Mary Pratt, Cold Cream (1983)

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Born in Fredericton, New Brunswick and living in St. John’s, Newfoundland for most of her life and career,  Mary Pratt is one of Canada’s realist painters of the highest order.  Her subject matter ranges from luminescent jelly jars and other domestic still lifes to pensive nudes and fleeting dramatic moments (such as a fire blazing in a steel barrel).  Pratt’s artwork is as much about the intricate interplay of light and color on her subjects as anything else.

In conjunction with a traveling exhibition of Pratt’s paintings organized by the The Rooms of Newfoundland and Labrador (May – Sept. 2013) and the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia (starting Oct. 2014), Goose Lane Editions recently published a beautiful new book, Mary Pratt (2013), which showcases much of her work.  The book features a wide selection of her paintings as well as remarks by Pratt herself and thoughtfully written essays by several leading Canadian art writers.

Mary Pratt,Tied Boat (1980)

Mary Pratt, Dishcloth On Line #2 (1997)

Mary Pratt, Fire Barrel (1981)

Mary Pratt, Girl In My Dressing Gown (1981)

Mary Pratt, Jelly Shelf (1999)

Mary Pratt, Red Currant Jelly (1972)

Mary Pratt, Smears of Jam, Lights of Jelly (2007)

Mary Pratt, Supper Table (1969)

Mary Pratt, This Is Donna (1987)

Mary Pratt, A Brighter Balance (2004)

Mary Pratt (Image by Ned Pratt)

Mary Pratt (Goose Lane Editions 2013)