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Alex Janvier
Canadian, born 1935
Alex Janvier is a Denesuline artist, instructor, and activist from Cold Lake First Nations. Despite utilizing many mediums throughout his career, he is most well-known for painting in an abstract style marked by distinctive curved lines and bright colour combinations grounded in Dene culture. Janvier’s paintings are filled with cultural themes and history. Janvier is renowned for creating murals for public buildings across Canada.
Janvier was a member of Professional Native Indian Artists Incorporated, also known as the Indian Group of Seven and now known as the Indigenous Group of Seven, and was involved with the planning of the Expo ’67 Indians of Canada Pavilion. From 1961 to 1977, Janvier and Eddy Cobiness made political statements regarding the treatment of Indigenous art, artists, and culture by signing paintings with their treaty numbers rather than their names.
Janvier graduated with honours from the Alberta College of Art and Design in 1960. Educational institutions across Canada have granted him honorary degrees for his contributions to art. Janvier is the recipient of many awards including the Distinguished Artist Award (2017), the Order of Canada (2007), the Governor General’s Award in Visual and Media Arts (2008), the Marion Nicoll Visual Arts Award (2008), the National Aboriginal Lifetime Achievement Award (2002), and the Alberta Order of Excellence (2010). His works have been exhibited internationally in group and solo shows.
Janvier was a member of Professional Native Indian Artists Incorporated, also known as the Indian Group of Seven and now known as the Indigenous Group of Seven, and was involved with the planning of the Expo ’67 Indians of Canada Pavilion. From 1961 to 1977, Janvier and Eddy Cobiness made political statements regarding the treatment of Indigenous art, artists, and culture by signing paintings with their treaty numbers rather than their names.
Janvier graduated with honours from the Alberta College of Art and Design in 1960. Educational institutions across Canada have granted him honorary degrees for his contributions to art. Janvier is the recipient of many awards including the Distinguished Artist Award (2017), the Order of Canada (2007), the Governor General’s Award in Visual and Media Arts (2008), the Marion Nicoll Visual Arts Award (2008), the National Aboriginal Lifetime Achievement Award (2002), and the Alberta Order of Excellence (2010). His works have been exhibited internationally in group and solo shows.