The School of Art Gallery Permanent Collection houses the School of Art’s Significant Collection of Artwork // Photo by Thomas Fogg
U of M alumnus enhances School of Art with Group of Seven painting
A painting by one of Canada’s most iconic artists will now form part of the School of Art Gallery’s permanent collection thanks to a generous donation by University of Manitoba alumnus Albert Brady [BSc/48, DipEd/49, BEd/60].
“When it came time for me to leave my home in Brandon and continue my education,” Brady says, “it was pretty intimidating for a young, gangly kid with no friends to arrive in Winnipeg. But I really enjoyed my time there. “
Untitled Watercolour by the Group of Seven’s Lionel LeMoine FitzGerald, donated by Albert and Idele Brady
The University left such an indelible mark on Brady that even after he and his late wife Idele put the University in their will, Brady generously donated this piece by the Group of Seven’s Lionel LeMoine FitzGerald.
This significant gift enhances students’ experience as they develop and grow as artists. School of Art associate director and professor Mary Ann Steggles explains: “Studying only from images in textbooks does not give the student the proper scale of the object, image, or building, nor does it reveal the nuances of the surface treatment in a way that viewing and handling actual works can.”
FitzGerald received an honorary degree from the University of Manitoba in 1952. His works have been exhibited across the country, including at the Winnipeg Art Gallery.
This important piece of Canadian art will join one of the nation’s largest FitzGerld collections, enhancing learning opportunities at the School of Art, and strengthening the Gallery’s connection to the arts community.