JULIUS EDWARD LINDSAY GRIFFITH. RCA. OSA. P-CSPWC. CSGA. FCA. Chelsea Art Club, London. [1912-1997]

 

Born in Vancouver, Griffith studied at the Vancouver School of Art under F.H. Varley and J.W.G. MacDonald. After moving to England with his parents in 1928 he studied in London at the Slade, and Central School of Arts & Crafts. He also studied at the Royal College of Art under Sir William Ruthenstein, Edward Bawden, Eric Ravilious, and Gilbert Spencer. Further studies were interrupted by WWII. He joined “Air-raid Precautions” and eventually the Red Cross. In 1941-42 he worked at a hospital in Sussex. With little to do, he taught art and learned Russian. Griffith joined the Royal Navy as an interpreter and was stationed in Murmansk and Archangel. In November 1946 he returned to Canada and established himself as a graphic artist and wood engraver. He showed with the Picture Loan Society and held exhibitions at Art Gallery of Hamilton [1960] and at Montreal Museum of Fine Arts [1962]. He also showed work at the “International Biennial Show of Water Colours”, N.Y. [1959] and “International Biennial of Prints”, Tokyo [1957]. Griffith taught in Toronto at Western Tech, Ryerson, OCA, and Central Tech. Julius Griffith was a painter, graphic artist, illustrator, teacher, and print maker. His work is in the National Gallery of Canada, AGO, Canadian War Museum, Art Gallery of Hamilton, Glenbow Museum, Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, and numerous public and private collections.

Provenance: Estate of the Artist, Toronto.

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