“The real function of an artist is to give real vision to their own generation.”
Doris McCarthy
Doris Jean McCarthy was a prolific Canadian landscape painter, teacher, and writer, born on July 7, 1910, in Calgary, Alberta, and passed away on November 25, 2010, in Toronto, Ontario. Raised in the Beaches area of Toronto, McCarthy's artistic journey began at a young age, eventually leading her to study at the Ontario College of Art (OCA) under the tutelage of iconic Canadian painters such as Arthur Lismer, J.E.H. MacDonald, and Hortense Gordon. Graduating with honors in 1930, McCarthy embarked on a career that spanned over seven decades and left an indelible mark on the Canadian art community.
Throughout her life, Doris McCarthy's artistic vision was deeply influenced by her extensive travels across Canada and abroad. She found inspiration in the landscapes of Georgian Bay, Muskoka, and the Canadian Arctic, as well as in destinations such as Europe, Asia, and the United States. Her bold and vibrant depictions of nature, often verging on abstraction, earned her acclaim as one of Canada's premier landscape artists.
Doris McCarthy; Rocks & Lighthouse, Georgian Bay
In addition to her artistic pursuits, McCarthy dedicated herself to teaching, serving as a beloved mentor at Toronto's Central Technical School for forty years. She was widely respected for her dedication to her students and her passion for nurturing emerging talent in the Canadian art scene.
McCarthy's contributions to Canadian art were celebrated with numerous honors and awards throughout her lifetime. She was granted membership to the Ontario Society of Artists in 1945 and served as its vice president and later as the first female president from 1964 to 1967. In recognition of her lifetime of achievement, she was inducted into both the Order of Canada in 1986 and the Order of Ontario in 1992.
Beyond her artistic and teaching endeavors, McCarthy continued her education late into life, graduating with an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Toronto Scarborough in 1989. She also authored three volumes of autobiography, providing insights into her remarkable life and career.
McCarthy's legacy lives on through her extensive body of work, which is featured in permanent collections across Canada and internationally, including the National Gallery of Canada and the Art Gallery of Ontario. In 2004, the Doris McCarthy Gallery was established at the University of Toronto Scarborough, providing a lasting tribute to her artistic achievements.
Doris McCarthy; Cascade Mountain Banff
Throughout her centennial year in 2010, McCarthy's contributions to Canadian art were celebrated with a retrospective exhibition at the Doris McCarthy Gallery and the University of Toronto Art Centre, showcasing seventy works, some never before exhibited publicly. Her impact on the Canadian art community continues to be felt, with her artistic vision and passion inspiring generations of artists to come.