b. 1941, Rama Reserve, Ontario
d. 1986
First Nations Affiliation: Ojibwa

The work of painter and draughtsman Arthur Shilling is distinguished for flowering during the resurgence of First Nations artistic activity in the 1960s, yet employing none of the newly-flourishing styles. Instead, Shilling melded European influences into a unique expression of his Ojibwa worldview, which would become increasingly important after he reached a personal turning point in 1980. Shilling was a natural colourist and continual experimenter, whose representational works -- often portraits -- were rendered with a vivid characteristic palette and later in formats which would transcend European conventions (i.e. multiple figures, totem formats). Shilling attended the New School of Art and the Ontario College of Art and in 1967, was presented with the Canadian Centennial Medal.

R E C E N T   E X H I B I T I O N S

S E L E C T E D   C O L L E C T I O N S

Allandale Recreation Centre, Barrie, Ontario
Beckett Gallery, Hamilton, Ontario
Canadian Museum of Civilization, Hull, Québec
Defasco, Hamilton, Ontario
Imperial Oil Ltd., Toronto, Ontario
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, Ottawa, Ontario
McMichael Canadian Art Collection, Kleinburg, Ontario
Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, Ontario
St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario
Sundance Gallery, Calgary, Alberta
Wilfred Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario
Woodland Cultural Centre, Brantford, Ontario

S E L E C T E D   B I B L I O G R A P H Y

"An Interview with Arthur Shilling." Tawow 7, no. 1 (1980): p. 12-16.

Campbell, Neil R. Review of The Ojibway Dream by Arthur Shilling. Art Post 4, no. 3 (April / May 1987): 17.

Canadian Museum of Civilization, ed. In the Shadow of the Sun: Perspectives on Contemporary Native Art. Hull, Québec: The Museum, 1993.

Dickason, Olive. Indian Arts in Canada. Ottawa, Ontario: Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, 1972.

"Indian gained famed for 'people pictures'." Globe & Mail Metro Edition, 5 March 1986, p. A-12. [Obituary]

"Indian painter." The (Montréal) Gazette, 6 March 1986, p. D-10. [Obituary]

McCabe, Kevin. Review of The Ojibway Dream by Arthur Shilling. Canadian Children’s Literature 49 (l988): 73-76.

McMaster, Gerald, and Lee-Ann Martin, eds. INDIGENA: Contemporary Native Perspectives. Vancouver, British Columbia: Douglas & McIntyre, 1992./ INDIGENA: Perspectives autochtones contemporaines. Hull, Québec: Musée canadien des civilisations, 1992.

Menitove, Marcy, ed. Arthur Shilling. Thunder Bay, Ontario: Thunder Bay Art Gallery, 1986. [Catalogue of an exhibition 5-30 September 1986]

"Ojibwa artist thanks St. Mike's." Toronto Star, 9 May 1985, p. A-7.

"Prominent Indian artist." Calgary Herald, 6 March 1986, p. D-2. [Obituary]

Review: Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Globe & Mail Metro Edition, 27 June 1986, p. D12.

Shilling, Arthur. The Ojibway Dream. Montréal, Québec; Plattsburgh, New York: Tundra Books, 1986.

Stone, Court. We are the Music-Makers: A Bird's-Eye View of the Music- Teaching Scene. Sketches by Arthur Shilling. Wakefield, Québec: Castenchel Editions, 1984.

Sulowski, Ches. Review of The Ojibway Dream by Arthur Shilling. Canadian Materials 15, no. 2 (March 1987): 76.