Robert Houle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Robert Houle
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born | March 9, 1947 Saint Boniface, Manitoba, Canada
|
| Nationality | Saulteaux First Nations, Canadian |
| Education | BA, Art History University of Manitoba; BE, Art Education McGill University |
| Known for | oil painter, photographer, installation artist, multimedia artist |
|
Notable work
|
The Place Where God Lives (1989), Seven in Steel (1989), Kanata (1992) |
| Partner(s) | Paul Gardner |
Robert Houle RCA (born 1947) is a famous Canadian artist, curator, and teacher. He is a member of the Saulteaux First Nations. Since the 1970s, Robert has been very active in the art world. He helped connect modern First Nations artists with the wider Canadian art scene. He did this through his writing and by helping with big art shows, like "Land, Spirit, Power: First Nations" at the National Gallery of Canada in 1992.
As an artist, Houle's work has been shown in Canada and around the world. He mostly creates paintings using an art style called Abstraction. This means his art often uses shapes, colors, and lines instead of clear pictures. But he also likes to add everyday images and words to his art. His work often talks about the lasting effects of colonialism on First Nations peoples. He sometimes uses old photos and writings, changing them and mixing them with the Anishnaabe language and traditional materials like porcupine quills.
Contents
Robert Houle: Early Life and Learning
Robert Houle was born in St. Boniface, Manitoba on March 9, 1947. His parents were Gladys and Solomon Houle. He was the oldest of fifteen children. All of them were raised in the Roman Catholic Church and were Saulteaux. From grades one to eight, he attended schools in Sandy Bay (Kaa-wii-kwe-tawang-kak).
Robert went to the University of Manitoba and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Art History in 1972. After that, he went to the Salzburg International Summer Academy. There, he focused on painting and drawing to improve his art skills. In 1975, he earned his Bachelor of Education degree in Art Education from McGill University in Montreal, Quebec. While studying at McGill, he also taught art classes at the Indian Way School in Kahnawake.
In 1991, Houle became the first professor of Indigenous Studies at The Ontario College of Art (now OCAD University). He taught there for fifteen years. During this time, he helped guide and teach many young artists, including Bonnie Devine and Michael Belmore.
Robert Houle's Amazing Artworks
Robert Houle's paintings have been shown in many important art galleries. These include the National Gallery of Canada and the Art Gallery of Ontario. His art has also traveled internationally. It has been displayed at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney in Australia. His work has also been seen at the Canadian Cultural Centre in Paris, France, and the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam.
In Canada, his art has been featured in many places. Some of these are the Mendel Art Gallery, the Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art, and the Winnipeg Art Gallery. His artwork is now part of art collections across Canada. It can also be found in parts of the United States and Australia.
Making a Difference in Art
From 1977 to 1981, Robert Houle held a very important job. He was the first Indigenous curator of contemporary Indigenous Art. This was at the Canadian Museum of Civilisation (now the Canadian Museum of History) in Ottawa. His job involved studying and writing about the museum's art collection. He also worked hard to get new art pieces for the museum. At the same time, he continued to create his own art.
He traveled a lot for his work. He became good friends with other famous artists. These included Abraham Anghik Ruben, Robert Davidson, Norval Morrisseau, and Daphne Odjig. However, the museum's way of doing things was not always welcoming. Robert felt that his contemporary art was not being shown properly. He believed his art should not be seen only as anthropology, but as true art. After three years, he decided to leave his job there.
Robert has also organized and helped organize many important art shows. One famous show was New Work By a New Generation in Regina in 1982. Another big one was Land Spirit Power: First Nations at the National Gallery of Canada in 1992. He has also visited many colleges and museums as a guest artist. For many years, he taught art at the Ontario College of Art and Design. He is now retired from teaching.
Robert Houle is a member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts. His big impact as an artist, curator, teacher, and writer has earned him many awards. These include the Janet Braide Memorial Award in 2003 and the Toronto Arts award in 2001. In 2015, he received the Governor General's Award for Visual Arts. This is one of Canada's highest honors for artists.
Where to Find His Art
Robert Houle's artwork is part of many public art collections. You can find his pieces at places like the Art Gallery of Ontario. His art is also at the Heard Museum and the National Gallery of Canada.
