Exhibitions Archive (Search Results)

Arthur Shilling: The Final Works

February 17 – May 13, 2018

Location: Second Floor Street

Arthur Shilling: The Final Works profiles the late Ojibwe artist Arthur Shilling and the works he produced during the last decade of his life, 1976-1986. Organized and circulated by the Art Gallery of Peterborough, this engaging exhibition showcases an incredibly creative period during which time Shilling produced powerful portraits that reflect contemporary identity politics within Indigenous culture. Shilling was both a visionary and an activist who worked to transcend the lines between portraiture and politics. In works such as The Beauty of Our People (1985-1986), a 30-foot long mural, he conveys the power and richness of Indigenous peoples in the contemporary world. But beyond serving as a monumental portrait, the mural offers viewers the opportunity to remember and reflect upon the many struggles that continue to impact Indigenous Peoples today. Arthur Shilling was born in 1941 on the Chippewas of Rama First Nation Reserve, Ontario. In his portraits of family and friends from his community, he contributed greatly to the emerging discourse of contemporary Indigenous art in Canada from the 1960s-1980s. Through a strong expressionistic style, he portrayed Indigenous peoples as strong, confident and proud Canadians.

Curated by William Kingfisher and organized and circulated by the Art Gallery of Peterborough 

Presented in Windsor with the support of: Exhibition Circulation Fund, Canadian Heritage; Horizon Capital

Related Events