Kenneth Lochhead
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.
