Joseph Plaskett
Joseph Plaskett, British Columbia-born painter and one of Canada’s most influential artists, died Sunday in England, at the age of 96.
Born in 1918 in New Westminster, B.C., Plaskett studied art in Banff, San Francisco, New York, London and Paris. He had lived in Paris since 1951, and more recently in Suffolk, England. Visiting Canada regularly for his exhibitions at Bau-Xi Galleries Vancouver & Toronto, Joseph Plaskett, or “Joe” to those close to him, repeatedly made lasting impressions on the artists, and admirers he met. His chosen subjects portray intimate expressions of everyday life – interiors, still life, and portraits of friends.
Since the 1940s, Plaskett had over 65 solo and group exhibitions, with work in major public, private and corporate collections, including the National Gallery of Canada. He has exhibited with the Bau-Xi Gallery, both in Vancouver and Toronto, since 1973.
Plaskett’s paintings hang in public art collections across the country including the National Gallery of Canada. In the spring of 2001, he was awarded The Order of Canada for excellence in the field of visual art.
Most recently, the artist helped found The Plaskett Foundation in 2004 to aid and support Canadian visual artists. Joseph Plaskett will be remembered as an integral part of Canadian art history, and his influence on fine art will live on through his paintings.
Report courtesy of Bau-Xi Galleries.