Canadian Portrait Academy

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The Canadian Portrait Academy (CPA), is a leading professional Canadian Academy dedicated to the practice and appreciation of portraiture within Canada and abroad.

In 1996 after years of extensive research on portraiture in Canada Canadian artist and historian Christian Corbet visited the studios and corresponded with some of the leading portrait artists of the time. It was noted then that no official portrait organization had ever been formed in Canada prior to that year and on 7 March 1997 the CPA was officially born. Some of the CPA Founding Members included: Christian Corbet (1966-) who served as the CPA's first President; Dr. Elizabeth Bradford Holbrook (1913-); Myfanwy Spencer Pavelic (1916-2007) and Dora de Pedery Hunt (1913-) among others. The first CPA Honorary Academician was Cleeve Horne (1912-1988).

The CPA First Annual Exhibition was held in Vancouver, British Columbia in 1998 to the praise of noted Canadian art historian Joan Murray and Canadian Governor General Roméo LeBlanc. Since its inception the CPA stands as the first professional academy dedicated to the fine art of portraiture in Canada and is unsurpassed in its ability to raise the profile of portrait artists internationally. The CPA does this by means of sponsored exhibitions, the CPA Permanent Collection and its extensive artists files that the Academy houses.

The CPA has exhibited from coast to coast in Canada and into the UK and has donated and commissioned numerous portraits for many important art galleries and museums around the world to include: The Imperial War Museumand the British Museum; among many others. Some noted personalities to have had their portraits commissioned by the CPA include: H.M. The Queen; Dame Jane Goodall; Conrad Black and Barbara Amiel.

Currently the CPA seeks to extend the boundaries of portraiture and engages artists of all media to exhibit their work. Currently the youngest Academician is 16 yrs old and the most senior is 94 yrs of age.

In 2007 the CPA celebrated its 10th Anniversary.