CCCA Canadian Art Database

Carl Beam

Among the rapidly growing number of important First Nations artists in Canada, Carl Beam RCA was a strong, independent character and by that virtue he became a leader. His 1985 painting, The North American Iceberg (titled in ironic opposition to the Art Gallery of Ontario’s landmark exhibition of the same year, The European Iceberg) was the first work by an artist of native ancestry purchased by the National Gallery of Canada as contemporary art. He mainly eschewed traditional style and imagery and helped himself to the world through its overflowing inventory of photo-documents, inserting the personal and the symbolic alongside the iconic in remarkably lucid and powerful combinations that partially disguised the artist’s own motives and intentions to force the viewer’s active involvement in their interpretation.
Creator Id: 53
Web Site Link: Web Site Link
Virtual Collection: Original CCCA
Additional Statuses: First Nations
Country of Birth: Ontario
Province of Birth: Manitoulin Island
Year of Birth: 1943
City: West Bay
Country: Canada
Type of Creator: Artist
Ending Year: 2005
Gender: Male
Living Status: Deceased
Mediums: mixed media
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Work by Carl Beam

Time Warp

Work ID: 80130

Description: Photo © NGC

Measurements: 3.04 x 12.19 m

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Time Warp, detail

Work ID: 80133

Description: Photo © NGC

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Re-Alignment 1984

Work ID: 80122

Description: Photo © NGC

Measurements: 3 x 38.5 cm in diameter

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Time Warp, detail

Work ID: 80131

Description: Photo © NGC

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Time Warp

Work ID: 80134

Description: Photo © NGC

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Time Warp, detail

Work ID: 80132

Description: Photo © NGC

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The North American Iceberg

Work ID: 80129

Description: Photo © NGC

Measurements: 213.6 x 374.1 cm

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Voyage

Work ID: 80125

Description: Photo © NGC

Measurements: 530 x 308 x 310 cm installed

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Sauvage

Work ID: 80121

Description: Photo © NGC

Measurements: 308 x 190.9 x 15 cm with integral frame

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Voyage

Work ID: 80127

Description: Photo © NGC

Measurements: 530 x 308 x 310 cm installed

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Voyage

Work ID: 80126

Description: Photo © NGC

Measurements: 530 x 308 x 310 cm installed

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The Unexplained

Work ID: 80124

Description: Photo © NGC

Measurements: 213.4 x 152.4 cm

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The Problematical Theoretical

Work ID: 80115

Description: Photo © NGC

Measurements: 73.5 x 55 cm

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Originator No. 2

Work ID: 80118

Description: Photo © NGC

Measurements: 18.3 x 26.9 cm

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Z

Work ID: 80119

Description: Photo © NGC

Measurements: 26.1 x 18.4 cm

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Gan Dancers

Work ID: 80136

Measurements: 41.2 x 20.5 x 16.9 cm

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The Problematical Theoretical, No. 2

Work ID: 80117

Description: Photo © NGC

Measurements: 73.5 x 54.5 cm

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Gan Dancers

Work ID: 80135

Measurements: 41.2 x 20.5 x 16.9 cm

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Columbus Chronicles

Work ID: 80120

Description: Photo © NGC

Measurements: 274.3 x 213.3 cm

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Only Poetry Remains

Work ID: 80123

Description: Photo © NGC

Measurements: 127.8 x 242.7 cm

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