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Goodridge
Roberts was born in Barbados, however, spent most of his childhood between
Fredericton, New Brunswick and England. Roberts’ father, a poet and novelist, was posted to duty overseas in England in 1914 and the family went
with remaining there until 1919.*
In 1923, he studied at the new École des Beaux-Arts in Montreal. In 1926 he studied at the Art Student League in New York, with John Sloane, and Max Weber. He painted still
life, figures, and quick sketches of people. In 1929, he returned to Fredericton and took
a position as a draftsman for the provincial forestry services. However, he continued to
paint one watercolour before work and one after work every day.*
At twenty-six years old he moved to Ottawa and organized a class at the Ottawa Art
Association. Goodridge Roberts also opened up a summer school for painting in Wakefield, Quebec. His participation in group shows at the Ottawa Art Association led to his first one man show at the Arts Club in Montreal. *
Goodridge Roberts first stay in the Laurentians, north of Montreal was in 1937.
He went back to the area numerous times over his career. He liked both rugged and pastoral summer countryside. He worked in the eastern townships of Montreal, the Gatineau Hills of Ottawa, the lower St. Lawrence region, Georgian Bay, Cape Breton Island, and Gaspe.*
From 1938 onwards, his work was exhibited regularly in Canada, and internationally,
usually with touring exhibitions organized by the National Gallery of Canada. He was appointed a war artist in 1943 after his enlistment with the RCAF. He spent two years in England documenting his impressions of the war.*
Roberts was chosen to be the first Canadian to participate in the Venice Biennale in 1952
along with Emily Carr, David Milne, and Alfred Pellan. He also participated in the San
Paolo Biennale of (1951,53), and Mexico 1958, and Ottawa, 1959. In 1969-70, the
National Gallery of Canada organized and circulated a retrospective of his work. Several museums across Canada have organized solo exhibitions for Goodridge Roberts work
since his passing.*
Goodridge Roberts had participated in numerous group exhibitions and was awarded
many distinctions and prizes over his career. He was a member of CAS in Montreal, CSPWC, CSG, and RCA. He also held many significant teaching positions across provinces. Goodridge Roberts died in
1974.*
Credits:
Helen Duffy, Mela Constantinidi, The Laurentians, Painters in a Landscape. pg. 66-67,1977.
Sandra Paikowsky, Goodridge Roberts,1904-1974, 1998, pg.’s 224-225.
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