Joseph Plaskett

Joseph Plaskett was born in 1918 in New Westminster. His works are in public art gallery collections from Prince Edward Island to Vancouver Island, including the National Gallery of Canada, the Beaverbrook Art Gallery, the Winnipeg Art Gallery, the Vancouver Art Gallery and the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2001 for his excellence in the field of visual art. His autobiography A Speaking Likeness (Ronsdale Press) was published in 1999. The Plaskett Gallery, at New Westminster’s Massey Theatre, is named in his honour.

Nominated by Lawren Harris, Joseph Plaskett won the first Emily Carr Scholarship in 1946. The award changed his life, enabling him to study, first at the California School of Fine Art in San Francisco and then with Hans Hofmann in New York and Provincetown. At the end of the year, recommended by both Lawren Harris and A.Y. Jackson, he accepted the post as Director of the Winnipeg School of Art, where he taught for two years, by which time the lure of Europe became irresistible.

In 1957 Joseph moved to Paris. Soon after, he and his colleague, American artist David Hill, purchased and restored an abandoned house in the Marais district, uncovering its’ 15th century beauty and filling it with treasures they found in Paris flea markets. Parties at their home were legendary. Guests included artists, musicians, entrepreneurs and dignitaries from around the world. Young Canadian artists visiting Paris were always welcomed into their world.

Paris provided the ideal setting for his artistic development. Mr. Plaskett produced some of his greatest paintings and pastels while living at 2 rue Pecquay in the Marais. A commemorative plaque outside his home was erected by the Prefet de Paris in 2016. The plaque honours Mr. Plaskett’s contribution to the art and culture of Canada and beyond.

After David’s death in 1977, Joseph began to spend more time in the UK, where he had inherited a farm bungalow in the centre of Suffolk, aptly named The Cedars. He slowly transformed two acres of rough meadow into an enchanting garden that included an orchard, a pond, an arched bridge, paths and a tea pavilion. He did all this with the help of Canadian artist, Mario Doucet, who would become his assistant and companion for the remainder of his life.

In 2000, Joseph and Mario left their Paris home and moved to The Cedars. Mr. Plaskett continued to paint well into his nineties while being cared for by Mr. Doucet. Joseph died peacefully in his sleep on Sunday, September 21, 2014 at his beloved home. He was 96.

https://www.joeplaskett.com/plaskett-award/about-joseph-plaskett/