Jack Shadbolt

Jack Shadbolt (1909 - 1998) is one of Canada's most important artists. He is known for his paintings and murals that draw from his personal experiences and from the social and political conflicts that have taken place in British Columbia and world history, such as the struggles of First Nations, the Second World War, and the environmental movement.

Jack Shadbolt was born in England in 1909 and with his family, came to Victoria, British Columbia in 1921. He lived and taught in Victoria, Duncan, Vancouver and Burnaby. His work is represented in all the major galleries across Canada as well as in corporate and private collections. Shadbolt's numerous awards include the Order of Canada in 1972, an Honorary Degree from the University of British Columbia, and in 1987 he and his wife, art historian and curator Doris Shadbolt, established VIVA, the Vancouver Institute for Visual Arts, which supports and recognizes the achievement of artists in British Columbia.

Over the past two decades, the Morris and Helen Belkin Art Gallery has benefited from a rich relationship with the Shadbolts. The works of art that have been gifted by Jack and Doris Shadbolt from 1996 to 1998, by Doris Shadbolt after the death of her husband, and by the Estate of Doris Shadbolt from 2008 to 2009 have deepened the gallery's existing collection of important work by the artist. The works are significant to the understanding of Shadbolt's production and to the history of Canadian art.