Biography of
Robert Ross
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E. Robert Ross has been a full time artist since 1975, exhibiting primarily in Southern Ontario. He was born and raised in the Hamilton area, where he currently resides with his wife and two children. he also lived on Vancouver Island for many years.
He has had solo exhibitions at the Art Gallery of Hamilton; the Burlington Art Center; the Beckett and McNaught Galleries, Hamilton; and the Wellington Gallery, Aurora, Ontario.
His work is included in art collections locally, nationally, and internationally: i.e. Collection of President Bill Clinton; City of Itabashi, Japan; Canon, Japan; Patriarch of the Christian Orthodox Church, Bartholomew II; GTS Industries, France; Barclays’ Bank, Dofasco; K.P.M.G., and Saturn of Hamilton East. Ross also has large scale paintings in public spaces around the Hamilton area: i.e. the lobby of St. Joseph’s Hospital (Charlton St.); the lobby of the Juravinski Cancer Center; the office of the Dean of Medicine, McMaster University; the Head Quarter of the Royal Botanical Gardens; and the headquarters of the Hamilton Region Conservation Authority.
Ross has been involved with many local arts organisations. He is a past president of the Board of Directors of the Carnegie Gallery, Dundas; a founding member of the On the Edge Art Environment Project; as well as many other arts organisations and juries. He has served for nine years on the Board of Directors of the Art Gallery of Hamilton (AGH), and is currently a member of The Council of Governors of the Art Gallery of Hamilton.
Artist’s Statement
I have always enjoyed being outdoors; for hikes in local conservation areas, from wilderness adventures such as mountaineering, or canoe tripping. One is reminded that we, as humans, are a part of nature; and can learn from studying the natural world. This is the central theme of my artwork.
An early interest in the work of landscape photographers led me to a realistic style of painting, in acrylics. However, the most important part of painting landscapes, for me, is the symbolism of the elements, and the association one can imagine from the depiction of the scenes. I always hope to suggest “going beyond” the landscape. It is the underlying spirit of nature that ties the landscape together with our human existence.
CREDENTIALS:
SOLO EXHIBITIONS (since 1990)
2006 – Wellington Gallery, Aurora, Ontario
2002 – Dennison Gallery, Toronto, Ontario
1998 – Art Gallery of Burlington, Burlington, Ontario “Landmarks”
1997 – McNaught Gallery, Hamilton, Ontario
1997 – Harbour Gallery, Mississauga, Ontario
1997 – Juravinski Cancer Centre, Hamilton, Ontario “Sanctuary Series”
1997 – Downtown Hamilton Mural (47′ x 80′), Hamilton, Ontario
1995 – Harbour Gallery, Mississauga, Ontario
1994 – McNaught Gallery, Hamilton, Ontario”
1993 – Carnegie Gallery, Dundas, Ontario “Skies”
1990 – Beckett Gallery, Hamilton, Ontario “Darklight”
GROUP EXHIBITIONS (since 1990)
2019 – Extinction Rebellion, Hamilton Ontario Chapter, Artists for Climate Action
2014 – Friends of Temagami, Save Wolf Lake Group, Hamilton and North Bay, Ontario
2008 – NYC Art Fair, New York, USA
1988 – 2019 – Dundas Valley School of Art Auction, Dundas, Ontario
1982 – 2017 – Art Gallery of Burlington Auction, Burlington, Ontario
2005 – 2019- Algonquin Arts Centre, Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario
2000 – Art Gallery of Burlington, Burlington, Ontario “Fragile Embrace”
1996-1998 – Hummingbird Centre, Toronto, Ontario
1996 – Art Gallery of Hamilton, Hamilton, Ontario “High Winds on the Skyway”
1996 – Carnegie Gallery, Dundas, Ontario, “The Drawing Show”
1996 – McNaught Gallery, Hamilton, Ontario “Hamilton Viewpoints”
1995 – Various locations in Hamilton “On the Edge” Art/Environment Project
1993 –Art Gallery of Burlington, Burlington, Ontario “Reading the Waters”
1991 – Temagami Wilderness Society Touring Exhibition,
Hamilton, London, Montreal, North Bay, Ottawa, and Toronto; Canada
1990 – Gallery 29, 80 Spadina, Toronto, Ontario “Five from Hamilton”
1990 – Broadway Cinema Gallery, Hamilton, Ontario “Primaries”
1990 – Forestry Building, University of Toronto, Ontario
1990 – Canusa Games Art Exhibition, Flint, Michigan, USA
SELECTED COLLECTIONS
HRH the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall
Former Governor General of Canada Adrienne Clarkson and John Ralston Saul
President Bill Clinton
Art Gallery of Hamilton, Ontario
ArcelorMittal Dofasco Inc., Hamilton
Stelco Inc., Hamilton
The Hamilton Spectator
Peat-Marwick (KPMG), Hamilton
Young Drivers of Canada, Hamilton
St. Joseph’s Hospital, Hamilton
McMaster University Medical Centre, Hamilton
David Braley Research Institute, Hamilton General Hospital, Hamilton, Ontario
Juravinski Cancer Centre, Hamilton, Ontario
Mohawk College, Hamilton, Ontario
City of Hamilton, Ontario
City of Itabashi, Japan
Yamaha Motorcycles, Japan
Christian Orthodox Church, Greece
Barclays Bank, Toronto, Ontario
GTS Industries, Paris, France
Hamilton Law Association at the John Sopinka Court House, Hamilton, Ontario
ARTS ORGANIZATIONS
Dundas Valley School of Art: Board of Governors
Art Gallery of Hamilton: Board of Directors (9 years); Currently on the Council of Governors
Carnegie Gallery, Dundas, Ontario: Past President, and Board Member
Hamilton and Region Arts Council: Visual Arts and Art Selection Committees
CKOC Radio/ Arts Hamilton Annual Juried Art Show: Art Gallery of Hamilton Co-Ordinator
Broadway Cinema Art Gallery, Hamilton: Art Selection Committee
On the Edge Art/Environment Project: Founding member
