TORONTO

RAY MEAD

19 SEPTEMBER to 1 NOVEMBER 2014

CURATED by STEPHEN SMART

Barbara Edwards Contemporary, Toronto is pleased to present a solo exhibition of work by Canadian abstractionist, Ray Mead (1921-1998). A prominent member of Painters 11, Mead’s work is recognized for its bold, pure color and strong gestures. This exhibition features a selection of paintings and works on paper from the 80s and 90s, most of which have never been shown in Toronto before.

Born in Watford in Hertfordshire England, Mead studied art at the Slade School until 1939 when he joined the Royal Air Force to train as a fighter pilot at the start of WW II. In 1941 he was posted to Hamilton, Ontario and often travelled to the United States, which exposed him to American culture and the New York art scene. He met Hortense Gordon, an artist who had trained with Hans Hoffmann. Gordon became an important mentor for Mead and further supported his movement into abstraction.

Ray Mead had his first public showing at the Art Gallery of Hamilton in 1948 and his second at the Art Gallery of Toronto in 1950. He joined the Ontario Society of Artist’s and showed in their 1950 exhibition, which was a brave foray into the world of abstraction. Mead continued to show with the OSA and established close relationships with several artists who would later join to form the Painters 11. Seven of these, including Mead, showed in the infamous Simpson’s show, “Abstracts at Home” in 1953. Over the next decade Mead was included in fifteen Painters 11 Exhibitions including a New York show at the Riverside Museum in 1956. Mead’s work was included in shows at the National Gallery of Canada in 1956, 1972 and 1992. In addition from the 1950s until his death in 1998, Mead had many solo, two person and group exhibitions throughout Canada. His work is included in numerous collections including the National Gallery of Canada and the Art Gallery of Ontario.

For more information, contact:
barbara@becontemporary.com