Bill Reid Artist Biography

Artist bill reid 1920 1998 was a canadian with a spiritual connection to the mythology and expressions of the haida nation of the pacific northwest.

Bill reid artist biography.

Some of his major works were featured on the canadian 20 banknote of the canadian journey series 2004 2012. Bill reid was born in victoria b c in 1920. Obc rca 12 january 1920 13 march 1998 was a canadian artist whose works include jewelry sculpture screen printing and paintings. Art collectors enjoy bill reid s art for sale which includes indigenous subjects such as the haida beaver haida grizzly and the children of the raven.

His haida mother influenced bill s creative imagination. Working in many mediums he was a master goldsmith sculptor and writer. Bill reid was a very important canadian sculptor carver print maker graphic artist jewellery maker illustrator author and broadcaster. Although in his early years unaware of his haida ancestry he was to become perhaps the single most important figure in the late twentieth century renaissance of haida culture a culture almost destroyed after the european colonization of the haida homeland on the northwest coast.

He elevated the stature of haida indian art from the category of an ethnological curiosity to a highly respected fine art form. Biography bill william ronald reid william ronald reid aka. Died 13 march 1998 in vancouver bc. Short biography william bill ronald reid jr obc 12 january 1920 13 march 1998 was a canadian artist whose works include jewelry sculpture screen printing and paintings.

This journey of discovery lasted a lifetime and shaped reid s artistic career. An internationally recognized haida artist bill reid is frequently credited with the revival and innovative resurgence of northwest coast indigenous arts in the contemporary world. Bill reid bill reid was canada s most renowned contemporary native northwest coast haida artist. Dancing colors and animal images exude color energy and respect for nature.

Some of his major creations were featured on the canadian 20 banknote of the canadian journey series 2004 2012. 12 1920 victoria b c died march 13 1998 vancouver b c helped spark a revival of interest in the traditions of the haida of the queen charlotte islands in british columbia with works that featured the influences of their culture. William ronald reid canadian sculptor carver and goldsmith born jan. Reid was born in victoria bc to a haida mother and an american father with scottish german roots and only began exploring his haida roots at the age of 23.

William ronald reid jr. The bill reid gallery the bill reid gallery was named after the acclaimed haida artist bill reid 1920 1998 who was a master goldsmith carver sculptor writer broadcaster and spokesman. William ronald reid sculptor born 12 january 1920 in victoria bc.