Centuar Entering a School of Barbizon Forest

Artist Biography: 1924-1990. Town was a provocative and prolific painter and printmaker. He was co-founder of the Painters Eleven group. After graduating from the Western Technical School and the Ontario College of Art (now Ontario College of Art & Design) around 1950, he joined a disparate group of painters from Toronto who were interested in abstract and modern art, the Painters Eleven. They disbanded in 1960, after organizing several notable exhibitions and attracting national recognition. His success was assured by his prints and the "autographic prints," which were monotypes enhanced by painting and collage. These prints attracted attention on an international level and confirmed his reputation as an innovator. He received a number of commissions for public works of art and twice represented Canada at the Venice Biennale. He took part in major joint and solo exhibitions in Canada, the United States, Europe, South America and Japan. In 1957, he received the Biennale de São Paulo's Arno Award, an honorary doctorate from York University in 1966, and became an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1968. https://www.gallery.ca/collection/artist/harold-town