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SATURDAY EVENING POST
November 4th, 2023
Distinguished Canadian artist William Perehudoff embarked on a remarkable artistic journey deeply rooted in the vast prairie landscapes of Saskatchewan. Born into a Doukhobor community in Saskatoon in 1918, his early years were spent on the family farm near Langham. These formative years imprinted upon him a profound connection to the land, and his artistic sensibilities were awakened by the vibrant textiles of the Doukhobors.
William Perehudoff, AC-91-36, Acrylic on canvas, 1991, 64 x 50 in.
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Perehudoff's artistic development was significantly shaped by key figures in Saskatchewan's art scene. Among them, Robert Hurley's evocative prairie landscapes and profound understanding of colour theory would leave a lasting mark on his work. His relationship with the Mendel family of Saskatoon, known for their extensive art collection, provided a valuable resource for the budding artist. In 1947, a pivotal moment unfolded when Fred Mendel accepted Perehudoff's proposal to create expansive murals at Intercontinental Packers. This endeavour, combined with earnings from farming and union wages, afforded him the opportunity to study under the esteemed French muralist Jean Charlot in Colorado in 1948.
In 1950, William Perehudoff's artistic journey reached a significant milestone when he held his inaugural solo exhibition at the Saskatoon Art Center. During that period, Perehudoff actively participated in the renowned Emma Lake workshops held in Saskatchewan, featuring prominent New York artists and the influential critic, Clement Greenberg, who championed the cause of colour-based abstraction. Perehudoff’s work resonated with the broader artistic movements and prominent figures of his era, and became a part of a larger narrative. His artistic journey was also intertwined with contemporaries who shared a commitment to exploring the language of colour-based abstraction. Following these achievements, he set forth to New York to study art under the guidance of Amédée Ozenfant, a co-founder of Purism alongside Le Corbusier.
In the early 1970s, William Perehudoff had a breakthrough moment with his first major exhibition at the prestigious Waddington Galleries in Toronto and Montreal. His artwork also made its mark in the international art scene, with an exhibition at the Noah Goldowsky Gallery in New York. In 1978, James Purdie, an art critic for the Globe and Mail, recognized Perehudoff's extraordinary talent. He hailed him as one of the most prominent colour painters of his era, noting the resonating quality of Perehudoff's vertical and horizontal bands of colours, and how these bands created a musical interplay on the canvas, akin to notes on a carefully structured scale, where varying shades and intervals produced a harmonious visual symphony.
ABOVE IMAGES:
Mendel reception room at the Intercontinental Packers plant, Saskatoon, C. 1953.
Courtesy of Mendel Art Gallery, and Perehudoff family.
Murals installed to match their placement in the former reception room of Fred Mendel’s Intercontinental Packers plant, these colourful works have been a visitor favourite.
Over the course of nearly seven decades, Perehudoff's career was characterised by elegance, intelligence, and an extraordinary command of colour. He emerged as a prominent figure in Canadian abstract art, shaping the path for future generations of painters. William Perehudoff's reputation extended far beyond Canada's borders, earning him accolades such as induction as a Member of the Order of Canada and an associate of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts. His honours also included the Saskatchewan Order of Merit and an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from the University of Regina. In 2012, he was awarded the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal.
Perehudoff's works grace the collections of prestigious institutions, including the National Gallery of Canada and the Canadian Museum of Civilization. Notably, in 2012, the Mendel Art Gallery in Saskatoon curated a comprehensive retrospective exhibition of his work titled "The Optimism of Colour: William Perehudoff, a retrospective." This showcase celebrated his enduring legacy and his remarkable ability to capture the essence of the prairie landscape in the abstract.
ABOVE IMAGES:
Artist William Perehudoff on Dec. 11, 1980. Courtesy of Edward Regan and the Globe and Mail.
William Perehudoff, AC-91-36 installation view.
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