Kenneth Lochhead

Kenneth Campbell Lochhead RCA was a professor and painter. Lochhead attended the Summer Art School at Queen's University in 1944. From 1945 to 1948, he attended the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in Philadelphia. From 1946 to 1948, he studied at the Barnes Foundation near Philadelphia. From 1950 to 1964, he was the director of the School of Art at the University of Saskatchewan – Regina Campus. Among his pupils there was Joan Rankin. His art work in this early period was Surrealist as well as abstract (he bounced between the two). He was commissioned to do two murals in his surrealist mode, one for the airport in Gander, Newfoundland, one for the Royal Canadian Legion branch in Regina (1955-1956), a "major artistic achievement". Lochhead was the co-founder with McKay of the Emma Lake Artist's Workshops in 1955 and attended the 1959 visit of Barnett Newman, followed by a reappraisal of his art. In 1961, he exhibited his abstract paintings as part of the Regina Five at the National Gallery of Canada with Art McKay, Ron Bloore, Ted Godwin, and Douglas Morton. Along with McKay, he was included in Clement Greenberg's 1964 Post-Painterly Abstraction exhibition. By 1968, Lochhead was painting abstract work that let the painting "breathe" by leaving margins of unpainted canvas between the colours. From 1964 to 1973, he was an associate professor in the School of Fine Arts at the University of Manitoba. From 1973 to 1975, he was a professor in the Department of Visual Arts, Faculty of Fine Arts at York University. From 1975 to 1989, he was a professor in the Department of Visual Arts at the University of Ottawa. In 1970, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada "for his contribution to the development of painting, especially in Western Canada, as an artist and teacher". In 2006, he was awarded the Governor General's Awards in Visual and Media Arts. He was made a member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts.

Creator Id: 377
Web Site Link: Web Site Link
Virtual Collection: Original CCCA
Beginning Year: 1926
Country of Birth: Canada
Province of Birth: Ontario
Year of Birth: 1926
City: Ottawa
Country: Canada
Type of Creator: Artist
Ending Year: 2006
Gender: Male
Living Status: Deceased
Mediums: painting
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Video

Lochhead: Philosophy

Description:

Info: Philosophy

Summary: Impact of Personal Experiences in Art: An artist reflects on the influence of personal experiences and historical context in shaping his art, specifically how his interactions and the political environment influenced his creative output.

Transcription:

Lochhead (2)

Description: Video clips © CCCA & Linda Corbett_Eyeris Inc. 2005

Info: Approach

Summary: Defense of Decoration in Art: In this video, the artist argues for a reevaluation of the term "decoration" within the art world, lamenting its recent negative connotations. He advocates for recognizing decoration as a significant and historical art form, pointing to examples like the great Indian temples, Egyptian pyramids, and Renaissance art as embodiments of decoration in its most esteemed form. He challenges the notion that decoration is inferior and promotes it as a vital and rich tradition in visual culture.

Transcription:

Lochhead (1)

Description: Les clips vidéo sont seulement en anglais. Vidéo © CCCA & Linda Corbett_Eyeris Inc. 2005

Info: Approach

Summary: Philosophical Musings on Art and Improvisation: In this video, the artist shares his philosophical and somewhat whimsical thoughts on the nature of art and creativity. He emphasizes the role of improvisation in his work, likening his creative process to jazz and expressing joy in the unpredictable outcomes that arise during painting. The artist also touches on his experiments with integrating his art into dynamic environments, highlighting how these interactions enhance the viewer's experience and engagement with his work.

Transcription:

Lochead: Eclecticism

Description:

Info: Eclecticism

Summary: Embracing Eclecticism in Art: This video explores an artist's eclectic approach to creativity, drawing inspiration from a variety of sources, including a transformative meeting with Picasso. The artist celebrates the freedom to borrow and adapt from art history, embracing a broad range of styles and methodologies without being confined to a singular identity, despite criticism for being diverse in his artistic expressions.

Transcription:

Lochead: Decoration

Description:

Info: Decoration

Summary: Influence of Islamic and Byzantine Art on Modern Design: The artist discusses how Islamic and Byzantine art influences modern design, particularly in decorative patterns derived from nature. He explores the philosophical and historical dimensions of these influences, considering their impact on modern visual arts and their perceived distance from mainstream modern art due to their mathematical and sensual characteristics.

Transcription:

Lochhead: Approach

Description:

Info: Approach

Summary: The Art of Seeing and Canadian Art Criticism: The video explores the artistic concept of seeing, the relationship between color, light, and space, and the criticism of Canadian art exhibitions. It discusses the challenges faced by Canadian artists due to local biases and the benefits of incorporating international perspectives into Canadian art to enhance its diversity and appreciation.

Transcription:

Work by Kenneth Lochhead

K.L., P.A.F.A.

Work ID: 8495

Measurements: 35.56 x 25.4 cm

Collection:

Date Made: 1948

Materials: oil on canvas

Virtual Collection: Original CCCA