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EXHIBITION

Oscar Cahén: Canada's Groundbreaking Illustrator, 1931-1956
April 6 - June 2, 2012

Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies
Main Gallery
Opening Reception Saturday, April 6, 7 PM

OPEN: Daily 10am - 5pm
111 Bear Street, Banff, Alberta
(403) 762-2291

This exhibition surveys Cahén's work from his beginning to his untimely death in 1956 at age 40. Coming from Europe as a prisoner of war, Cahén began freelancing while still interned as an enemy alien. His talent led to his release, and he went on to influence many younger illustrators and to modernize Canadian illustration with his extreme versatility and experimental approaches. Cahén was recognized in 1951 by the Art Directors Club of New York, and he dominated the Toronto Art Directors Club awards throughout the early 1950s. He also appeared in design periodicals Graphis Annual and Publimondial.

Cahén is remembered today for his major contribution in the mid-1950's to abstract painting in Toronto as a member of the famed collective Painters 11. This exhibition, which includes a full colour catalogue, brings attention to how his prior and concurrent illustration practice informed his exploration of painting.

On view will be approximately 30 original illustrations borrowed from private and family collections, made for periodicals such as MacLean's, Canadian Home Journal, Weekend Picture Magazine, and the Montreal Standard.

 

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PAST EXHIBITIONS

 

Oscar Cahén: Canada's Groundbreaking Illustrator, 1931-1956
October 4 - December 1, 2012

Museum of Contemporary Art
104 - 800 Macleod Trail SE (Main floor, Calgary Municipal Building)
Calgary, Alberta Canada T2G 2M3
(403) 262-1737

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Oscar Cahén: Canada's Groundbreaking Illustrator, 1931-1956
October 1 - October 30, 2011
Opening reception October 1, 7:00pm

Illustration House
110 W. 25th St (Chelsea)
New York City

 

Curators

Jaleen Grove, illustration historian
Roger Reed, President, Illustration House

 

In affiliation with:

The Cahén Archives

 

 

Credit: News Pictures, Geraldine Carpenter

Oscar Cahén 1916-1956