Alex Colville: Student Years

About this exhibition

This exhibition marks seventy years since Canadian artist Alex Colville graduated in Fine Arts from Mount Allison University in 1942. During his student years, Colville established working methods and practices that carried him forward gradually to become one of Canada’s leading artists.

The exhibition brings together paintings borrowed from the artist, several drawings borrowed from the National Gallery of Canada, photographs and material from the Mount Allison University Archives and work from the Owens Art Gallery collection. Exhibition curator Jane Tisdale has paired artworks with archival photographs which offer a unique glimpse into Colville’s student years at Mount Allison. These include three self portraits done when Colville was in second, third year and fourth year, and sketches for the decorations he painted for the junior prom on the theme “Above the Clouds” in 1941. This is a wonderful opportunity to view never before seen works by the young artist during one of the most formative periods of his career.

Publication

Foreword by Gemey Kelly
Essay by Jane Tisdale

Design by Robert Tombs
Published by the Owens Art Gallery

Poster