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Biography & Autobiography Artists, Architects, Photographers

The Life and Art of Jack Akroyd

by (author) Peter Busby

introduction by Paul Wolf

Publisher
Mother Tongue Publishing
Initial publish date
Jun 2015
Category
Artists, Architects, Photographers, Modern (late 19th Century to 1945), Canadian
  • Paperback / softback

    ISBN
    9781896949437
    Publish Date
    Jun 2015
    List Price
    $35.95

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Description

“Exquisitely produced, the Unherladed Artists of BC series is an illuminating and inspiring resource for scholars, curators, artists and any reader with an interest in the diverse history of the visual arts in Canada.” –Bob MacIntyre, Preparator/ Exhibition Coordinator, Burnaby Art Gallery

 

Jack Akroyd (1921-1996) was born in Halifax, Yorkshire. Following war service in the RAF he emigrated to Canada and attended the Ontario College of Art. In 1953 he moved to the West Coast, working first as a draughtsman then a freelance artist. Two trips to Japan in the 1960s profoundly affected his perspective and iconography, and he developed a signature style he called the “visual diary,” which rendered details of his daily life, dreams and reminiscences in mysterious combinations. He exhibited at the Vancouver Art Gallery and the Burnaby Art Gallery, and held three major shows in Japan, selling over a hundred works. He died of a heart attack on a Vancouver bus. His paintings are found in many private collections in Japan, Europe, Australia and across North America.

About the authors

Peter Busby is a writer and art collector. He was born in West Yorkshire and educated at Sheffield and Leeds universities. He co-wrote two thrillers and the BBC series Thin Air and is the author of First to Fly, winner of the James Madison book award. He lives in Vancouver.

Peter Busby's profile page

p class="biography">Paul Wolfwas born in BC and graduated from UBC in Fine Arts. He founded Artists West in Ottawa and sold West Coast art by avant-garde outsider artists from Vancouver during the 60s and 70s. He lives in Winnipeg.

Paul Wolf's profile page