RITA BRIANSKY. CPE. CSGA. [b. 1925].

Born in Grajewa, Poland, she came to Canada in 1929. Interested in art from an early age, in her teens she studied under Alexander Bercovitch at the YWHA [1941-42]; under Jacques de Tonnancour at the Art Association of Montreal [1942- 44]; under M. Charpentier at l’École des Beaux-Arts de Montreal [1944-46]; under Jan Carbino, Luis Bosa, H. Sternberg and V. Vytlacil at the Art Students' League, New York [1946-48]. A painter and print-maker her work often features intimate subjects or situations. She often sketched her friends and especially her daughters in order to be able to interpret the subjects properly. One of her most notable works was a portrait of Dr. Norman Bethune. Perhaps better known for her prints and drawings, she has illustrated a number of publications including: “Rubaboo 4”, an anthology of children's short stories, Gage [1968]; Ten etchings for Shakespeare's Sonnets [1972]; and 14 etchings for “On Stage Please” by Veronica Tennant, M & S [1977]. Briansky was given solo shows at the MMFA [1957, 1962]; Upstairs Gallery, Toronto [1960]; Elca London Studio, Montreal [1963, 1965]; Gallery Pascal, Toronto [1964, 1966]; Artienders, Montreal [1964]; Peck Gallery, Burlington, [1964]; Glenhurst Arts Club, Bradford [1965]; West End Gallery Montreal [1966]; Waddington Galleries, Montreal [1973]; Wallack Galleries, Ottawa [1977], etc. She has also participated in a number of important international exhibitions including: 2nd International Biennial of Prints, Tokyo & Osaka, Japan [1960-1]; Salon International Feminin de Vichy, Vichy/Algiers/United Nations, NYC [1960-61]; UNICEF, NYC [1965]; 7th Calgary Graphics, Centennial Show, Alta. [1967]; and 4th Biennial of Prints, Invitational Section, Burnaby, BC. [1967]. She has received many awards and her work is held by the Burnaby Art Society, BC; Vancouver Art Gallery, BC; Mendel Art Gallery, Saskatoon; McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont.; Hamilton Art Gallery; Willistead Art Gallery, Windsor Ont.; Canadian National Railways Executive Train; London Art Gallery, Ont.; St. Joseph Teachers' College, Newfoundland; Thomas More Institute, Montreal; New Brunswick Museum, Saint John, and numerous private collections.

Bibliography: MacDonald, “Dictionary of Canadian Artists”, [vol. 1, p367a].

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