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Birth of David Alexander Colville
David Alexander Colville, known publicly as Alex Colville, was born on August 24th, 1920 in Toronto, Canada. -
Colville Moves to Nova Scotia
In 1929, Alex Colville moved to Amherst, Nova Scotia. -
Graduation and Army
Colvilles graduated from Mount Allison University, Sackville, N.B. with a Bachelor of Fine Arts. He then enlisted in the Canadian Army. -
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Marriage to Rhoda Wright
Alex Colville was married to Rhoda Wright from 1942 until her death in 2012. -
Graham Alexander
Alex Colville’s first son, Graham Alexander Colville, was born. -
John Harrower
Colville’s second son, John Harrower, is born. -
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Teaches at Mount Allison University
Colville began teaching at Mount Allison University in 1946, and resigned in 1963. -
Charles Wright
Colville’s third son, Charles Wright Colville, is born. -
Ann Christian
Colville’s first daughter, Ann Christian, is born. -
First Solo Exhibition
His first solo exhibition is held at the New Brunswick Museum in Saint John. -
New York Exhibition
Solo exhibition Hewitt Gallery, New York -
Soldier and Girl at Station
Glazed tempera on hardboard
40.6 x 60.9 cm
The Thomson Collection, Art Gallery of Ontario -
Horse and Train
Glazed tempera
40 x 53.3 cm
Art Gallery of Hamilton
Gift of Dominion Foundries and Steel Ltd., 1957 -
New York Exhibiton No. 2
Second one-man exhibition, Hewitt Gallery, New York -
Toronto Exhibitions
Exhibitions at the Hart House Gallery and the Laing Galleries, both in Toronto -
Won Dunn International Award
Colville exhibits at the Banfer Gallery, New York; receives the Won Dunn International Award, Beaverbrook Art Gallery, Fredericton. -
Commissioned by the Government of Canada
Commissioned by the Government of Canada to design coins commemorating Canada’s centennial year. -
To Prince Edward Island
Acrylic polymer emulsion on hardboard
60.9 x 91.4 cm
Collection National Gallery of Canada
© National Gallery of Canada -
33rd Venice Biennale
Represents Canada at the 33rd Venice Biennale; travelling exhibition of war paintings organized by the National Gallery of Canada; exhibition at Hart House, University of Toronto. -
Officer in the Order of Canada
Named an Officer in the Order of Canada; receives an honorary D.Litt. from Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario -
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Visiting Artist at the University of California
For the span of about one year, Colville was a visiting artist at the University of California at Santa Cruz. -
Honorary LLD from Mount Allison University
Colville receives an honorary LLD from Mount Allison University. -
Honorary LLD from Dalhousie University
Exhibits at Kestner-Gesellschaft, Hanover, Germany; receives an honorary LLD from Dalhousie University, Halifax. -
Exhibits at Marlborough Fine Art
Exhibits at Marlborough Fine Art, London, England. -
Visiting Artist, Berlin
Visiting artist, Berliner Kunstlerprogramm, Berlin. -
Moves to Wolfville, Nova Scotia
Moves to Wolfville, Nova Scotia. Receives honorary degrees from Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, B.C., and the University of Windsor, Ontario. -
Molson Prize
Awarded Molson Prize (Canada Council); receives honorary D.Litt. from Acadia University, Wolfville. -
University of Regina
Exhibits at the Norman MacKenzie Art Gallery, University of Regina. -
Exhibits in Europe
Exhibits at Gemeentemuseum in Arnhem, the Netherlands, the Kunsthalle, Düsseldorf, Germany, and Fischer Fine Art, London, England. -
Medal for Governor General
Designs medal for Governor General and Mrs. Jules Léger, exhibits at the Mira Godard Gallery, Toronto and Montreal. -
Seven Crows
Acrylic polymer emulsion on hardboard
60 x 120 cm
Owens Art Gallery Mount Allison University, Sackville NB
Gift of Mr. Ross B. -
Lecturer, Travelling Exhibition
Brockington Lecturer at Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario; receives an honorary D.Litt. from Memorial University, St. John’s, NL.; traveling exhibition of war art organized by the Canadian War Museum. -
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Chancellor of Acadia University
Colville was the Chancellor of Acadia University from 1981 until he resigned in 1991. -
Companion of the Order of Canada
Colville was named a Companion of the Order of Canada. -
Art Gallery of Ontario
The Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto, holds a retrospective that subsequently travels to six galleries in Canada and Germany. -
Period: to
Exhibits Around the World
Exhibits in Beijing, Hong Kong, Tokyo and London, England. -
National Gallery of Canada
Becomes a board member of the National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa (until 1993); receives honorary LLD from the University of Calgary. -
Exhibits at the Drabinsky Gallery
Colville exhibits at the Drabinsky Gallery in Toronto. -
Privy Council
Appointed to the Privy Council; exhibits at the North Bay Arts Centre. -
Owens Art Gallery
Exhibition of drawings at the Owens Art Gallery, Sackville, which subsequently travels to five Canadian galleries. -
Montreal Museum of Fine Arts
Exhibition at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, Montreal. -
University of Manitoba
Receives honorary degree from University of Manitoba, Winnipeg. -
On a River
Acrylic polymer emulsion on hardboard
48 x 110.8 cm
Private collection, Canada -
More Honorary Degrees
Receives honorary degrees from Bishops University and the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design -
80th Birthday
Exhibition, “Milestones” at the National Gallery of Canada to mark his 80th birthday. Subject of CBC “Life and Times”. -
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Mira Godard Gallery
2002 - Exhibits at the Mira Godard Gallery. 2004 - Exhibits at Mira Godard Gallery and Douglas Udell Gallery, Edmonton. 2007 - Exhibits at Mira Godard Gallery. 2010 - Exhibits at Mira Godard Gallery. -
Honors and Exhibitions
Receives Governor General’s Award in Visual and Media Arts.
Named a member the Order of Nova Scotia. Exhibition “Alex Colville: Return” Art Gallery of Nova Scotia and travelling to five Canadian galleries. -
Artist and Car
Artist and Car
Acrylic polymer emulsion on hardboard
26.7 x 42.3 cm
Private collection, Canada -
Death of Alex Colville
Alex Colville died at home on July 16th, 2013, in Wolfville, Nova Scotia.