Richard Gorman

Richard Gorman was a prominent Canadian painter born in Ottawa in 1935. He studied at the Ontario College of Art (now OCAD University) (1958) under Jock MacDonald. After graduation, Gorman found representation from the Isaac’s Gallery alongside many other prominent Canadian artists. In 1966, Gorman was selected to represent Canada at the Paris Biennial alongside fellow Isaac’s Gallery artist John Meredith. He was the recipient of many significant awards including the “Long Haul Award for Career Achievement” from the City of Toronto’s Culture Division. He also spent two decades teaching painting and drawing at both OCAD University and the University of Ottawa. Gorman’s work is represented in numerous public and private collections including the Art Gallery of Ontario, the National Gallery of Canada, the Shanghai Art Museum and the Victoria & Albert Museum.  

 

Richard Gorman generated a great deal of enthusiastic support in his early years and he joined the circle of artists, musicians, and artist-musicians that were a part of Toronto’s thriving Isaac’s Gallery scene. He experimented heavily in his early works, exploring various mediums and styles, working in printmaking and sculpture as well as painting. Gorman spent several years living and working in England in the late 1960’s where he took a break from painting to work as a graphic artist. Upon his return to Canada, he found it difficult to break back into the scene and he pushed his limits in efforts to produce a successful body of large-scale works. These post-England paintings demonstrate a maturity of expression developed through Gorman’s exposure to significant art historical works while in Europe. The paintings from the later decades of Gorman’s career are a departure from abstraction, returning to landscape with a more focused and rigorous visual approach. 

Richard Gorman (1935-2010, Canada)

 

Education

1958 Ontario College of Art, Toronto, CA

 

Select Solo Exhibitions

2005 New Paintings, Christopher Cutts Gallery, New Paintings, Toronto, CA

2004 Paintings from the Seventies, Christopher Cutts Gallery, Toronto, CA

2002 New Paintings, Christopher Cutts Gallery, Toronto, CA

1998 Orpheus Series, Christopher Cutts Gallery, Toronto, CA

1996 Richard Gorman: Pure Painting, The Ottawa Art Gallery, Ottawa, CA

1994 Watercolours, Christopher Cutts Gallery, Toronto, CA (Fall)

1994 Lake Superior Oils, Christopher Cutts Gallery, Toronto, CA (Spring)

1993 Christopher Cutts Gallery, Toronto, CA

1990 Robert McLauglin Gallery, Oshawa, CA

1990 Lake Galleries, Toronto, CA

1988 The Gallery of Art, Ottawa, CA

1987 Accent Gallery, Ottawa, CA

1987 Nancy Poole’s Studio, Toronto, CA

1985 Bram Gallery, Ottawa, CA

1984 Nancy Poole’s Studio, Toronto, CA

1983 Moore Gallery, Hamilton, CA

1982 Nancy Poole’s Studio, Toronto, CA

1981 Gallery Anne Doran, Ottawa, CA

1979 Morris Gallery, Toronto, CA

1978 An Art Space, Ottawa, CA

1978 York Gallery, Ottawa, CA

1965 Gallery Massot Loranger, Montreal, CA

1964 Blue Barn Gallery, Ottawa, CA

1964 Isaacs Gallery, Toronto, CA

1962 Isaacs Gallery, Toronto, CA

1960 Isaacs Gallery, Toronto, CA

1959 Isaacs Gallery, Toronto, CA

 

Select Group Exhibitions

2024 Winter Group Show, Christopher Cutts Gallery, Toronto, CA
2016 Starry Night, Christopher Cutts Gallery, Toronto, CA
2015 Director’s Choice 1, Christopher Cutts Gallery, Toronto, CA
2013 Winter 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
2009 Canada on Canvas, A Private Collection, The Winnipeg Art Gallery, Winnipeg, CA

2008 Christmas Group Show, Christopher Cutts Gallery, Toronto, CA

2008 Grand Re-Opening of the Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto, CA

2007 20th Anniversary Group Exhibition, Christopher Cutts Gallery, Toronto, CA

2006 20th Anniversary Group Show, Christopher Cutts Gallery, Toronto, CA

2006 Abstract Painting, Christopher Cutts Gallery, Toronto, CA

2006 Soundtracks, The University of Toronto Art Center. A Touring Exhibition (Organized by the Edmonton Art Gallery), Toronto, CA
2003-2002 Painters 15, Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art, Shanghai Art Museum, CN, MOCCA, CA

2003-2001 The Single Tree, Tom Thompson Memorial Art Gallery, Owen Sound, CA
2002 Vintage Abstraction, Christopher Cutts Gallery, Toronto, CA

2000 2000, Christopher Cutts Gallery, Toronto, CA

2000 The Single Tree, London Regional Historical & Art Museums, Tom Thompson Memorial Gallery, London, CA

1999 Traces of Land, Traces of People, Queen’s Park, Lieutenant Governor’s Suite, Toronto, CA

1999 Into the Wilds: Canoeing and Canadian Art, McMichael Canadian Art Collection,  Kleinberg, CA

1997 Works on Paper, Christopher Cutts Gallery, Toronto, CA

1996 Inaugural Exhibition at 21 Morrow Avenue, Christopher Cutts Gallery, Toronto, CA

1995 Chinese New Year Show, Christopher Cutts Gallery, Toronto, CA

1993 The Christmas Show, Christopher Cutts Gallery, Toronto, CA

1992 The Christmas Show, Christopher Cutts Gallery, Toronto, CA

1992 Crisis of Abstraction the 1950s, Musée du Québec, Québec City, CA

1990 Twelve Ottawa Painters, Art Court Gallery, Ottawa, CA

1990 Touring Exhibition, Organized by The National Gallery of Canada

1987 Concordia University, Montreal, CA

1985 Agnes Etherington Art Gallery, Queen’s University, Kingston, CA

1980 Robert McLaughlin Gallery, Oshawa, CA

1978 Loranger Gallery, Toronto, CA

1977 Harbourfront Gallery, Toronto, CA

1974 Toronto Painting, 1950-65. National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa and Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto, CA

1967 Expo ’67, Montreal, CA

1966 Paris Biennial, Paris, FR

 

Art Fairs

2013 Art Toronto, Toronto, CA
2011 Art Toronto, Toronto, CA
2010 Armoury Show, with Christopher Cutts Gallery, Toronto, CA
2006 – 2009 Art Chicago, Chicago, US
2005 Art Fair Cologne, DE

2004 – 2009 Toronto International Art Fair, CA

2003 Toronto International Art Fair, CA

2003 Salon du Printemps, Montreal, CA

2002 Toronto International Art Fair, CA

2001 Art Forum Berlin, DE

2001 Toronto International Art Fair, CA

2000 Toronto International Art Fair, CA

 

Awards & Grants

2004 ‘Steam Whistle Award’, City of Toronto Culture Division “Long Haul Award for Career Achievement”
2004 XXX…The Summer Show, Christopher Cutts gallery, Toronto, CA

1986 Mural, Province of Ontario, New Provincial Court House, Ottawa. Open Competition.

1986 Mural, Department of External Affairs, Canadian Embassy, Bridgetown, Barbados. Commissioned

1981 Canada Council Grant

1980 Canada Council Grant

1978 Canada Council Grant

1977 Award, First Annual Juried Ottawa, Society of Painters in Watercolour

1976 Canada Council Grant

1976 Ontario Arts Council Grant.

1962 Award, Seventh International Black & White Exhibition, Lugano, Switzerland.

1961 First Prize, Montreal Museum of Fine Arts Spring Show.

 

Selected Collections

The Shanghai Art Museum, China

Art Gallery of Ontario

National Gallery of Canada

Robert McLaughlin Gallery, Oshawa

Victoria & Albert Museum, London, England

Art Bank, Ottawa, Ontario

Mount Allison University, New Brunswick

Art Gallery of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario

Arts & Cultural Centre, St. Johns, Newfoundland

Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario

University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario

University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta

Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario

Art Gallery Stratford, Stratford

London Regional Art Gallery and Museum, London

Gallery Lampton, Sarnia

Department of Transport for Edmonton Airport, Edmonton, Alberta

Department of External Affaires, Ottawa

City of Ottawa

American Barrick Resources Corporation, Toronto

Crown Life Insurance, Toronto

KPMG, Toronto, Ontario

Dupont of Canada, Toronto

McClarens Paper Company

Featured Artwork

Past Exhibitions

Richard Gorman – Colourist
Winter Group Show – 2024
2024 Dec 07 - 21
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
Christmas Party 2008
2008 Dec 18 - Jan 31
20th Anniversary Group Exhibition
2007 Dec 19 - Jan 16
Abstract Painting
2006 Mar 04 - Apr 01
20th Anniversary Group Show
2006 Jan 27 - Feb 28th
Richard Gorman and Rainer Kleeman
2005 Jun 16 - Jul 09
Richard Gorman – Paintings from the Seventies
2004 Jan 24 - Feb 21
Richard Gorman – New Paintings
2002 Nov 16 - Dec 21
Richard Gorman – Orpheus Series I
1998 Nov 12 - Dec 05
Max Johnston / Richard Gorman
1994 May 07 - 28
Richard Gorman
1993 Mar 06 - 31

Publications

Richard Gorman: Colourist

$40

Richard Gorman: Pure Painting

Richard Gorman: Orpheus

Contemporary Canadian Art

Abstract Painting in Canada

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