Ask for the famous artists of the Robert McLaughlin Gallery and you will hear of Lawren Harris, William Ronald Smith, Margaret Alexandra Luke and Walter Hawley Yarwood.
Our catalogue lists 130 works of the Robert McLaughlin Gallery by 49 artists; the 19 best known are ranked below, each with the works the museum holds.
The masters of the originals
The 10 masters whose originals hang in the Robert McLaughlin Gallery
For each master: where and when they were born, their movement, how many originals the museum keeps in our catalogue, a note from their life, and the originals to see.
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1. Lawren Harris 1885–1970
1885–1970 Born in Brantford, Canada 3 originals at the Robert McLaughlin Gallery
Lawren Stewart Harris, born in Brantford, Ontario, in 1885, wasn’t merely a painter; he was an architect of Canadian identity. Harris wasn’t simply a member; he was a catalyst, providing both financial support and intellectual leadership that propelled the group forward.
Originals at the Robert McLaughlin Gallery
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2. William Ronald Smith 1926–1998
1926–1998 Born in Stratford, Canada 4 originals at the Robert McLaughlin Gallery
in 1953, smith co-founded painters eleven, a group that would significantly influence the canadian art scene. this collective's emphasis on abstract art not only reflected the post-war avant-garde spirit but also positioned smith as a leading figure in this movement.
Originals at the Robert McLaughlin Gallery
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Abstract Art
3. Margaret Alexandra Luke 1901–1967
1901–1967 Born in Montreal, Canada Abstract Art 8 originals at the Robert McLaughlin Gallery
Margaret Alexandra Luke, also known as Alexandra Luke, was a significant figure in the development of abstract art in Canada. Born in Montreal, Quebec, she emerged as a prominent artist within the influential Painters Eleven group and left a lasting impact on Canadian modernism. Luke was born on May 14, 1901, in Montreal.
Originals at the Robert McLaughlin Gallery
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4. Walter Hawley Yarwood 1917–1996
1917–1996 Born in Toronto, Canada 3 originals at the Robert McLaughlin Gallery
Yarwood’s artistic evolution is a fascinating study in controlled metamorphosis. In the late 1940s, his canvases were often rooted in the familiar, capturing the quiet essence of landscapes. Though he was often a more reserved figure than the more boisterous members of Painters Eleven, Yarwood’s influence was undeniable.
Originals at the Robert McLaughlin Gallery
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5. Roselyn Margaret Kenny 1891–1973
1891–1973 Born in Renfrew, Canada 7 originals at the Robert McLaughlin Gallery
As one of the first women to break through the academic barriers of the time, she studied under the legendary Arthur Lismer, securing prestigious scholarships annually from 1920 to 1924. While these masters were busy redefining the Canadian landscape through bold, rugged strokes, Kenny was beginning to cultivate a visual vocabulary that, while influenced by their ethos, remained distinctly her own.
Originals at the Robert McLaughlin Gallery
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6. Prudence Heward 1896–1947
1896–1947 Born in Montreal, Canada 3 originals at the Robert McLaughlin Gallery
Efa Prudence Heward, born in Montreal in 1896, emerged as a significant voice within the burgeoning landscape of Canadian modern art.
Originals at the Robert McLaughlin Gallery
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Modernism
7. David Milne 1882–1953
1882–1953 Born in Saugeen Shores, Canada Modernism 2 originals at the Robert McLaughlin Gallery
The youngest of ten children born to Scottish immigrant parents, William and Mary Milne, he inherited a practical upbringing alongside a subtle appreciation for artistry – particularly from his mother, who crafted beautiful objects from found materials in nature. While his contemporaries often focused on dramatic representations of the Canadian wilderness, Milne’s work was characterized by an almost austere simplicity and a deliberate reduction of form.
Originals at the Robert McLaughlin Gallery
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8. Kazuo Nakamura 1926–2002
1926–2002 Born in Vancouver, Canada 2 originals at the Robert McLaughlin Gallery
kazuo nakamura, a japanese-canadian painter and sculptor, was born on october 13, 1926, in vancouver, canada. he passed away on april 9, 2002, in toronto, leaving behind a legacy as one of the first major japanese canadian artists to emerge in the 20th century.
Originals at the Robert McLaughlin Gallery
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9. Bertram Brooker 1888–1955
1888–1955 Born in County Borough of Croydon, United Kingdom 7 originals at the Robert McLaughlin Gallery
Born in Croydon, England, in 1888, Brooker’s early years were shaped by the traditions of his birthplace, yet it was his relocation to Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, at the age of seventeen that would fundamentally alter the trajectory of his creative soul. As his artistic consciousness matured, Brooker began to look beyond the traditional confines of Impressionism and Cubism, seeking a visual language that could capture the primal essence of existence.
Originals at the Robert McLaughlin Gallery
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10. Jock Macdonald 1897–1960
1897–1960 Born in Thurso, United Kingdom 7 originals at the Robert McLaughlin Gallery
Born in the rugged, atmospheric landscape of Thurso, Scotland, in 1897, his early life was steeped in the dramatic textures of his homeland.
Originals at the Robert McLaughlin Gallery
The masters, continued
No. 11 to No. 19: more masters of the Robert McLaughlin Gallery
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11. Yvonne McKague Housser
Canadian Modernism
1897–1996 · born in Toronto, Canada · 9 originals at the Robert McLaughlin Gallery
- Lost Lake (1945)
- Tower of Babel Rocky Mountains (1928)
- Jack in the Pulpit (1946)
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12. Fritz Brandtner
1896–1969 · born in Gdańsk, Poland · 3 originals at the Robert McLaughlin Gallery
- Two Figures in a Room (1938)
- Abstraction (1952)
- Blue Yellow and Black Abstract (1938)
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13. Oscar Cahen
1916–1956 · born in Copenhagen, Denmark · 3 originals at the Robert McLaughlin Gallery
- Small Structure (1955)
- Ascend (1952)
- Black Trophy (1956)
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14. Hortense Gordon
1886–1961 · born in Hamilton, Canada · 3 originals at the Robert McLaughlin Gallery
- Horizontals and Verticals (1955)
- Orange and Yellows, Bound in Space (1952)
- Idyll Vase (1911)
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15. Isabel McLaughlin
Canadian Modernism
1903–2002 · born in Oshawa, Canada · 12 originals at the Robert McLaughlin Gallery
- Jets Over Arizona (1956)
- Budding Hyacinths (1933)
- All Aboard (1948)
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16. John St Helier Lander
Contemporary Realism
1868–1944 · born in Saint Helier, Jersey · 2 originals at the Robert McLaughlin Gallery
- Landscape with Swans (1974)
- A Bouquet (1974)
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17. Pegi Nicol MacLeod
Modernism
1904–1949 · born in Listowel, Canada · 16 originals at the Robert McLaughlin Gallery
- Winter Landscape (1931)
- Lionel Massey (1934)
- Airshaft 88th Street New York (1942)
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18. Tom Hodgson
1924–2006 · born in Toronto, Canada · 4 originals at the Robert McLaughlin Gallery
- Portrait of a Shirt (1957)
- Flowers (1962)
- It Became Green (1956)
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19. Harold Barling Town
2 originals at the Robert McLaughlin Gallery
- Passage Over Yesterday (1959)
- Spring Swing (1958)
The house in figures
The masters of the Robert McLaughlin Gallery, in figures
The masters with the most originals at the Robert McLaughlin Gallery
Masters with two originals or more, by century of birth
Masters with two originals or more, by country of birth
Masters with two originals or more, by movement
Women masters
The women whose originals hang in the Robert McLaughlin Gallery
11 women masters, 49 originals, in our catalogue of the Robert McLaughlin Gallery.
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Pegi Nicol MacLeod
1904–1949 · born in Listowel, Canada · 16 originals at the Robert McLaughlin Gallery
- Winter Landscape (1931)
- Lionel Massey (1934)
- Airshaft 88th Street New York (1942)
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Isabel McLaughlin
1903–2002 · born in Oshawa, Canada · 12 originals at the Robert McLaughlin Gallery
- Jets Over Arizona (1956)
- Budding Hyacinths (1933)
- All Aboard (1948)
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Yvonne McKague Housser
1897–1996 · born in Toronto, Canada · 9 originals at the Robert McLaughlin Gallery
- Lost Lake (1945)
- Tower of Babel Rocky Mountains (1928)
- Jack in the Pulpit (1946)
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Prudence Heward
1896–1947 · born in Montreal, Canada · 3 originals at the Robert McLaughlin Gallery
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Hortense Gordon
1886–1961 · born in Hamilton, Canada · 3 originals at the Robert McLaughlin Gallery
- Horizontals and Verticals (1955)
- Orange and Yellows, Bound in Space (1952)
- Idyll Vase (1911)
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Paraskeva Clark
1898–1986 · born in Saint Petersburg, Russia · 1 originals at the Robert McLaughlin Gallery
- October Rose (1941)
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Anne Savage
1896–1971 · born in Montreal, Canada · 1 originals at the Robert McLaughlin Gallery
- La Petite Niche (1935)
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Alma Duncan
1917–2004 · born in Paris, Canada · 1 originals at the Robert McLaughlin Gallery
- Open Pit and Skipway (1956)
Asked of us
Questions on the masters of the Robert McLaughlin Gallery
Open a question to read the answer.
Who is the most famous artist in the Robert McLaughlin Gallery?
Lawren Harris (1885–1970): our catalogue holds 3 works by Lawren Harris at the Robert McLaughlin Gallery, among them Muskoka and Houses, Chestnut Street. William Ronald Smith and Margaret Alexandra Luke follow.
How many Lawren Harris paintings are in the Robert McLaughlin Gallery?
Our catalogue lists 3 works by Lawren Harris at the Robert McLaughlin Gallery, among them Muskoka (1920) and Houses, Chestnut Street (1919).
Which William Ronald Smith works are in the Robert McLaughlin Gallery?
Our catalogue lists 4 works by William Ronald Smith at the Robert McLaughlin Gallery, among them Back Through Sound (1954), J (1956), Central Black (1956) and Manhattan Carnival (1952).
What did Margaret Alexandra Luke paint that hangs in the Robert McLaughlin Gallery?
Our catalogue lists 8 works by Margaret Alexandra Luke at the Robert McLaughlin Gallery, among them Untitled (1948), Observance to a Morn of May (1957), From Beginningless Time (1961) and Symphony (1957).
Which ten artists should I look for in the Robert McLaughlin Gallery?
The ten best-known artists with works in the Robert McLaughlin Gallery are Lawren Harris (3), William Ronald Smith (4), Margaret Alexandra Luke (8), Walter Hawley Yarwood (3), Roselyn Margaret Kenny (7), Prudence Heward (3), David Milne (2), Kazuo Nakamura (2), Bertram Brooker (7) and Jock Macdonald (7).
Which artist has the most works in the Robert McLaughlin Gallery?
Our catalogue holds 16 works by Pegi Nicol MacLeod at the Robert McLaughlin Gallery; next come Isabel McLaughlin (12), Yvonne McKague Housser (9) and Margaret Alexandra Luke (8).
Is Leonardo da Vinci in the Robert McLaughlin Gallery?
Our catalogue lists no work by Leonardo da Vinci at the Robert McLaughlin Gallery.
Is Pablo Picasso in the Robert McLaughlin Gallery?
Our catalogue lists no work by Pablo Picasso at the Robert McLaughlin Gallery.
Are there any women painters in the Robert McLaughlin Gallery?
Our catalogue lists 11 women artists with works at the Robert McLaughlin Gallery: Pegi Nicol MacLeod (16), Isabel McLaughlin (12), Yvonne McKague Housser (9), Prudence Heward (3), Hortense Gordon (3) and Paraskeva Clark (1).
Where do the artists of the Robert McLaughlin Gallery come from?
By country of birth, the artists with two works or more at the Robert McLaughlin Gallery are mostly from Canada (13), United Kingdom (2), Poland (1), Denmark (1) and Jersey (1).
Who is the earliest artist in the Robert McLaughlin Gallery?
The 19th century leads with 10 artists born then. In this ranking, John St Helier Lander (1868–1944) is the earliest born and William Ronald Smith (1926–1998) the latest.
How many painters are represented in the Robert McLaughlin Gallery?
Our catalogue lists 49 artists with at least one work at the Robert McLaughlin Gallery, 19 of them with two or more, born between 1868 and 1926 in 5 countries.
The house
The Robert McLaughlin Gallery, Oshawa, in a few lines
A Sanctuary of Light and Line
This intentional luminosity does more than illuminate; it breathes life into the canvases, mirroring the brilliance and depth found in many of the gallery's most celebrated works.
The Pulse of Abstract Expressionism
At the heart of the gallery’s identity lies an unparalleled devotion to Abstract Expressionism. This singular focus is inextricably linked to the pioneering legacy of Alexandra Luke, a visionary whose advocacy for abstract forms irrevocably altered the trajectory of Canadian art history. The collection's depth is matched by its diversity, featuring a wide array of artistic expressions including: Canadian Paintings: A vast panorama of works spanning various periods of national importance. Tactile explorations of materiality and process that complement the painted works. Significant historical records related to the Painters Eleven, preserving the very origins of the movement. It consistently pushes boundaries, presenting shows that traverse themes from the intricate nuances of Indigenous storytelling to the cutting-edge pulse of contemporary trends.
The famous originals of the Robert McLaughlin GalleryThe Robert McLaughlin Gallery: the full page, 132 originalsThe museums of Oshawa
How the masters of the originals are ranked
The masters with two originals or more of the Robert McLaughlin Gallery in our catalogue are ranked by fame: the Wikipedia language editions that describe them, the visits to their OriginalUniqueArt.com page and our studio's ranking. Originals are counted in our catalogue — one entry per work, without details, studies or copies — not in the museum's inventory. Every date, birthplace and movement is the catalogue's; the notes are drawn from the master's biography.
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