Leo Yerxa facts for kids
Leo Yerxa was a talented Canadian artist, known for his amazing drawings and paintings. He was also a writer and even designed special medals! He won a big award, the Governor General's Award, in 2006 for illustrating children's books. Leo Yerxa lived in Ottawa, Ontario, and passed away on September 1, 2017.
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Leo Yerxa's Early Life and Learning
Leo Yerxa was born in 1947. He grew up on the Little Eagle Reserve, which is part of the Couchiching First Nation in northwestern Ontario. He loved art from a young age. He went to Algonquin College in Ottawa to study graphic arts, which is about creating art for things like books and advertisements. Later, he studied fine arts at the University of Waterloo in Ontario, where he learned more about painting and drawing.
Leo Yerxa's Career as an Artist and Writer
Leo Yerxa started sharing his poetry and art in the 1970s. His first solo art show, called "Renegade: The Art of Leo Yerxa," happened in 1984 in Thunder Bay.
Designing Olympic Coins
Did you know Leo Yerxa's designs were used on special coins? In 1976, his artwork appeared on some of the Summer Olympic coins for the Montreal Olympics. He designed coins for events like the Marathon Runner, Women's Javelin, Women's Shot Put, and Men's Hurdles. He used special art styles from the Algonquin people in his designs. This was one of the first times that Indigenous art was shown on public art in Canada.
Writing and Illustrating Books
Leo Yerxa wrote and illustrated several books especially for children. Two of his most famous books are Ancient Thunder and Last Leaf, First Snowflake to Fall. His book Ancient Thunder was very popular and helped him win the Governor General's Literary Award in 2006.
Leo Yerxa's Art Shows
Leo Yerxa's art was shown in many places. He participated in both group shows with other artists and had his own individual exhibitions.
Group Art Shows
- 1974: CANADIAN INDIAN ART '74, Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, Ontario.
- 1977: Links to Tradition, Bureau of Indian Affairs and Development.
- 1982: Renewal: Masterpieces of contemporary Indian art from the Museum of Man, Thunder Bay, Ontario.
- 1983: Contemporary Indian and Inuit Art of Canada, UN-Headquarters, New York.
Individual Art Shows
- 1974: Evans Gallery, Toronto, Ontario
- 1975: Evans Gallery, Toronto, Ontario
- 1978: "bingo," Wells Gallery, Ottawa, Ontario
- 1978: Guild of Craft, Montreal, Quebec
- 1979: Guild of Craft, Montreal, Quebec
- 1980: "Wind, Rain and Snow," Ells Gallery, Ottawa, Ontario
- 1983: "Last Snows in Spring," Nishnawbe Arts, Toronto, Ontario
- 1984: "Renegade," Thunder Bay National Exhibition Center and Center for Indian Art, Thunder Bay, Ontario
- 1986: Galerie Francis Alexandre, Ottawa, Ontario
- 1988: Galerie Francis Alexandre, Ottawa, Ontario
- 2017-2018: "Geschichten aus dem Waldland" at the Nordamerika Native Museum, Zurich.
Public Art Projects
- Sketches for Olympic Medal series IV, 1976
- Memorial for Ron Shackleton, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario.
Books by Leo Yerxa
Leo Yerxa was a talented author and illustrator.
Books He Wrote and Illustrated
- 1993: Last Leaf, First Snowflake to Fall, Douglas & McIntyre Orchard Books NY
- 1995: A Fish Tale, Or, The Little One That Got Away], Douglas & McIntyre
- 2006: Ancient Thunder Groundwood Books
Books He Illustrated for Other Authors
- 1969: Peter Desbarats, What They Used To Tell About, Indian Legends from Labrador, McClelland and Stewart
- 1994: Armand Garnet Ruffo, Opening in the Sky, Theytus Press
- 2001: Tomson Highway, Johnny National, Super Hero, Health Canada (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada)
- 2002: Al Hunter, Spirit Horses Kegedonce Press
- 2014: Joanne Arnott, Halfling Spring: an internet romance Kegedonce Press
Awards and Recognition
Leo Yerxa received many awards for his amazing work:
- Governor General's Literary Award, Children's literature (illustration) 2006
- Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator's Award 1994
- Elizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver Canadian Picture Book Award 1994
- Mr. Christie's Book Award 1993
- Governor General's Literary Award, Children's Literature, nominee 1993
See Also
