Bruno Bobak facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bruno Bobak
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|---|---|
| Born |
Bronislaw Jacob Bobak
27 December 1923 Wawelówka, Poland (now Skalat, Ukraine)
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| Died | 24 September 2012 Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada
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| Nationality | Canadian |
| Education | Art Gallery of Toronto with Arthur Lismer. |
| Known for | watercolour painter |
| Spouse(s) | Molly Lamb (m. 1945) |
Bruno Bobak (born Bronislaw Jacob Bobak; 27 December 1923 – 24 September 2012) was a talented Canadian artist. He was born in Poland and became a famous war artist and art teacher. Bruno Bobak was best known for his beautiful watercolour paintings. He also created art using woodcuts.
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Early Life and War Artist
Bruno Bobak was born in a place called Wawelówka, near Skalat, Poland. This area is now part of Ukraine. His family moved to Canada in 1925 and settled in Saskatchewan.
Bruno loved art from a young age. He studied art at the Art Gallery of Toronto from 1933 to 1937. His teachers included famous artists like Arthur Lismer and Gordon Webber. He also studied at the Central Technical School in Toronto.
In 1942, after finishing high school, Bruno joined the Canadian Army. He served in Europe with the Royal Canadian Engineers. He was very good at art, and he won first prize in a Canadian Army Art Competition. Because of this, he was chosen to be an Official Second World War artist. He was the youngest war artist for Canada during World War II.
Teaching Art
After the war, Bruno Bobak came back to Canada. He lived in Ottawa for a short time. In 1947, he and his wife moved to Vancouver. There, he started teaching art at the Vancouver School of Art.
In 1960, the Bobaks moved to New Brunswick. Bruno became an artist in residence at the University of New Brunswick. This meant he was an artist who lived and worked at the university. He later became the Director of the university's Art Centre.
In 1983, a special art show of his work traveled around. Bruno Bobak retired in 1986. He continued to live in New Brunswick until he passed away.
In 1995, Bruno Bobak and his wife, Molly Lamb Bobak, were both made Members of the Order of Canada. This is a very high honour in Canada.
Family Life
Bruno Bobak married Molly Lamb in 1945. She was also a talented war artist. They had two children, Alexander and Anny. He also had a grandchild named Julia.
Where to Find His Art
Most of Bruno Bobak's artwork is in Canada. However, you can also find his paintings in the United States, Poland, and Britain.
Special Recognition
On 8 September 1998, Canada Post released a special stamp. It featured a detail from Bruno Bobak's watercolour painting called The Farmer's Family (1970). This painting is kept at the Beaverbrook Art Gallery in Fredericton, New Brunswick. The stamp was part of the Masterpieces of Canadian Art series.
Later Years
Bruno Bobak passed away on 24 September 2012, when he was 88 years old. His wife, Molly Lamb Bobak, died two years later in 2014.
Awards and Honours
Bruno Bobak received many awards for his art, including:
- Victor Martyn Lynch-Staunton Award (1971)
- Order of Canada
- Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal
- Jesse Dow Prize from the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts
- C.W. Jefferys Award from the Canadian Society of Graphic Art
- Honorary Doctor of Letters from Saint Thomas University (1984)
- Honorary Doctor of Literature from the University of New Brunswick (1986)
- Member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts
See also
- Canadian official war artists
Archives
Records and artworks by Molly Lamb Bobak and Bruno Bobak are kept at Library and Archives Canada. These records cover the years from 1930 to 2000. They include many written documents, photographs, and other types of art like drawings and watercolours.
