Tom Hodgson

Born in Toronto’s Centre Island in 1924, Tom Hodgson was an acclaimed Canadian artist, illustrator, art director, and olympic athlete. As early as the age of ten years old, he took the ferry to attend Saturday art classes at the Art Gallery of Toronto (now AGO). After serving in the Second World War, he graduated from the Ontario College of Art and the Central Technician art program in 1946. By the mid-1950’s, he became a founding member of the Painters Eleven and began representing Canada at multiple international art shows. 

 

Tom Hodgson’s reputable career spanned five decades. His work is often characterized by its large-scale, energetic colours and aggressive yet fresh brush strokes. Known as an early maverick of abstract expressionist painting, his work attracted viewers because of its rich colours and the rising interest between non-figurative art. Occasionally the artist delved into the pop-art style from the 1960’s to 70’s. Like his Painters Eleven peers William Ronald, Kazuo Nakamura and Ray Mead, Hodgson began working with Christopher Cutts as early as 1988. The gallery has shown multiple solo exhibitions of his work and represented him until his passing in 2006. 

Tom Hodgson (1924-2006, Canada)

 

Education
Ontario College of Art, Toronto, CA

 

Select Solo Exhibitions:
2024 Abstraction Revisited, Christopher Cutts Gallery, Toronto, CA
2006 A Survey, Christopher Cutts Gallery, Toronto, CA
2006 Abstract Painting, Christopher Cutts Gallery, Toronto, CA
2001 Christopher Cutts Gallery, Toronto, CA
1995 New Works on Canvas, Christopher Cutts Gallery, Toronto, CA
1992 Christopher Cutts Gallery, Toronto, CA
1991 Sneak Preview, Christopher Cutts Gallery, Toronto, CA
1990 Christopher Cutts Gallery, Toronto, CA
1989 Lynwood Arts Center, Simcoe, Ont., Tom Hodgson A Survey; Exhibition traveled to the: Koffler Gallery, Toronto; Art Gallery of Peterborough; Oakville Galleries; Brampton Public Library and Art Grimsby Public Art Gallery.
1985 Bau-Xi Gallery, Toronto, CA
1983 Bau-Xi Gallery, Toronto, CA
1980 Janos Lukas Atelier, Montreal, CA
1980 Sir George Williams Art Gallery, Montreal, CA
1980 A.C.T. Gallery, Toronto, CA
1978 Lynnwood Arts Center, Simcoe, CA
1976 Merton Gallery, Toronto, CA
1975 Upper Street Gallery, London, UK
1972 Robert McLaughlin Gallery, Oshawa, 20 Year Retrospective, London & Toronto, CA
1972 Merton Gallery, Toronto, CA
1970 Merton Gallery, Toronto, CA
1969 Jerrold Morris Gallery, Toronto, CA
1968 Bert Bell, Studio, Toronto, CA
1965 Albert White Gallery, Toronto, CA
1964 Penthouse Gallery, Montreal, CA
1962 Dorothy Cameron Gallery, Toronto,CA
1962 Here and Now Gallery, Toronto, CA
1952 Hart House Gallery, University of Toronto, Toronto, CA

 

Select Group Exhibitions:
2024 Winter Group Show, Christopher Cutts Gallery, Toronto, CA
2015 Director’s Choice 1, Christopher Cutts Gallery, Toronto, CA
2013 Winter Solstice Painting Extravaganza, Christopher Cutts Gallery, Toronto, CA
2011 Painting: Toronto’s Modern Masters, Christopher Cutts Gallery, Toronto, CA
2008 Christmas Party, Christopher Cutts Gallery, Toronto, CA
2006 20th Anniversary Show, Christopher Cutts Gallery, Toronto, CA
2002 Vintage Abstraction, Christopher Cutts Gallery, Toronto, CA
1998 Summer Show, Christopher Cutts Gallery, Toronto, CA
1997 Works on Paper, Christopher Cutts Gallery, Toronto, CA
1995 Chinese New Year Show, Christopher Cutts Gallery,  Toronto, CA
1993 The Gesture, Christopher Cutts Gallery, Toronto, CA
1991 Hodgson + Bemrose, Sneak Preview, Christopher Cutts Gallery,  Toronto, CA
Group 91, Christopher Cutts Gallery,  Toronto, CA
1990 Moore Gallery, Hamilton, CA
1989 Christmas Exhibition, Christopher Cutts Gallery Toronto, CA
1988 Christmas Exhibition, Christopher Cutts Gallery, Toronto, CA
1983 Works on Paper, London Regional Art Gallery, London, CA
1979-81 Painters Eleven in Retrospective, McLaughlin Gallery and Traveling Tour
1972 100 Years O.S.A., Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto, CA
1972 Toronto Painting, National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa, CA
1964 Ontario Society of Artist, Pollack Gallery, Toronto, CA
1964 Group Show, New York, New York, US
1963 Riverside Museum, New York, US
1963 International Seminar, Fairleigh Dickerson University, Madison, US
1962 Contemporary Canadian Art, Louisville, US
1960 Two- Man Exhibition, Tom Hodgson and Graham Coughtry, Montreal Museum of Fine Art,  Montreal, CA
1959 Hallmark Show, Toronto, CA
1959 Ontario Society of Artist, Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto, CA
1957 California and Canadian Watercolour Exhibition, US
1956-57 Canadian Abstracts, Smithsonian Tour, US
1956 Canadian Art, New Delhi International, IN
1956 Painters Eleven and American Abstract Expressionism, Riverside Museum, New York, US
1955 Carnegie International, Pittsburgh, US
1954 Painters Eleven, Roberts Gallery,  Toronto, CA



Art Fairs
2011 Art Toronto, Toronto, CA

 

Biennial
1963 Canadian Biennial, London, UK
1961 4th Biennial, National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa, CA
1959 3rd Biennial, National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa, CA
1957 2nd Biennial, National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa, CA
1955 1st Biennial, National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa, CA



Collections
Art Gallery of Ontario
National Gallery of Canada
Robert McLaughlin Gallery, Oshawa
Art Gallery of Hamilton
Oakville Gallery
Lynwood Art Center, Simcoe, Ontario
Joliet Museum, Quebec
Rodman Hall Arts Center, St. Catharines, Ontario
McIntosh Gallery, University of Western Ontario
Art Bank, Ottawa, Ontario
Mount Allison University, New Brunswick
Victoria College, University of Toronto
Toronto City Hall
Toronto Board of Education
University of Toronto, Health Science Building
Fairley Dickerson University, New Jersey
Concordia University, Montreal
Sir George Williams University, Montreal
Imperial Oil, Toronto
Manufacturer’s Life Insurance, Toronto
Simpsons Limited
MacLean Hunter Limited
Digital Equipment of Canada, Inc.
Coles The Book People
Peterson, Howell & Heather (Canada) Inc.
Goldman & Spring, Toronto
Torstar, Toronto
Canada Packer Inc., Toronto
Cassels, Brock & Blackwell, Toronto
Shoppers Drug Mart, Toronto
RNM Enterprises
Dye & Durham Co. Ltd
Borenstein, S., Montreal
Leberge, C., Montreal
Swiss Bank Corp. (Canada)
Citibank (Canada)
Rostland Inc
Elliott Communication, Toronto
J.P. Morgan Bank (Canada)
Needham Harper & Steers, Toronto

Featured Artwork

Tom Hodgson

Coloured Ground (Mauve)

1990
66
 x 57
 in
 (167.5
 x 145
 cm)

Tom Hodgson

Homage to Harold Town

1990
65
 x 84
 in
 (165
 x 213.5
 cm)

Tom Hodgson

Jewel Encrusted #3 8/20

1962
21.5
 x 28.5
 in
 (54.6
 x 72.4
 cm)

Tom Hodgson

Koala Bear

1957
20
 x 30
 in
 (51
 x 76
 cm)

Tom Hodgson

Mary Self’s Vase

1983
64
 x 87
 in
 (162.6
 x 221
 cm)

Tom Hodgson

Spanish Landscape with Olives

1962
39.5
 x 56
 in
 (100.3
 x 142.2
 cm)

Tom Hodgson

TH SK #362

1986
13.5
 x 19
 in
 (34.5
 x 48.5
 cm)

Tom Hodgson

Tough Painting

1989
79
 x 68.75
 in
 (200.5
 x 174.5
 cm)

Tom Hodgson

Untitled

1964
25
 x 27
 in
 (63.5
 x 68.5
 cm)

Tom Hodgson

Untitled

1964
13.5
 x 11.25
 in
 (34.5
 x 28.5
 cm)

Tom Hodgson

Untitled

1965
14.5
 x 20
 in
 (37
 x 51
 cm)

Tom Hodgson

Untitled

1964
29.5
 x 29.5
 in
 (74.9
 x 74.9
 cm)

Tom Hodgson

Untitled

1984
95.25
 x 67.75
 in
 (242
 x 172
 cm)

Tom Hodgson

Untitled

1992
68
 x 57
 in
 (172.5
 x 145
 cm)

Tom Hodgson

Untitled

1988
64
 x 64
 in
 (162.5
 x 162.5
 cm)

Tom Hodgson

Untitled Abstract 5

1992
57
 x 68
 in
 (145
 x 172.5
 cm)

Past Exhibitions

Winter Group Show – 2024
2024 Dec 07 - 21
Tom Hodgson – Abstraction Revisited
2024 Sep 05 - Oct 05
DIRECTOR’S CHOICE I
2015 Jan 31 - Feb 25
Winter Solstice Painting Extravaganza
2013 Jan 02 - 31
Toronto’s Modern Masters
2011 Oct 15 - Nov 12
Christmas Party 2008
2008 Dec 18 - Jan 31
Tom Hodgson – A Survey
2006 Jun 14 - Jul 29
Abstract Painting
2006 Mar 04 - Apr 01
Tom Hodgson
1992 Feb 29 - Mar 25
Tom Hodgson / Kathryn Bemrose – Sneak Preview
1991 Sep 07 - 18

Publications

Painters Eleven

The Canadian Painters Eleven (1953-1960)

Tom Hodgson: Creativity Is

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