Biography

Dorothy Knowles

Recognized as one of Canada’s most respected landscape painters, Dorothy Knowles was born in 1927 in the town of Unity, Saskatchewan, where the family divided their time between a farm west of Unity and the city of Saskatoon. She first studied biology in 1944 at the University of Saskatchewan and was encouraged by a friend to take her first summer art course at Emma Lake in 1948. The course was led by Saskatoon artist Reta Cowley and James Frederick Finley from the Ontario College of Art. It was here that Knowles was inspired to pursue painting as a career.

She continued her art studies at the University of Saskatchewan, the Banff School of Fine Arts and in 1951 at the Goldsmith School of Art in London, UK. The year 1951 was also the year that she married the celebrated Canadian color-field artist William Perehudoff. They went on to become prominent figures in Canada’s art scene and significant members of the Saskatchewan arts community.

A turning point in Knowles’ career came at an Emma Lake Artists’ Workshop in 1962 when the American critic, Clement Greenberg, encouraged her to pursue painting from nature regardless of the contemporary predominance of abstraction. Dorothy Knowles was a regular participant at the Emma Lake workshops and became so connected with the landscape of the lake that the family purchased a cottage there in 1969 and set up studios for both Knowles and Perehudoff.

Ultimately, and most importantly, Knowles discovered the joy of working directly from nature. When weather permitted, and using her van as a portable studio, Knowles worked outside, producing finished paintings, sketches and photographs of the prairie skies, fields, lakes and forests surrounding her home.

Over her seven-decade long career, Knowles has exhibited extensively across Canada and internationally. Her work was included in the “7th Biennial Exhibition of Canadian Painting” at the National Gallery of Canada (1968), and in the Hirshhorn Museum of the Smithsonian Institution’s exhibit “14 Canadians: A Critic’s Choice” (1977). In 1983, her work was part of a group exhibition called “Five From Saskatchewan” that traveled to London, Paris, and Brussels.

She has received three major touring exhibitions, first in 1972. In 1982, “Dorothy Knowles: 1964-1982”, was organized by the Edmonton Art Gallery and Bruce Grenville curated a touring show in 1994. Most recently her work was seen at the new Remai Modern in “III: HeavyShield, Knowles, Cameron-Weir”.

In 1987 Dorothy was awarded the Saskatchewan Order of Merit, and in 2004 named a Member of the Order of Canada, denoting an achievement of outstanding citizenship and service to both Canada and to the international community. In 2012 she won the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal and in 2017 received the Senate of Canada Sesquicentennial Medal.

Her paintings are in countless corporate and public collections including the National Gallery of Canada, Art Gallery of Ontario, Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal, Mendel Art Gallery, Winnipeg Art Gallery and Boston Museum.

Dorothy Knowles is never without her paint set and brushes. She was once asked what five factors she believed were vital for a good life. She responded, “I guess my five have been painting, painting, painting, painting, and painting.”

She lives in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan with studios in both Saskatoon and Emma Lake.

Seeking Artworks by Dorothy Knowles

MGG specializes in the acquisition and sale of artwork by Dorothy Knowles.  If you own a Dorothy Knowles and would like assistance in determining its value, please contact Michael directly HERE or call 519.439.0451.

Selected Works

Exhibitions

Chroma V

March 4 - March 25 - 2023

“Chroma V”

Continuing with our yearly tradition, our March exhibition celebrates artworks saturated with glorious colour.

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The Simple Life

December 3 - December 26 - 2020

“The Simple Life”

Our curated December exhibition features artworks that are inspired by the home, domestic life and simple, everyday objects made extraordinary.  The exhibit celebrates the everyday, delighting the senses and highlighting the beauty of intimate moments[...]

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Curriculum Vitae

BORN

1927, Unity, Saskatchewan, Canada

COLLECTIONS

Art Gallery of Alberta
Art Gallery of Hamilton
Art Gallery of Nova Scotia
Art Gallery of Ontario
Art Gallery of Peterborough
Art Gallery of Windsor
Bank of Commerce
Bank of Montreal
Bell Canada
Boston Museum
Canada Council Art Bank
Canadian Greenshields
Claridge Collection
Concordia University, Montreal
Confederation Art Center, Charlottetown
Department of External Affairs, Government of Canada
Dominion Foundries and Steel Ltd.
Dupont Canada Inc.
Glenbow Museum, Calgary
Gulf Canada
Imperial Oil
Kenderdine Gallery, University of Saskatchewan
Kitchener Waterloo Art Gallery
MacKenzie Art Gallery
Maclean Hunter
Mendel Art Gallery
Musee d’Art Contemporain, Montreal
Nabisco Inc.
Nova Corporation
Pemberton Collection
Petro-Canada
Rideau Hall
Royal Bank
Saskatchewan Arts Board
SaskTel
Shell Canada
Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada
Toronto Dominion Bank
University of Alberta
University of Calgary
University of Regina
University of Saskatchewan
Vancouver Art Gallery
Willistead Art Gallery of Windsor
Winnipeg Art Gallery

EDUCATION

1944    Graduated from City Park Collegiate in Saskatoon
1948    Bachelor of Arts, Type C, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon
Emma Lake Summer School with Reta Cowley, James Frederick Finley
1949    Enrolled in Medical Technology classes at the University of Saskatchewan and apprenticed in St. Paul’s Hospital becoming a Registered Technologist and a member of the Canadian Society of Laboratory Technologists
Banff Summer Session in Painting
Painting classes with N. Bjelejac, University of Saskatchewan
1950-52 & ’54 – Sculpture, Painting, Drawing, & Silkscreen classes with E. Bornstein, University of Saskatchewan
1951    Goldsmith School of Art, London, England
1956    Emma Lake Artist’s Workshop led by Joseph Plaskett
1957    Emma Lake Artist’s Workshop led by Will Barnett
1996    Emma Lake Artist’s Workshop led by Clement Greenberg
1963    Emma Lake Artist’s Workshop led by Kenneth Noland
1964    Emma Lake Artist’s Workshop led by Jules Olitski
1965    Emma Lake Artist’s Workshop led by Lawrence Alloway
1969    Emma Lake Artist’s Workshop led by Michael Steiner

 

SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS

1954    Saskatoon Art Centre, Saskatoon, SK, Invitation essay by George Swinton
1957    Saskatoon Art Centre, Saskatoon, SK
Regina Public Library Gallery, Regina, SK
1962    Saskatoon Art Centre, Saskatoon, SK
1963    James Art Studio, Saskatoon, SK
Saskatoon Art Centre, Saskatoon, SK
1964    Mendel Art Gallery, Saskatoon, SK
1965    The David Mirvish Gallery, Toronto, ON, Catalogue essay by Andrew Hudson
Mendel Art Gallery, Saskatoon, SK
1967    Bonli Interiors,Dorothy Knowles
1968    “Dorothy Knowles, Recent Paintings”, Moose Jaw Art Museum, Moose Jaw, SK, Mendel Art Gallery, Saskatoon, SK
1969    Winnipeg Art Gallery, Winnipeg, MB
Mendel Art Gallery, Saskatoon, SK
1970    Waddington Galleries, Montreal, PQ
Robertson Gallery, Ottawa, ON
University Gallery, Department of Art, University of Saskatchewan
1972    Waddington Galleries, Montreal, PQ
Traveling Show organized by Edmonton Art Gallery to:  Glenbow Museum, Calgary, Dunlop Art Gallery, Regina
1973    Beckett Gallery, Hamilton, ON
1974    Waddington Galleries, Montreal, PQ
1975    Meredith Long Contemporary, New York, NY
Pucker/Safrai Gallery, Boston, MA
1977    Beckett Gallery, Hamilton, ON
1978    Canadian Art Galleries, Calgary, AB
Downstairs Gallery, Edmonton, AB
Edmonton Art Gallery, Edmonton, AB
Waddington Galleries, Toronto, ON
Meredith Long Contemporary, New York, NY
1979    Meredith Long Contemporary, New York, NY
Gallery One, Saskatoon, SK
1980    Waddington Galleries, Montreal, PQ
Canadian Art Galleries, Calgary, AB
1981    Waddington Galleries, Montreal, PQ
Downstairs Gallery, Edmonton, AB
1982    Canadian Art Galleries, Calgary, AB
Waddington Galleries & Co. Inc., New York, NY
Waddington Galleries, Toronto, ON
“Dorothy Knowles, 1964-1982” Traveling show organized by Edmonton Art Gallery to: Centre Saidye Bronfman, Montreal; Norman MacKenzie Art Gallery, Regina; Art Gallery of Windsor, Windsor; London Regional Art Galleries, London; Mendel Art Gallery, Saskatoon, Curated and Catalogue by Terry Fenton
1983    Downstairs Gallery, Edmonton, AB
Assiniboia Gallery, Regina, SK
Art Placement, Saskatoon, SK
Waddington & Shiell Galleries Ltd., Toronto, ON
Waddington Galleries, Montreal, PQ
1984    Canadian Art Galleries, Calgary, AB
Art Placement, Saskatoon, SK
Woltjen/Udell Gallery, Edmonton, AB
1985    Waddington & Shiell Galleries Ltd., Toronto, ON
1986    Canadian Art Galleries, Calgary, AB
Assiniboia Gallery, Regina, SK
Waddington & Shiell Galleries Ltd., Toronto, ON
1987    Art Placement, Saskatoon, SK
Woltjen/Udell Gallery, Edmonton, AB/Vancouver, BC
Waddington & Gorce Inc., Montreal, PQ
1989    Greenberg Wilson, New York, NY
1990    Waddington & Gorce, Inc., Montreal, PQ
Waddington & Shiell Gallery, Toronto, ON
199      Woltjen/Udell Gallery, Vancouver, Edmonton, AB
Miriam Shiell Fine Art, Toronto, ON
1992    Canadian Art Galleries, Calgary, Alberta, AB
1993    Douglas Udell Gallery, Edmonton, AB
Grand Forks Art Gallery, Grand Forks, BC
Hambleton Galleries, Kelowna, BC
1994 – Assiniboia Gallery, Regina, SK
“Dorothy Knowles” Traveling Show: Mendel Art Gallery, Edmonton Art Gallery, Glenbow Museum, Whyte Museum, Catalogue essay by Bruce Grenville
Wallack Galleries, Ottawa, ON
1995    Douglas Udell Gallery, Edmonton, AB
The Kenderdine Gallery & Art Placement, Saskatoon, SK, Catalogue essay by Tim Nowlin
1996    West Kootenay Gallery, Castlegar, BC
Miriam Shiell Fine Art, Toronto, ON
1997    Douglas Udell Gallery, Vancouver, BC
1999    “The Sky Paintings”, Institute for Modern and Contemporary Art, Calgary, AB, Curator Jeffrey Spalding
Art Placement, Saskatoon, SK
2000    Art Placement, Saskatoon, SK
Douglas Udell Gallery, Edmonton, AB/Vancouver, BC
2001    MacKenzie Art Gallery, Regina, SK
2003    Art Placement, Saskatoon, SK
Miriam Shiell Fine Art, Toronto, ON
2006    Miriam Shiell Fine Art, Toronto, ON
2007    Douglas Udell Gallery, Edmonton, AB
2008    Douglas Udell Gallery, Edmonton, AB
2008-10 “Dorothy Knowles: Landmarks”, Moose Jaw Museum & Art Gallery, Moose Jaw, SK and Art Gallery of Swift Current, Swift Current, Swift Current, SK
2009    Mendel Art Gallery, Saskatoon, SK,
2009    Esplanade Art Gallery, Medicine Hat, AB, McMichael Canadian Art Collection, Kleinburg, ON, Chapel Gallery, North Battleford
2009 – Miriam Shiell Fine Art Ltd., Toronto, ON
2010 – Miriam Shiell Fine Art Ltd., Toronto, ON
2011 – OSAC Exhibit, organized by the Moose Jaw Museum & Art Gallery
Han Art, Montreal, Quebec
2012 – Art Placement, Saskatoon, SK
2014 – Douglas Udell Gallery, Edmonton AB,
2015 – Michael Gibson Gallery, London, ON
Art Placement Inc, Saskatoon The Oils 1965-2006
2016    Michael Gibson Gallery, London, ON
2017    Han Art, Montreal, QC
2017    Art Placement inc, Saskatoon, SK
2019    “Flowers and Landscapes: 1983-1984”, Michael Gibson Gallery, London, ON

 

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

1953    “Bill and Dorothy Perehudoff”, Saskatoon Art Centre, Saskatoon, SK
“Artists of Saskatchewan, 3 Artists”, Norman MacKenzie Art Gallery, Regina, SK
1962    “Group Show with Otto Rogers”, Winnipeg Art Gallery, Winnipeg, MB
1963    Regina Public Library Gallery, Regina, SK
1965    Diamond Jubilee Critics Selection, Saskatoon, SK
1966    Winnipeg Biennial, Winnipeg, MB
Calgary Allied Arts Centre, Calgary, AB
“Watercolors by Reta Cowley, Dorothy Perehudoff, Grace Hogg”, Western Canadian Art Circuit, Regina, SK

Regina Public Library Gallery, Regina, SK
1967    “Eleven Saskatchewan Artists”, Norman MacKenzie Art Gallery, Regina, and Mendel Art Gallery, Saskatoon, SK

“Artists from Saskatchewan”, Willistead Art Gallery of Windsor, ON
Carleton University Gallery, Ottawa, ON
“Saskatchewan Artists”, Norman MacKenzie Art Gallery, Regina, SK, Mendel Art Gallery, Catalogue introduction by John Climer
1968    “Surrey 68 Sondage 68”, Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, Montreal, PQ

Seventh Biennial, National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario (catalogue introduction, William C.Seitz)

1969    “Saskatoon:  Thirteen Artists”, Norman MacKenzie Art Gallery, Regina, SK
“Two Artists from Saskatoon”, Winnipeg Art Gallery, Winnipeg, MB
“Knowles-Perehudoff”, Waddington Fine Arts, Montreal, PQ

1970    “Saskatchewan: Regina and Saskatoon”,  Kitchener-Waterloo Gallery, Kitchener, ON
Regina Public Library Gallery, Regina, SK
“Saskatchewan: Art and Artists”, Norman MacKenzie Art Gallery, Regina, SK, catalogue introduction by Nancy Dillow
“Watercolour Painters of Saskatchewan”, Extension Services of the National Gallery Traveling Show, Catalogue introduction by Terry Fenton

1971    “West 71”, Edmonton Art Gallery, traveled to the Mendel Art Gallery, Saskatoon, The Glenbow, Calgary, Edmonton, Alberta, Catalogue introduction by Karen Wilkin

1972    “A June Show, Drawings by Saskatchewan Artists” Regina Public Library Gallery, Regina, SK

“Knowles-Perehudoff, Recent Paintings”, Waddington Galleries, Montreal, PQ

1973    “Emma Lake Workshops”, Norman MacKenzie Art Gallery, Regina, SK

1974    “Prairie ’74” Edmonton Art Gallery, Edmonton, AB

“Swift Current 74”, Swift Current National Exhibition Centre, Swift Current, SK

1975    “9 out of 10—A Survey of Contemporary Canadian Art”, Art Gallery of Hamilton, Hamilton, ON and Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery, Kitchener, ON

“The Ontario Community Collects:  A Survey of Canadian Paintings from 1976 to 1975”, Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto, ON
“From Women’s Eyes: Painters in Canada”, Agnes Etherington Art Gallery, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON

“The Canadian Canvas”, Traveling Exhibition organized by Time-Life Canada. Catalogue introduction, Doris Shadbolt, Karen Wilkin, Alvin Balkind, Fernande St Martin, Allan McKay

1976    “Changing Visions: The Canadian Landscape”, Edmonton Art Gallery and Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto, ON

Saskatchewan Art at the Montreal Olympics

1977    “14 Canadians – A Critic’s Choice” Hirshorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Smithsonian Institution (catalogue introduction by Andrew Hudson)

1978    Norman MacKenzie Art Gallery, Regina, SK, The Saskatoon Arts Board Collection
“Modern Painting in Canada”, Edmonton Art Gallery, Edmonton, AB
“Six Saskatoon Artists”, Thomas Gallery, Winnipeg, MB
“Selections From the Dofasco Collection”, Art Gallery of Hamilton, Hamilton, ON

1979    “Dorothy Knowles and Wynona Mulcaster”, Mendel Art Gallery, Saskatoon, SK

1980    “Dofasco Collection”, Grimsby Public Art Gallery
“New Works on Paper by Saskatchewan Artists”, MacKenzie Art Gallery, Regina, SK

1982    “Saskatoon Early Images Landscape Painting on the Prairies”, Frances Morrison Library, Saskatoon, SK

1983    “Five from Saskatchewan”, Canada House, London, Paris, Brussels. Organized by the Saskatchewan Arts Board with the assistance of Canada House Cultural Centre Gallery, London and Saskatchewan Culture and Recreation. Catalogue introduction, K. Bell, P. Close.

1986    Mendel Art Gallery, Saskatoon, SK
“Selected Works by Contemporary Canadian Artists”, Wade Gallery, Los Angeles, CA

1987    “Tradition and Innovation: Saskatoon Art and the 1950’s”, Mendel Art Gallery, Saskatoon, SK

1988    “Contemporary ’88” (Winter show 88, Olympic Arts Festival) Canadian Art Galleries, Calgary, Alberta (catalogue introduction, Mary-Beth Laviolette)

Saskatchewan Centres for Exhibiting Art, Sasktel Corporate Art Exhibition Tour
“Talking Through Time: Contemporary Art from Saskatoon”, Mendel Art Gallery, Saskatoon, SK
“Contemporary ’88”, Canadian Art Galleries, Calgary, AB
“Large Works on Paper”, Woltjen/Udell Gallery, Edmonton, AB
“A Common Bond”, Swift Current National Exhibition Centre, Swift Current, SK

1989    “Talking Through Time: Contemporary Art from Saskatoon”, Mendel Art Gallery, Saskatoon, SK

“Contemporary Watercolour Exhibition”, Triangle of Visual Arts, Calgary, AB
“The Flat Side of the Landscape: The Emma Lake Artists’ Workshops”, Mendel Art Gallery, Saskatoon, SK

Woltjen/Udell Gallery, Edmonton, AB
“Cowley/Knowles/Hardy—Survey”, Canadian Art Galleries, Calgary, AB

“A Common Bond”, Swift Current National Exhibition Centre, Swift Current, SK

1990    “The Flat Side of the Landscape: The Emma Lake Artists’ Workshops” Mendel Art Gallery, Saskatoon, SK

“The Object as Subject: Still-Life Art in Saskatchewan, Mendel Art Gallery, Saskatoon, SK

1991    “Relative Realities”, Rosemont Art Gallery, Regina, SK, Curated by Eileen Lampard

1992    “Robert Ayre:  The Critic and the Collection”. Concordia Art Gallery, Montreal, PQ

“Achieving the Modern: Canadian Abstract Painting and Design in the 1950s”, Winnipeg Art Gallery, Winnipeg, traveling to Windsor Art Gallery

1994    “The Object as Subject: Still-Life Art in Saskatchewan”, Mendel Art Gallery, Saskatoon, SK

“Relative Realities” Curated by Eileen Lampard, Rosemont Art Gallery, Regina, SK

“Robert Ayre: The Critic and the Collection” Concordia Art gallery, Montreal, QC

“Achieving the Modern: Canadian Abstract Painting and Design in the 1950s”

Winnipeg Art Gallery, Winnipeg, MB and Windsor Art Gallery, Windosr, ON

1995    “Hidden Values” Presented by Trimark Mutual Funds and organized by: Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, The Edmonton Art Gallery, McMichael Canadian Art Collection

1996    “Rediscovering the Landscape of the Americas”, Gerald Peters Gallery, Santa Fe, New Mexico, Curated by Alan Gussow and Gayle Maxon-Edgerton

1997-1998 “The Urban Prairie” (touring) organized by Mendel Art Gallery, Saskatoon, SK

1997-98 Winnipeg Art Gallery, Winnipeg, MB

“Prairie Region Exhibition”, Mackenzie Art Gallery, Regina, Organized by the Royal, Canadian Academy of Arts in cooperation with the Winnipeg Art Gallery

1999    “Rediscovering the Landscape of the Americas” Curated by Alan Gussow and Gayle Maxon-Edgerton, Gerald Peters Gallery, Santa Fe, NM

“Reconstructed: North by West”, MacKenzie Art Gallery, Regina, SK

2001    “Prairie Region Exhibition” Organized by the Royal, Canadian Academy of Arts in cooperation with the Winnipeg Art Gallery, Winnipeg, MB, travelled to MacKenzie Art Gallery, Regina, SK

“Clement Greenberg – A Critic’s Collection” Portland Art Museum, Portland, OR

2003    “Lodestar, RCA  Show”, Kenderdine Art Gallery, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon

“Qu’Appelle, Tale of Two Valleys”, McMichael Canadian Art Collection, Kleinburg, ON, Mendel Art Gallery, Saskatoon, SK, Mackenzie Art Gallery, Regina, SK

2004    “Art in Bloom”, Norman Mackenzie Art Gallery, Regina, SK

2005    “Clement Greenberg – A Critic’s Collection” Palm Springs Desert Museum, Palm Springs, CA

“Contemporary Views of the Bow River”, The Glenbow Museum, Calgary, AB
“Making Friends: The Role of Friends, Mentors, and Patrons in the Development of Sask. Art”, Mackenzie Art Gallery, Regina, SK
“100 Years of Saskatchewan Art”, Mendel Art Gallery, Saskatoon, SK, curated by A. Badzak and D. Ring from the permanent collection

2006    “Contemporary Views of the Bow River” Glenbow Museum, Calgary AB

2008    “Works from the Permanent Collection”, Mackenzie Art Gallery, Regina, SK
Art Placement, Saskatoon, SK

2009    “Prairie Companion” Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, Halifax, NS

2012    “The Jean Mackay Chubb and Francis L. Chubb Collection”, Owens Art Gallery, Mount Allison University, Sackville, NB

2013    “Rebuilding Modernity”, Mendel Art Gallery, Saskatoon, SK curated by Lisa Baldissera

2015    “Modern Visions: 50th Anniversary Exhibition” Mendel Art Gallery, Saskatoon, SK

2016    “Private Collection” Winchester Galleries, Oak Bay, BC

2017    “The Legacy Continues: recent additions to the collection” Whyte Museum, Banff, AB

2017    “Season to Season, Coast to Coast: a celebration of the Canadian landscape” Art Gallery of Alberta, Edmonton, AB

2017    “Then and Now” Wallace Galleries, Calgary, AB

2018    “III – Dorothy Knowles, Faye Heavyshield, Elaine Cameron-Weir”, Remai Modern, Saskatoon, SK

 

AWARDS

1982    Painting selected for Canada Postage Stamp
Cited by Century Saskatoon for Award of Appreciation in the Arts
1987    Saskatchewan Award of Merit
1994    Honorary Degree Recipient, University of Regina
2004    Named a member of the Order of Canada
2005    Centennial Medal of Saskatchewan
2007    Canada Post Corporation honouring Dorothy Knowles with the inclusion of 2 paintings in their Art Series
2009    Alumni of Influence Award, University of Saskatchewan
2012    Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal

 

DOCUMENTARY

2003    Dorothy Knowles The Artist’s Life (Series 1), Directed by Michael Glassbourg, Produced by TickleScratch Productions.
2004    Between the North Pole and New York City, a television documentary covering 5 decades of the Emma Lake Workshops, interviews with artists and critics, including Dorothy Knowles, directed by Mark Wihak and Daryl K. Davis, premier show Oct 3, p.m. 2004. Produced by Cooper Rock Productions.
2010    Dorothy Knowles and Terry Fenton – In Conversation …
2013    Dorothy Knowles- Conversation with the Artist, Part 1

 

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Art Gallery of Nova Scotia.  “From the Collection – VIEW BY THE RIVER BY DOROTHY KNOWLES” Journal, Vol. 15/2, Sept. 1998, p.1
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Ball, Denise. “Art Was Developed into a Family Affair”, Leader Post, April21, 1983
Bell, Lynne.  “University of Saskatchewan Permanent Collection 1980, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, 1980
Bell, Keith, Dorothy Knowles, essay for Celebration Exhibition, 25
Years at the Douglas Udell Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta 2000
Bentley Mays, John.  “Dorothy Knowles,” The Globe & Mail, Sept 12, 1978
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Brennan, Brian. “Visual Heart”, Galleries West, Fall 2003, pp.20-23
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Taylor, Sue.  “Clem’s Cache”, Art in America, Nov 2001, pp. 100-109
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Dambrofsky, Gwen.  “The Best Landscape Painter at Work Today”, The Toronto Globe & Mail, Wednesday, Feb 29, N12, 1984
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Enright, R. “Saskatoon–Robert Enright Investigates”, Canadian Art, Winter, Vol.1. No.2, 1984/85, p. 51
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Jackson, Paul, “Five Saskatchewan Citizens to get  Award of Merit”, Saskatoon Star Phoenix, Thurs. November 12, 1987
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Kotstash, Myrna, ” Reading the River” , Canadian Geographic, Nov/Dec. 2003 Vol. 123, No.6, page 56, 57, reproduction of the painting ‘North Sask. River’
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Leeper, M.  “Views–Saskatoon’s Art Scene”, ArtsWest, Vol. 7, No.6, 1982, p. 14
MacDonald, Colin.  Dictionary of Canadian Artists, Toronto:  Canadian Paperbacks, 1970
McLellan Day, Kirstie. Above and Beyond, The JR Family History in Life and Business, copyright 2004 and published by Shaw Communications Inc. printed by Sundog Printing Ltd. pp 78,156, 238,481
McKay, Stephanie. “Painting the Prairies”, The Star Phoenix,C1,Wed.,Aug.26,2009
Millard, Peter.  “At the Cross-Roads:  Painting in Saskatoon”, Arts Manitoba, 2, Winter 1983, C5
Matthew, CCN, ‘Take me to the River’: Canada Post Salutes the Addition of Dorothy Knowles to its Art Canada Stamp Series, www:marketwire.com, source: Canada Post, April 03,2006
Moffet, Kenworth.  Moffet’s Artletter, Vol.1, No.10, Dec 1986, p.5 Montreal  Gazette, Review of Exhibition at Waddington’s Art Gallery,Sept.25,1976
Murray, Joan.  The Best Contemporary Canadian Art, 1987, Hurtig Publishers, Edmonton, p. 9
Nagel, Marie.  “Local artist’s works exhibited in Toronto”, The StarPhoenix, Saskatoon, Jan 21, 1967, p. 8
Nasgaard, Dr. Roald , Forward for the catalogue A Sense of Place, Miriam Shiell Fine Art, Toronto, June 2009
Newlands, Anne Canadian Art: Beginnings to 2000, 2000, Firefly Books Ltd.  Willowdale, Ontario, p. 174
Newman, Marketa.  Biographical Dictionary, Fifth House Publishers, Saskatoon, 1991
Nowlin, Tim. The Boat Paintings, The Kenderdine Gallery,1995, The University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon Saskatchewan, printed by Houghton Boston, produced by Art Placement Inc., Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
O’Brian, John et al.  “The Flat Side of the Landscape:  The Emma Lake Artists’ Workshops”, Mendel Art Gallery, Saskatoon, SK, 1989, pp. 18, 73,87,104,114,132
Paikowsky, Sandra.  “Robert Ayre The Critic and the Collection”, Concordia University, Montreal, PQ, 1992, 10-13
Pedherney, D.G.  “Saskatchewan and Manitoba”, ArtsWest, April, 1983, Vol.8, No.4, p. 9
Perehudoff, Carol.” On the Trail of Artistic Vision” www.thestar.com, March 01, 2009
Peterson, Janice.  “Painters Drawing on Prairie Roots”, Tempo, 16, Nov 1986, pp. 12-13
Peterson, Lesley, “Dorothy Knowles’ Prairie Landscapes at the McMichael Collection, June 1, 2010 , 8:59PM, Examiner.Com
Powell, James,(research and writing) & Bank of Canada Communications Staff. More Than Money, Architecture and Art at the Bank of Canada, Bank of Canada. Dec. 2007,  published by The Bank of Canada, p 115
Pryke, Kenneth, and Soderlund, Walter.  Profiles of Canada, Copp Clark Pitman Ltd, 1991
Purdie, James.  “Six solitudes in Canadian art”, The Globe & Mail, Feb 5, 1977, p. 37
Reese, Ronald.  Land of Earth and Sky:  Landscape Painting of Western Canada, Western Producer Prairie Books, Saskatoon, 1984, pp. 53-54
Richard, Paul.  “Choice Canadian Color”, The Washington Post, Thursday, Feb 3, 1977, B3
R.M.  “A Review:  Dorothy Knowles’ Oil Paintings”, The StarPhoenix, Saskatoon, Nov 26, 1964
Robertson, Sheila.  “Defining a Masterpiece”, The StarPhoenix, Saskatoon, Dec 21, 1991
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News

Dorothy Knowles

Dorothy Knowles (1927-2023)

Legendary Canadian landscape painter Dorothy Knowles passes away at 96.

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Jason McLean

McLean, Knowles, Martin @ McIntosh Gallery

Artworks by Knowles, McLean & Martin are on exhibit in "Recent Acqusitions" @ the McIntosh Gallery.

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Publications

Dorothy Knowles

Dorothy Knowles “Flowers in the Landscape: 1983-1984”

Dorothy Knowles, Robert Christie, Jonathan Forrest, Doug Maclean, Roald Nasgaard, Jeffrey Spalding, Karen Wilkin

Michael Gibson Gallery

June 2019

36 pages, colour illustrations, 8 1/2 x 8 1/2 inches, softcover

$20.00

Exhibition catalogue for Dorothy Knowles' inaugural exhibition at Michael Gibson Gallery featuring previously undiscovered paintings that combine the contrasting elements of the landscape with beautifully arranged cut flowers in vases.  The catalogue includes an interview with Dorothy Knowles and personal reflections by Robert Christie, Jonathan Forrest, Doug Maclean, Roald Nasgaard, Jeffrey Spalding and Karen Wilkin.

Videos

Dorothy Knowles Conversation

Dorothy Knowles, a tour de force in painting prairie landscapes talks simply about what inspires her work: beauty and the juxtaposition of colour and form in this interview with Marie Lanhoo from CARFAC Saskatchewan.

Changing the Landscape with Dorothy Knowles

​She took her first art class as a favour to a friend; seven decades later Dorothy Knowles is regarded as possibly the finest landscape painter in Canada.  This video highlights her prolific career with an exhibition in her hometown of Saskatoon at the Remai Modern Gallery.