Robert William Sinclair BFA, MA, MFA, RCA (1939)

A prominent Canadian painter, draftsman, sculptor and educator, Professor Robert William Sinclair was born in Saltcoats, Saskatchewan. He has lived and worked in Edmonton, Alberta for much of his life where he was a Professor of Art at the University of Alberta, Edmonton for three decades. His life, art, and work are the subjects of articles in several editions of Canadian encyclopedias, the Canadian Who’s Who books, and the Who's Who in American Art books. His works are in numerous Canadian museum collections as well as in the Royal Collection, St. James's Palace, London, England.

His mediums include oils, acrylics, aquatec stain, watercolors, pastels, graphite*, colored pencil, airbrush*, hand-formed Plexiglas* sculpture, ink and brush on rice paper, and mixed mediums. His subjects include flowers and plant studies, portraits, landscapes, mountains, highways, figures (women) in landscape, nudes, and interiors. His styles could be described as Abstraction*, Fauvism*, Modernism*, Naturalism*, Realism*, Sumi-e*, and Surrealism*. His askART auction record has dozens of excellent illustrations of his oeuvre.

Sinclair earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at the University of Manitoba, Winnipeg (BFA 1961) studying under George Swinton and Donn Moulton; and, a Master of Arts degree and a Master of Fine Arts degree at the University of Iowa, Iowa City (MA 1965, MFA 1967) studying under David Hockney, Mauricio Lasansky, Irving Marantz, and Frank Roth. Sinclair also studied at the Leighton Artists’ Colony at The Banff Centre*, Banff, Alberta (1967) and attended Sumi-e workshops under Shozo Sato in Colorado and California (1989 – 1994).

Professor Sinclair taught at the University of Alberta (Faculty of Arts - Art and Design), Edmonton from 1965 to 1996; at the University of Iowa, Iowa City in 1973; and at the Banff School of Fine Arts* in 1976. The University of Alberta Calendar currently (2023) lists him as Professor Emeritus.

He is a member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts* (elected 1976) and of the Canadian Society of Painters in Water Colour* (elected 1977).

Sinclair’s works have been featured in group exhibitions such as the "Royal Canadian Academy of Arts: 91st Annual Exhibition”, Montreal Museum of Fine Arts and Confederation Centre Art Gallery & Museum, Charlottetown, P.E.I. (1971); “A Prairie Sweet”, Glenbow Museum, Calgary, Alberta (1973); “9 out of 10: A Survey of Contemporary Canadian Art”, Art Gallery of Hamilton, Ontario and touring (1974); “Alberta Art: Works from The Alberta Art Foundation”, a European touring exhibition to London, Brussels and Paris (1975); “A Response to the Environment”, Rutgers University Art Gallery, New Brunswick, New Jersey (1975); “Changing Visions”, Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto and touring Canada (1976 – 1977); “53rd Annual Exhibition of the Canadian Society of Painters in Watercolour”, New Brunswick Museum, St. John (1978); “A Canadian Start in Art” [aka: Elizabeth Greenshields Award Winners Exhibition], Canada House, London, England (1979 – 1980); “Canadian Art in Britain: Contemporary Works from Collections in Britain”, Canada House Gallery, London (1982); “Diamond Jubilee Collection”, Windsor Castle, England (1986); “Spaces & Places”, Alberta Art Foundation exhibition travelling to China and Japan (1986 – 1990); “Heaven and Earth”, Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies, Banff, Alberta (1991); “Artists in Wilderness: Images of a Vanishing Alberta”, Provincial Museum, Edmonton (1992); and in “Regions of Distinction: Edmonton Members of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts”, Enterprise Square Galleries, Edmonton, Alberta (2014). (1)

Sinclair’s work has been the subject solo exhibitions at the Edmonton Art Gallery, Alberta (1972 – 1973 and 1982); Glenbow Museum, Calgary (1973); Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies, Banff, Alberta (1973 and 1991); Gallery Stratford, Ontario (1976); Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto (1976 – 1977); and, The Rooms Provincial Art Gallery, St. John's, Nfld (2011).

His works have also been featured in solo and group exhibitions at prominent commercial galleries such as Equinox Gallery, Vancouver; Heffel Gallery, Vancouver; Scott Gallery, Edmonton; Hett Gallery, Edmonton; Chapman Galleries, Red Deer; Thomas Gallery, Winnipeg; Upstairs Gallery, Winnipeg; Aggregation Gallery [now Wynick/Tuck Gallery], Toronto; Madison Gallery, Toronto; and Ingram Fine Art, Toronto.

According to the Canadian Heritage Information Network* and individual museum sources, his works are in the permanent collections of the Agnes Etherington Art Centre (Kingston, Ontario), Alberta Foundation for the Arts (Edmonton, Alberta), Art Gallery of Alberta (Edmonton), Art Gallery of Windsor (Ontario), Canada Council Art Bank (Ottawa, Ontario), Confederation Centre Art Gallery & Museum (Charlottetown, P.E.I.), Glenbow Museum (Calgary, Alberta), MacKenzie Art Gallery (Regina, Saskatchewan), Museum London (Ontario), Royal Collection Trust (St. James's Palace, London, England), Robert McLaughlin Gallery (Oshawa, Ontario), Simon Fraser University Gallery (Burnaby, B.C.), Tom Thomson Memorial Art Gallery (Owen Sound, Ontario), University of Alberta Art Collection (Edmonton, Alberta), University of Lethbridge Art Gallery (Lethbridge, Alberta), University of Toronto Art Collection (Ontario), University of Winnipeg Art Collection (Manitoba), Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies (Banff, Alberta),and the Winnipeg Art Gallery (Manitoba).

Sinclair also illustrated the covers of the books “Dance Me Outside” (1977), by W.P. Kinsella; “Sometimes I think of Moving” (1977), by Elizabeth Brewster; “Death in the Barren Ground” (1980), by Edgar Christian; and “Cry Evil” (1980), by Leon Rooke. We could not find an illustration of the “Cry Evil” cover; but, the other three all feature versions of Sinclair’s trademark winding highway.

His awards include the Elizabeth Greenshields* Memorial Foundation Grant (1969) and a Canada Council* grant (1970). (2)


Footnotes:

(1) Researchers please note: A Dictionary of Canadian Artists, Volume 8, Safdie to Smith (see sources below) lists three more museums with Sinclair’s works in their permanent collections; however, unlike the 19 on our list, these could not be confirmed by us independently through the Canadian Heritage Information Network*, or at the individual museum’s website, or in a museum publication. Never-the-less, their names are Gallery Stratford, Ontario; University of Iowa [Stanley] Museum of Art, Iowa City; and, the Western Illinois University Art Gallery, Macomb. – M.D. Silverbrooke

(2) Researchers please note: Below is an excerpt from an email (June 20, 2023) responding to a request made by the author for more information about Robert Sinclair’s Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation grant and the Canada House Gallery exhibition: ‘According to our records, Robert Sinclair was awarded a grant in December 1969. You are correct that he also participated in the exhibition “A Canadian Start in Art” held at Canada House Gallery, London from November 28, 1979 to January 2, 1980. The exhibition featured paintings, drawings, prints and sculptures by artists who had received grants from The Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation from 1955 to 1979. Seven of Mr. Sinclair’s works were included in the exhibition: five paintings and two sculptures. Kind regards, Emily Bergsma, Administrative Director, The Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation’. – M.D. Silverbrooke



Sources – Books and Catalogues:

“Regions of Distinction: Edmonton Members of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts” (2014), by Barbara Vogel, Catherine Crowston, and Kristy Trinier; Art Gallery of Alberta, Edmonton

"A Dictionary of Canadian Artists, Volume 8, Safdie to Smith” (2006), by Colin S. MacDonald; Canadian Paperbacks Publishing Limited, Ottawa, Ontario

“Biographical Index of Artists in Canada” (2003), by Evelyn de Rostaing McMann; University of Toronto Press, Toronto

"The Collector's Dictionary of Canadian Artists at Auction" (2001), by Anthony R. Westbridge and Diana L. Bodnar (see askART Publications)

"Who's Who in American Art, 2001 – 2002” 24th edition (2001), edited by Donald Bunton; published by Marquis Who’s Who

“The Canadian Encyclopedia” (1999), edited by James H. Marsh; McClelland & Stewart, Toronto

“Canadian Who’s Who – 1996” (1996), edited by Elizabeth Lumley; University of Toronto Press

"Who's Who in American Art 1993 – 94, 20th Edition” (1993), by American Federation of Arts and R.R. Bowker Company; R.R. Bowker, New York, London

“Canadian Who’s Who – 1993” (1993), edited by Kieran Simpson; University of Toronto Press

“Art and Architecture in Canada” (1991), by Loren R. Lerner and Mary F. Williamson (see askART Publications)

“Agnes Etherington Art Centre: Exhibitions in Review, 1987 – 1988” (1988), by Michael Bell et al; Agnes Etherington Art Centre, Kingston

“The Canadian Encyclopedia” Second Edition (1988), edited by James H. Marsh; Hurtig Publishers Ltd., Edmonton, Alberta

“The Canadian Encyclopedia” (1985), edited by James H. Marsh; Hurtig Publishers Ltd., Edmonton, Alberta

“Guide to Exhibited Artists: North American Painters” (1985), by Clio Press; published by Clio Press, Oxford, England

"Who's Who in American Art 15th Edition" (1982), by Jaques Cattell Press (see askART Publications)

“International Directory of Exhibiting Artists” (1982), edited by Veronica Babington Smith; Clio Press, Oxford; Santa Barbara, Calif.

“Canadian Art in Britain: Contemporary Works from Collections in Britain” (1982), by Michael Shepherd; Canadian High Commission, London

“The University of Guelph Art Collection: A Catalogue of Paintings, Drawings, Prints and Sculpture” (1980), by Judith M. Nasby; Macdonald Stewart Art Centre, Guelph, Ontario

"Passionate Spirits: A History of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts, 1880 – 1980" (1980), by Rebecca Sisler (see askART Publications)

“Artists of Alberta” (1980), by Suzanne Devonshire Baker; The University of Alberta Press, Edmonton

“Twenty Painters / Twenty Paintings: Contemporary Canadian Art” (1979), by Marci Lipman and Louise Lipman; Lester & Orpen Dennys Ltd., Toronto

“Lives and Works of the Canadian Artists” (1977 – 1979), edited by Robert H. Stacey; Dundurn Press, Toronto

“The Shell Canada Collection: A Selection of Canadian Art Assembled by the Employees of Shell Canada Ltd.” (1977), by Basil Shammas; published by Shell Canada Ltd, Calgary

“Pertaining to Space: An Exhibition of Works by Robert Sinclair” (1976), by Robert Swain and Robert Sinclair; Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto

“Changing Visions: The Canadian Landscape” (1976), by Karen Wilkin and Roald Nasgaard; Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto

“Alberta Art: Works from The Alberta Art Foundation” (1975), by W.B. McMullen; Alberta Art Foundation, Edmonton

“9 out of 10: A Survey of Contemporary Canadian Art” (1974), by Glen E. Cumming; Art Gallery of Hamilton, Ontario

“Canadian Artists in Exhibition” (1974), by Roundstone Council; published by The Roundstone Council for the Arts, Toronto

"Royal Canadian Academy of Arts: 91st Annual Exhibition” (1971), by Royal Canadian Academy of Arts; published by Royal Canadian Academy of Arts, Thornhill, Ontario



Sources – Websites and Emails:

Canadian Heritage Information Network*

Alberta Foundation for the Arts

Art Gallery of Ontario Library

Art Gallery of Windsor

Canada Council Art Bank

Getty Union List of Artist Names

Royal Collection Trust

University of Alberta Art Collection

University of Alberta Calendar

University of Lethbridge Art Gallery

University of Toronto Art Collection

University of Winnipeg Art Collection

The Rooms Corporation of Newfoundland and Labrador

Ms. Daryl Betenia, Director, Collections and Curatorial, Glenbow Museum (email June 13, 2023)

Ms. Emily Bergsma, Administrative Director The Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation (email June 20, 2023)

Artexte



* For more in-depth information about these terms and others, see AskART.com. Glossary http://www.askart.com/AskART/lists/Art_Definition.aspx

Written and contributed to askART by M.D. Silverbrooke.