Artist: Rick Beaver – Mississauga Ojibway of Rice Lake area in Ontario

Cultural Origin: Mississauga Ojibway of Rice Lake area in Ontario

Rick Beaver was born in 1948 on the Alderville Indian Reserve on the shores of Rice Lake in southern Ontario. His degree in wild biology had a major influence on his paintings, when he devoted himself to it full time in 1981. His art expresses an emotional response that goes back to the origin of man on earth.

By combining art and nature, Rick’s works show us contrasts of a well-defined structure. The backgrounds are slightly blurry and melodic compared to the graphic precision of the creature he has chosen to represent. This melting of forms, which remain faithful to biology, embellished with abstract backdrops, constitute the essence of Rick Beaver’s paintings.

Artwork by Indigenous Artist Rick Beaver