Robinson Award Centennial Medal, 1967 Governor General’s Honours List, 1971. Awarded Medal of the Order of Canada. OC Canada Council Grant, 1971 Commemorative Medal for the 125th Anniversary of Canadian Confederation, 1992 Member: Royal Canadian Academy, RCA. 1996 Honorary Doctor of Laws, University of Regina. 2001 Golden Jubilee Medal, 2002. Governor General's Award in Visual and Media Arts, 2006. Permanent Collections: Agnes Etherington Art Centre - Queen's University, Kingston Art Gallery of Greater Victoria Art Gallery of Hamilton Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, Halifax Art Gallery of Peterborough Art Gallery of Windsor Bank of Montreal, Mountain & McGregor Branch, Winnipeg Beaverbrook Art Gallery, Fredericton Canada Council, Ottawa Canada Council Art Bank, Ottawa Canadian Chancery, Warsaw, Poland Canadian Embassy, Oslo, Norway Canadian Museum of Civilization, Hull Carleton University Art Gallery, Ottawa Centennial Concert Hall, Winnipeg, Manitoba City of Ottawa Art Collection Confederation Centre Art Gallery and Museum, Charlottetown Dalhousie University Art Gallery, Halifax Dunlop Art Gallery, Regina Edmonton Art Gallery Gallery One One One, The University of Manitoba, Winnipeg Gander International Airport. Gander, Newfoundland. Glenbow Museum, Calgary Government of Canada - Department of Foreign Affairs Government of Canada - Transport Canada Kenderdine Art Gallery, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon London Regional Art and Historical Museums, London MacKenzie Art Gallery, Regina Memorial University Art Gallery, St. Johns, Newfoundland Mendel Art Gallery, Saskatoon Montreal Museum of Fine Arts National Aviation Museum, Ottawa National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa Nickle Arts Museum, University of Calgary Ottawa Art Gallery Ottawa City Archives Owens Art Gallery, Mount Allison University, Sackville Province of Manitoba Collection, Winnipeg Regina Branch of the Canadian Legion, Regina Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton Royal Bank of Canada, Toronto Saskatchewan Arts Board, Regina Saskatchewan House, Regina Saskatoon Gallery & Conservatory Corporation School of Architecture, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg Shell Canada, Toronto State Art Collection, National Capital Commission, Ottawa University of Lethbridge Art Gallery University of New Brunswick, Fredericton University of Regina Library Archives University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon University of Toronto Art Centre University of Ottawa Vancouver Art Gallery Winnipeg Art Gallery York University Art Gallery, Toronto
Artist Specialization: A prolific artist who has experimented with numerous media and styles, Kenneth Lochhead was at the forefront of Canada’s modern art movement, particularly in colour-field painting. His work reveals a constant passion for colour and is frequently inspired by place, family and community.
