Painters Eleven AVI20 2025/26

What was the main purpose of the Painters Eleven when it was started in 1953?

To exhibit abstract artists in Toronto

How did abstract art in Toronto compare to Montreal or New York In the 1950s?

Toronto was still dominated by the Group of Seven’s style, while abstract art was widely accepted in Montreal and New York.

How did the Painters Eleven fund their 1st exhibition?

They pooled their money to pay for it

Where and when was Painters Eleven’s first exhibition held?

Robert’s Gallery in Toronto, 1954

What was the public reaction to the first Painters Eleven exhibition?

Reactions ranged from surprise to coldness, no paintings were sold

How did the critics view Painters Eleven over time?

Reviews gradually became more accepted and even wanted

By 1958, where was the work of Painters Eleven exhibited?

Canada, US, and Great Britain

When did the members of Painters Eleven decide to go their separate ways?

In 1960

Were Painters Eleven satisfied with their achievements+why?

Yes, bc both commercial and public galleries exhibited their work, achieving recognition as modern abstract artists

What style dominated Toronto’s art scene before Painters Eleven?

Group of Seven

Name all members of Painters Eleven

Jack Bush, Oscar Cahen, Hortense Gordon, Thomas Hodgson, J.W.G MacDonald, Alexandra Luke, Ray Mead, Kazuo Nakamura, William Ronald, Harold Town, Walter Yarwood