Alex Janvier, born in 1935 of Dene Suline and Saulteaux heritage, was sent to Blue Quills Indian Residential School at eight, where he first started painting. He studied art at Alberta College of Art and began teaching at the University of Alberta in 1960. Influenced by Wassily Kandinsky and Paul Klee, Janvier’s work combines abstract and representational styles with vibrant, symbolic colors, reflecting his experiences and cultural heritage. As a prominent member of the “Indian Group of Seven,” his art has notably included a major mural at the Canadian Museum of Civilization. Janvier has received multiple Lifetime Achievement Awards and continues to be an influential figure in Canadian art.
