Ken Danby

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Kenneth (Ken) Edison Danby, CM , O.Ont , DFA , RCA (born March 6, 1940) is a Canadian realist painter.

[edit] Biography

Danby was born in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario and knew from and early age that he wanted to be an artist. With the support of his parents, Gertrude and Edison Danby, Danby pursued that dream. Danby enrolled at the Ontario College of Art in 1958.

His first one man show in 1964 old out, setting an example that has often been repeated. Private, corporate and museum collectors have responded enthusiastically to Danby's work and Danby is recognized as one of the world's foremost realist painters. Danby's work has been the subject of several books ranging from reference publications to biographies.

When asked to identify his favourite work, his answer has consistently been "my next one."

Danby is best known for creating unique visual images that study everyday life. In At the Crease (1972), the masked ice-hockey goalie has been referred to as "something of a national symbol."

In the 1980s he prepared a series of watercolours on the Americas Cup and the Canadian athletes at the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo. Danby has served on the governing board of the Canada Council and as a member of the Board of Trustees of the National Gallery of Canada.

In 1975, Danby was elected a member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts. He has also been a recipient of the Jessie Dow Prize, the 125th Anniversary Commemorative Medal of Canada, the City of Sault Ste. Marie's Award of Merit and both the Queen's Silver and Golden Jubilee Medals.

In 1997, Danby received an Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts from Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario.

In 2001, he was vested in both the Order of Ontario and the Order of Canada.

September 30, 2006, Ken Danby became one of the first ten inductees into Sault Ste. Marie's Walk of Fame.

His son, Noah Danby is an actor and has been in various commercials and movies.