James Lahey
Field in Late October (2008)
Oil on canvas
James Lahey is a Canadian artist living and working in Toronto. He completed his BFA at York University in 1984 with studies in Art and Architecture in Italy through a joint programme with York University, Toronto and Lowell University, Massachusetts. In 1986 he obtained a certificate in the preservation of Art and Artefacts. Upon graduation, James negotiated career and vocation, including positions at The Art Gallery at Harbourfront, The Power Plant, The Art Gallery of Ontario and Bruce Mau Design. Since 1998, James has concentrated exclusively on his painting and photography practice. He is best known for his highly realistic imagery of water, botanical subjects, skulls, motorcycles and recently the Canadian maple leaf flag.
Lahey is a member of the Royal Canadian Academy and has been Member of the Board of Directors at the Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery in Toronto, the Acquisitions Committee for the Photography Drawings Department of the Art Gallery of Ontario, the Acquisitions Committee for Prints and Drawings at The Art Gallery of Ontario and is a current member of the Advisory Board of PEN Canada.
He is represented in galleries across Canada, in Britain and the United States where his work can be found in numerous private and public collections. He has had solo exhibitions in public galleries including the MacLaren Museum, the University of Toronto Art Centre, and Museum London. A catalogue co-written by Ihor Holubizky, Curator of Contemporary Art at Museum London and Dennis Reid, Chief Curator at the Art Gallery of Ontario accompanied this exhibition.
Lahey has also been involved in architectural scale projects. In 2015 his project, “spring”, a collaboration with developer Concord Adex, was completed in North York ON. The project includes glazing installations starting at ground level and continuing through to the 36th floor in a glass spine visible from both inside and outside the tower. The Rooftop project features a pixilated blossom visible from many miles away — from the 401 Highway and from the air.
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