Tom Thomson
An Icon of Canadian Culture in Art

A selection of Tom Thomson's works is coming to the Audain Art Museum (AAM) in Whistler in late June 2024. The Art Canada Institute describes Thomson as “one of the greatest artists Canada ever produced.” His work is exceedingly rare, as only 50 canvasses and about 300 oil-on-board sketches exist from his short career, which ran from 1913 until his untimely death in 1917 at age 39. Tom Thomson: North Star will feature more than 130 original works at the AAM from June 29 to Oct. 14, 2024.

Thomson’s unique and powerful style, using energetic brush strokes and bold colours, greatly influenced the famous Canadian “Group of Seven” painters, many of whom were his friends. Tragically, he died before the group’s founding in 1920.
“This is an extraordinary exhibit. Thomson was a superb painter who captured Canada’s beautiful wilderness. In my opinion, his paintings are Canada’s national treasures. [Seeing this extensive exhibition of Thomson’s original art] is a very, very rare opportunity,” said Kiriko Watanabe, the AAM’s Gail & Stephen A. Jarislowsky Curator.

The artwork for this exhibition will come from various collections, including the McMichael Canadian Collection of Art, the National Gallery of Canada, Art Gallery of Alberta, Tom Thomson Art Gallery, and Art Gallery of Ontario. The exhibit is co-curated by Sarah Milroy, executive director and chief curator of the McMichael Canadian Art Collection, and Ian A.C. Dejardin, McMichael’s former executive director.
A stunning hardcover, colour exhibition catalogue on his art, titled Tom Thomson: North Star, by Milroy and Ian A.C. Dejardin, will be available at the Audain Art Museum shop.

audainartmuseum.com/upcoming-exhibitions