A sweeping tribute to David Blackwood’s extraordinary printmaking legacy, where ice, sea, and story capture Newfoundland and Atlantic Canada with quiet power and unforgettable beauty.
One of Canada’s best-known printmakers, David Blackwood (1941–2022) put onto paper an enduring vision of Newfoundland. Born and raised on Bonavista Bay, his hauntingly beautiful images—suffused with struggle and myth—are drawn from childhood memories, dreams, superstitions, legends, and oral traditions.
Tracing Blackwood’s career from his first days as an art student at the Ontario College of Art to his final drawing, this expansive retrospective brings together more than 80 drawings and prints, alongside proofs, copperplates, and archival materials. Thanks to the generosity of the artist and his family, the AGO is home to Blackwood’s archives, and the largest collection of his work in the world. Curated by Alexa Greist, Curator & R. Fraser Elliott Chair, Prints and Drawings at the AGO, this exhibition aims to reveal the creative evolution of a beloved Canadian artist.
Organized by the Art Gallery of Ontario.
Press Release
Images
CONDITIONS OF USE:
Reproductions must be accompanied by the name of the artist, the title and date of work, the owner credit line, the copyright holder and photo credit. Reproductions must not be cropped, overprinted, tinted or subject to any form of derogatory treatment without the prior approval of the copyright owner.
For high-resolution, print quality images, please get in touch with media@ago.ca.