Artists in Canada

Artists in Canada, compiled and maintained by the National Gallery of Canada Library, is a bilingual union list that identifies the location of documentation files on Canadian artists. Twenty-three libraries and art galleries across Canada have contributed biographical information and lists of their documentation files to create this resource which contains information for over 42,700 artists. Additional information regarding the institutions that contribute to Artists in Canada appears separately under Contributors.

The term "artist" is interpreted broadly in the visual arts field to include artisans along with painters, sculptors, printmakers, architects, and others. An artist "in Canada" denotes an artist born in Canada or an artist born elsewhere who has worked in Canada. The inclusion of an artist implies no selection process. An entry here indicates only the existence of a file, the size of which may range from one to hundreds of items, containing information in the form of press clippings, exhibition announcements, and other items.

Each record in the database has information in up to 25 data fields. The data within these fields include brief biographical information on the artist, such as birth and/or death dates, place of birth and/or death, and artist technique.

National Gallery of Canada – Artist Biographies

Links to over 150 bilingual artist biographies compiled by the Education staff of the National Gallery of Canada and available on the Gallery's website have been added to Artists in Canada.

Links to other biographical sources on Canadian artists will be made as resources become available.

List of references

NOTE: A lower case "a" after the reference indicates that a citation was found in that source, a lower case "x" indicates that the name could not be verified.

3BC: Three hours later: a catalogue of British Columbia artists and their work. Vancouver, BC: New Era Social Club, 1973.
AAC: Lerner, Loren and Mary Williamson. Art and architecture in Canada: a bibliography and guide to the literature to 1981= Art et architecture au Canada: bibliographie et guide de la documentation jusqu'en 1981. Toronto: U.T.P., c. 1991.
ABC: Morys-Edge, Derek. Artists of British Columbia. Vancouver, BC: Chartwell, 1986.
AC: Calgary Public Library. Authorities. Calgary, AB.
ALB: University of Alberta. Authorities. Edmonton, AB.
ARBIO: Artist biographies master index. Detroit: Gale, 1986.
AUBREY: Aubrey, Irene E. Pictures to share: Illustration in Canadian Childrens' Books = Images pour tous: illustration de livres canadiens pour enfants. Ottawa: National Library of Canada; Ottawa: Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 1979, 1986.
BERGERON: Bergeron, Claude. Index des périodiques d'architecture canadiens: 1940-1980 = Canadian Architectural Periodicals Index: 1940-1980. Québec: Université Laval, 1986.
BL: British Library. Name Authority List. London, England.
BNQ: Bibliothèque nationale de Québec. Fichiers d'autorité. Québec, Québec.
BRUENS: Bruens, Louis. 106 professionels de la peinture 1991. Ste-Agathe: La Palette, 1991.
BVAU: University of British Columbia - Library. Authorities. Vancouver, BC.
BVAVA: Vancouver Art Gallery - Library. Authorities. Vancouver, BC.
CC: Canada Council = Conseil des arts. Art Bank Catalogue = Catalogue de la banque des oeuvres d'art. Ottawa: The Council; Ottawa: Le conseil, 1972-
CCP: Maclennan, H. and M. Langford. Contemporary Canadian photography from the collection of the National Film Board. Edmonton: Hurtig, 1984.
CHENIER: Chénier, Louise. Ontario index of Canadian artists. S.l.: Chénier, 1974.
CHIN: Canadian Heritage Information Network. National Humanities Database. Ottawa: Dept. of Communications, 1981-
CREAT: Creative Canada: a biographical dictionary of twentieth century creative and performing artists. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1971-
DEVON: Devonshire-Baker, Suzanne. Artists of Alberta. Edmonton: University of Alberta. c. 1980.
DOC: Dictionary of Canadian biography. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, c. 1966-
HARPER: Harper, J. Russell. Early painters and engravers in Canada. Toronto: U.T.P. c. 1970.
INU: Biographies of Inuit artists. Ottawa: Canadian Arctic Producers Cooperative, 1981-
IOA: Québec (Province). Ministère des Affaires culturelles. Inventaire des oeuvres d'art. Québec: Le Ministère, c. 1986.
KAREL: Karel, David. Dictionnaire des artistes de langue française en Amérique du nord. Québec: Musée du Québec, c. 1992.
KOBA: Kobayashi, Terry and Michael Bird. A compendium of Canadian folk artists. Erin: Boston Mills, 1985.
LANGDON: Langdon, John E. Canadian silversmiths, 1700- 1900. Toronto: 1966.
LC: Library of Congress. Name Authorities. Washington, D.C.
LEMIEUX: Lemieux, Irenée. Artistes du Québec. Québec: Lemieux, c. 1974-
MACDONALD: MacDonald, Colin. A Dictionary of Canadian artists. Ottawa: Canadian Paperbacks, 1967-.
MacLAREN: "Appendix A, An alphabetical list of cabinet makers in Nova Scotia" IN MacLaren, George, Antique furniture by Nova Scotian craftsmen. Toronto: McGraw Hill, 1975.
MAN: Art Gallery of Winnipeg. 150 Years of Art in Manitoba. Winnipeg: The Gallery, 1970.
MATT: Mattison, David. Camera workers: the British Columbia photographers directory, 1858-1900. Victoria: Camera Workers Press, 1985.
McKENDRY: McKendry, Blake. A Dictionary of folk artists in Canada. Eglinburg: Blake McKendry Ltd., c. 1988.
MMFA: McMann, Evelyn. Montréal Museum of Fine Arts formerly Art Association of Montréal Spring Exhibitions 1880-1970. Toronto: U.T.P., c. 1991.
MTA: Mount Allison University Library. Authorities. Sackville, NB.
MUS35: Musée des beaux-arts de Montréal. Les moins de 35. Montréal: [Mediart], 1973.
NLC: National Library of Canada. Canadiana Authorities. Ottawa, ON.
OLIV: Olivier, Réjean. Dictionnaire biographique des créateurs de la région de Joliette. Québec: Ministère des Affaires culturelles, [1975].
OTAG: Art Gallery of Ontario - Library. Authorities. Toronto, ON.
PALARDY: "List of master-woodworkers, woodworkers and carvers" IN Jean Palardy. The early furniture of French Canada. Toronto: MacMillan, 1971.
PHIL: Phillips, Glen C. The Ontario photographers list 1851- 1900. Sarnia, ON: Iron Gate, 1990.
RCA: McMann, Evelyn. Royal Canadian Academy of Arts: exhibitions and members 1880-1979 = Académie royale des arts du Canada: expositions et membres 1880-1979. Toronto: U.T.P., 1981.
ROBERT: Robert, Guy. Cent vingt du Cercle des artistes peintres du Québec. Montréal: Iconia, 1989.
SASK: Newman, Marketa. Biographical dictionary of Saskatchewan artists: women artists. Saskatoon: Fifth House, c. 1990.
TIP: Tippett, Maria. By a Lady : Celebrating Three Centuries of Art by Canadian Women. Toronto: Viking, 1992.
TREP100: Trépanier, Jean. 100 peintres du Québec. Montréal: Hurtubise, 1980.
TREP103: Trépanier, Jean. 103 peintres du Québec. Grand'Mère: L'auteur, 1984.
VALLEE: Guide Vallée. Ste-Foy: Charles-Huot, 1993/1994
WHO: Who was who in American Art. Guildford, Conn.: Sound View Press, 1985.
WOLFF: Wolff, Hennie, ed. The Index of Ontario artists. Toronto: Visual Arts Ontario, 1978.