Collection: Emily Carr

RCA, CGP (1871-1945)

Born in Victoria, British Columbia, Emily Carr began her fine art studies in San Francisco at the California School of Design in 1891-1893. Once finished, she returned to Victoria in 1895 where she painted and taught art from a studio behind her home. In 1897, Carr had her first encounter with the Natives of the Northern Coast where she went on a painting expedition to Ucluelet on Vancouver Island. She traveled to England and studied at the Westminster School of Art in 1899-1901 as well as St. Yves, Cornwall in 1901-1902. Carr returned to Victoria in 1904 and between the years 1905-1910 she returned to her paintings of Indian Villages and their totems. During this time in her painting career, many of her works reflected Indian motifs. In 1910, Carr returned to Europe and visited her sister Alice in Paris. There she began studying at the Academie Colarossi. Unfortunately, her French paintings were not well received upon her return to BC. Once back in Victoria, she began making pottery decorated with Indian designs to sell to tourists and it was almost 15 years before she painted again. However, between these interim years, Carr had grabbed the attention of Marius Barbeau and the National Gallery of Canada. In 1927, Carr traveled to the east of Canada and met up with several members of the Group of Seven. Lawren Harris became her mentor and main inspiration, encouraging her to free herself from the strong Indian influence seen in her paintings. With his influence, Carr's style changed and she started painting the beautiful British Columbia forests and coastlines. By 1936, Carr was a full-time artist and writer where she wrote several books including 'Growing Pains' (1946). She received an RCA medal posthumously in 1978 and her works can be seen in the VAG and NGC.