I originally met Tobie Steinhouse when we served together on jury for an art competition over at Radio Canada, further back than we both might prefer to admit. For me, it was of great interest to participate with an artist of considerable recognition and view the work of other artists through her eyes. Then, as now, she presents herself with grace, speaking softly and with the voice of experience.
Tobie Steinhouse has led her entire life as an artist. Raised in Montreal’s Mile End, young Tobie was a student at the now legendary Baron Byng High School where one of her teachers was Anne Savage, an artist and teacher of iconic stature and who encouraged young Tobie. From then, Tobie and Anne Savage began a life long friendship. Then on to Sir George Williams University and to the prestigious Art Students League of New York, the Paris studio of Arpad Szenes, the work alongside of Stanley Hayter at Atelier 17, the leadership of the Canadian Group of Painters, printmaking at L’Atelier libre de recherche graphiques and La Guilde Graphique, hers has been a linear path of constant artistic discovery and innovation.
For me and for us at Galerie Alan Klinkhoff it is both an honour and a pleasure to celebrate this milestone with Tobie and her friends surrounded by an outstanding selection of her paintings.
Tobie, from all of us, Happy 100th Birthday!
Alan, Helen, Jonathan, Craig, Yasmeen, Marie-Lou & Ida
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Tobie Steinhouse, Paris, 1949 -
Tobie Steinhouse, First Paris exhibition at Galerie Lara Vincy, rue de Seine, 1957. -
Tobie Steinhouse, Paris, 2001 -
Tobie Steinhouse, Westmount, 2025 -
Tobie Steinhouse (born April 1, 1925) is a Canadian painter and printmaker whose work is closely tied to modernism and based on light and atmosphere. She was influenced by her time in Paris and her relationships with significant artists. After the war, Steinhouse pursued her passion for art, earning a scholarship to attend the prestigious Art Students League of New York, where she began her formal art education. Following her time in New York, she continued her studies at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, immersing herself in the vibrant European art scene.
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In Paris, Steinhouse worked closely with her mentor and teacher, Arpad Szenes, a Hungarian-born abstract painter. His guidance played a key role in Steinhouse’s exploration of the modern approach to painting, a direction that profoundly shaped her artistic development. This period, along with the one that preceded it, defines her most significant work in oils. During this time, she became acquainted with other prominent artists, including Jean Paul Riopelle and Zao Wou-Ki, the latter being a well-known Chinese artist.
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While in Paris, Steinhouse exhibited in important salons, including the Salon d'Art Libre and the Salon d'Automne, gaining recognition in the modern art world. Upon returning to Canada, she became the last president of the Canadian Group of Painters. She was elected to the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts in 1972.
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Steinhouse’s work is represented in major collections across Canada and internationally, including the National Gallery of Canada, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, the Montreal Contemporary Art Museum (Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal), the Confederation Centre Art Gallery, and the Winnipeg Art Gallery. Her work can also be found in the collections of Global Affairs Canada, The Canadian Embassy in Moscow, and the McMichael Canadian Art Collection.
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Tobie SteinhouseAvenue Denfert-Rochereau, Autumn, 1951Oil on panel12 1/8 x 9 1/4 in
30.7 x 23.5 cm$2,500 -
Tobie SteinhouseLa cour avec auto, 1952Oil on canvas18 x 21 1/2 in
45.7 x 54.5 cm$4,000 -
Tobie SteinhouseManège #2, 1952Oil on jute25 5/8 x 18 1/8 in
65 x 46 cm$4,000 -
Tobie SteinhouseManège #3, 1952Oil on canvas19 3/4 x 25 5/8 in
50 x 65 cm$4,000
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Steinhouse’s paintings are celebrated for their abstract textures, muted colors, and sensitivity to light, with her work continuing to be showcased in prestigious galleries and collections. Despite her significant contributions, she remains relatively unheralded, which in part is to be attributed to her modesty, as well as her lengthy commitment to printmaking. We are especially pleased to shine a spotlight on her and add to her recognition.
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Tobie's legacy is defined by her international exposure and contributions to modernist art, leaving a lasting impact on the Canadian and international art scenes.
