Artworks

Fred Taylor 1906-1987

Fred Taylor is an artist of importance far greater than his present recognition. His methods and materials show the attention to detail of his academic training as an architect. Partnered with the perspective of a poet in paint and a social conscience, Taylor’s catalogue prominently includes the working man. Taylor painted a contribution of significance to Canadian art of his day.

When we saw Fred most often he was already in his mid 60s in age. Tall in stature and powerful in build, his hands, one could well believe the history one might have read of his collegiate boxing acumen. We should note here that he did not speak of those days and experiences. Fred was formal in his manners, soft in tone of speech and dressed in a vintage fashion of the 1950s. One would describe him aptly as a gentleman.

He did not speak of his activism, his promotion of the labour movement in Canada, his painting experiences in the Angus Shops and Dominion Engineering Works during WWII as he petitioned to have the contribution of Canadian labourers supplying the war effort recognized publicly. He did not speak of his friendship with Dr. Norman Bethune. These days were behind him. To escape his painful gout, he had long since moved to the heights of San Miguel de Allende. Living in Mexico he painted the still life and local scenes as well. Fred did regularly return to Canada in the summers to paint. Generally speaking, it is in the provinces of Nova Scotia and Quebec where he found his preferred composition.

From 1932-1963 Taylor's work was exhibited in fourteen solo exhibitions in Montreal, Galerie Jeanne Newmann, Montreal, 1973, Roberts Gallery, Toronto, 1979, Galerie Walter Klinkhoff, Montreal in 1977, 1985.