Christopher Pratt, a well-known Canadian painter and the creator of Newfoundland and Labrador’s provincial flag, passed away at the age of 86.
The artist died at his home on Newfoundland’s Salmonier River on Sunday, according to a statement released later that day by his family.
“He was lauded as one of Canada’s finest painters and printmakers from an early age, and he was faithful to his work throughout his life,” according to the statement. “He went to his studio every morning without fail until he could no longer get there under his own power. He showed us how to see and how to gaze. Every day, we will miss him.”
His brother, four children, eleven grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren survive him. Mary Pratt, a well-known East Coast painter, died at the age of 83.
According to the family statement, Mary Pratt, his “best friend, and sometime wife,” died in 2018. Christopher Pratt was a painter and printmaker who focused on landscapes, architecture, and the human body.
Mira Godard Gallery in Toronto, which is commemorating 60 years of fostering Canadian art, has represented Pratt for more than 50 years. Gisella Giacalone, the owner, and director of Gisella Giacalone Productions, who had a close professional and personal relationship with Pratt, said she was “deeply grieved” by his passing.
“On top of it all, I’m a huge fan of his work; he was a passionate and accomplished artist,” she remarked in an interview.
She went on to say, “He’s one of Canada’s best painters, and he’s had a significant influence on Canadian art.” “He was a true artist, and I believe you can sense that in his work. He left a legacy of essential and unforgettable works that will live on in perpetuity.”
The National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa, The Rooms in St. John’s, and the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia all have Pratt’s work on exhibit. Pratt was invited to create the Newfoundland flag, which still flies today, in 1980 because of his strong feelings for his native province, which had an impact on his work.
“While he seldom admitted it, he was always delighted to see his design flying above private properties across the province, or held triumphantly aloft by Newfoundlanders and Labradorians around the world,” the family statement said.
