John Hartman paints Canadian writers in the landscapes that inspire them

The Embassy of Canada in Washington, DC is currently hosting the exhibition Many Lives Mark This Place, highlighting 11 large-scale paintings by the prominent Canadian artist John Hartman. Hartman embarked on this project to capture the intimate relationship that notable Canadian authors have with their personal places of inspiration.  

Guided by his literary interests, Hartman selected subjects who then chose the backdrop for their portraits. In many cases, the landscapes were unfamiliar to Hartman, requiring years of work to capture them on canvas. He traveled the breadth of Canada to study these disparate places. The results are larger than life-sized and place the subjects not in, but against, their landscapes – suggesting touchstones of inspiration and ideas for each. The portraits celebrate the richness of Canada’s literary fabric and speak to the power of the imagination in experiencing the diverse landscape that connect  the country. 

John Hartman’s portrait paintings and the essays written by the 11 featured Canadian authors provide a rich overview of the many complex and poignant stories embedded in the Canadian experience. 

John Hartman, born in 1950 in Midland, Ontario, first gained national recognition with his exhibition and book “Big North,” which toured Canada from 1999 to 2002. In 2003, he began painting aerial views of cities, depicting them as living organisms. This new direction led to the “CITIES” exhibition and book, which toured both nationally and internationally from 2007 to 2009.

Starting in 2014, Hartman shifted his focus to portraiture, using landscapes as a supporting backdrop. His artwork is now featured in the collections of over 40 museums and public art galleries worldwide, and he has published seven books on his work. Throughout his career, Hartman has received numerous awards, including being named a Member of the Order of Canada in 2021.

Many Lives Mark This Place is on display until September 30, 2024, in the Embassy’s art gallery located at 501 Pennsylvania Avenue N.W. in Washington, DC. The gallery is open to the public Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm, free of charge. Please visit us!