John Meredith

John Meredith was a prominent Canadian painter who was involved in Toronto’s Isaac’s Gallery scene. He studied at the Ontario College of Art (now OCAD University) (from 1950 to 1953) and had his first solo exhibition in 1958. Meredith was the brother of William Ronald, another prominent Canadian painter. Throughout his career, Meredith had a number of solo and group exhibitions including three decades of shows at the Isaac’s Gallery, as well as shows at both the Art Gallery of Ontario and the National Gallery of Canada. He was chosen to represent Canada at the 1966 Paris Biennial, alongside Richard Gorman, and his work was also represented at Expo ‘67 in Montreal. His work can be found in numerous North American collections including the Art Gallery of Ontario, the Museum of Modern Art, the National Gallery of Canada, and the Canada Council Collection.  

 

John Meredith’s early paintings typically consisted of abstract vertical stripes that are dark and tonal in colour. These stripes first took on botanical references then later human connotations, projecting a sense of mystery. In later years, his paintings took on brighter colour and greater complexity. By the later decades of his career, his paintings became simplified, looser and more open. Throughout his lifetime, Meredith’s work was constantly evolving though it remained consistently informed by a belief in the human presence as the ultimate subject of art. 

John Meredith (1933-2000, Canada)

 

Education

1950-1953 Ontario College of Art, worked under Jock Macdonald

 

Select Solo Exhibitions
2024  Last Breaths, Christopher Cutts Gallery, Toronto, CA
2023  John Meredith: An Overview, Christopher Cutts Gallery, Toronto, CA
2009  Five Decades & Figurative, Christopher Cutts Gallery, Toronto, CA
2005  Last Paintings and Works on Paper, Christopher Cutts Gallery, Toronto, CA
2003  Paper/Canvas, Christopher Cutts Gallery, Toronto, CA
1991  The Kasper Gallery
1989  The Issacs Gallery, Toronto, CA
1987  The Issacs Gallery, Toronto, CA
1986  Region of Peel Art Gallery, Brampton, CA
1985-1984  Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto, CA
1983  The Issacs Gallery, Toronto, CA
1981  The Issacs Gallery, Toronto, CA
1980  The Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, Victoria, CA
1980  The Issacs Gallery, Toronto, CA
1975-1974  The Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto (travelling)
1973  The Issacs Gallery, Toronto, CA
1969 The Issacs Gallery, Toronto, CA
1967  The Issacs Gallery, Toronto, CA
1965  The Blue Barn Gallery, Ottawa, CA
1965  The Issacs Gallery, Toronto, CA
1963  The Issacs Gallery, Toronto, CA
1961  The Issacs Gallery, Toronto, CA
1959-1958  The Gallery of Contemporary Art, Toronto, CA

 

Select Group Shows
2024 Winter Group Show, Christopher Cutts Gallery, Toronto, CA
2016 Starry Night, Christopher Cutts Gallery, Toronto, CA
2015 Director’s Choice I, Christopher Cutts Gallery, Toronto, CA
2015 Winter Group Show, Christopher Cutts Gallery, Toronto, CA
2013 Christmas Group Show, Christopher Cutts Gallery, Toronto, CA
2013 Winter Solstice Painting Extravaganza, Christopher Cutts Gallery, Toronto, CA
2011 Christmas Group Show, Christopher Cutts Gallery, Toronto, CA
2011 Painting: Toronto’s Modern Masters. Christopher Cutts Gallery, Toronto, CA
2008 Christmas Party, Christopher Cutts Gallery, Toronto, CA
2007  The Varley Art Gallery, Unionville, CA
2006 Abstract Painting, Christopher Cutts Gallery, Toronto, CA
2005  The Justina M. Barnicke Gallery, Toronto, CA
2005  University of Toronto Art Centre, Toronto, CA
2005  National Gallery of Canada, Toronto, CA
2002 Vintage Abstraction, Christopher Cutts Gallery, Toronto, CA
1992  The McMichael Art Gallery, Vaughn, CA
1988-1987  Queen’s Park, Toronto, CA
1985  Agnes Etherington Centre, Queen’s University, Kingston, CA
1984  49th Parallel Gallery, New York, US
1981  Winnipeg Art Gallery, Winnipeg, CA
1978  Harbourfront Art Gallery, Toronto, CA
1978  Edmonton Art Gallery, Edmonton, CA
1977  Vancouver Art Gallery, Vancouver, CA
1976  The Olympic Games, Montreal (Ontario Exhibition), CA
1976  Dalhousie University Art Gallery, Halifax, CA
1971  National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa, CA
1971  Mabel Ringling Museum of Art, Sarasota, US
1970  Tel Aviv, IL
1968  Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston, US
1968  Lugano, CH
1968  Edinburgh International Festival, GB
1968  Musée National d’art Modern, Paris, FR
1967  Union Carbid Building, New York, US
1967  Winnipeg Art Gallery, Winnipeg, CA
1967  Winnipeg Art Gallery, Winnipeg, CA
1967  National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa, CA
1967  EXPO’ 67 Montreal, CA
1966  National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa, CA
1965  University of Waterloo, Waterloo, CA
1965  Quartrieme Biennial de Paris, Musée d’Art, FR
1965  National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa, CA
1963  Detroit Cultural Center, Detroit, US
1963  Albright Knox Gallery, Buffalo, US
1963  University of Waterloo, Waterloo, CA
1961  Annual Spring Show, Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, Montreal, CA

 

Art Fairs
2015 Art Toronto, with Christopher Cutts Gallery, Toronto, CA
2013 Art Toronto, with Christopher Cutts Gallery, Toronto, CA
2012 Armory Modern, New York, US
2011 Art Toronto, with Christopher Cutts Gallery, Toronto, CA
2009 Art Toronto, with Christopher Cutts Gallery, Toronto, CA
1967  EXPO’ 67 Montreal, CA

Featured Artwork

John Meredith

Black and White With Pink

1980
60
 x 72
 in
 (152.5
 x 183
 cm)

John Meredith

Embers of the Heart

1994
33
 x 20
 in
 (84
 x 51
 cm)

John Meredith

Eroica

1994
74
 x 49
 in
 (188
 x 124.5
 cm)

John Meredith

June

1961
39
 x 55
 in
 (99
 x 139.5
 cm)

John Meredith

Key Largo

c. 1993
79.5
 x 69.5
 in
 (202
 x 176.5
 cm)

John Meredith

Oasis

1989
84
 x 84
 in
 (213.5
 x 213.5
 cm)

John Meredith

Reclining Figure

1990
54
 x 65
 in
 (137
 x 165
 cm)

John Meredith

Standing Figure

1986
78
 x 60
 in
 (198
 x 152.5
 cm)

John Meredith

Summer

1994
36.5
 x 25
 in
 (92.5
 x 63.5
 cm)

John Meredith

Tangiers No II

1990
72
 x 60
 in
 (183
 x 152.5
 cm)

John Meredith

The Visitor

1983
36
 x 24
 in
 (91.5
 x 61
 cm)

John Meredith

Untitled

1961
14.5
 x 22
 in
 (37
 x 56
 cm)

John Meredith

Untitled #1

1975
4.5
 x 6
 in
 (11.5
 x 15
 cm)

John Meredith

Untitled #11

c. 1980
5
 x 7
 in
 (12.5
 x 18
 cm)

John Meredith

Untitled #4

1994
22
 x 38.5
 in
 (56
 x 98
 cm)

John Meredith

Untitled #9

1991
18
 x 24
 in
 (45.5
 x 61
 cm)

Past Exhibitions

Winter Group Show – 2024
2024 Dec 07 - 21
John Meredith – Last Breaths
2024 Jun 06 - 29
John Meredith – An Overview
2023 Apr 01 - 29
Starry Night
2016 Jan 16 - Feb 03
DIRECTOR’S CHOICE I
2015 Jan 31 - Feb 25
Winter Group Show 2013 / 2014
2013 Dec 20 - Jan 25
Winter Solstice Painting Extravaganza
2013 Jan 02 - 31
Winter Group Show 2011 / 2012
2011 Dec 21 - Jan 11
Toronto’s Modern Masters
2011 Oct 15 - Nov 12
John Meredith – Five Decades & Figurative
2009 Sep 12 - Oct 10
Abstract Painting
2006 Mar 04 - Apr 01
John Meredith – Last Paintings and Works on Paper
2005 Nov 26 - Jan 14

Publications

John Meredith: The Last Decade

$25

Abstract Painting in Canada

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