Artist Information
Artist
Leonard (Len) James Gibbs (1929-2010). Former UCBC Member ArtistRole
PainterDate made
circa 2001Time Period
21st CenturyNotes
ARTIST BIOGRAPHY
Born in Cranbrook, B.C., Leonard (Len) James Gibbs became one of the most important Realist artists of his generation portraying western Canadian life on the Prairies and the West Coast. After his Canadian naval service he went into advertising and eventually became the Creative Director and Vice President of a major Canadian agency. During these years he continued to pursue his fine art career and, in 1968 at the age of 39, he left the business world to devote himself full-time to painting. That same year Gibbs had his first solo exhibition at the Alex Fraser Gallery in Vancouver. It sold out on the first day. He later moved to Victoria with his family, where he spent the rest of his life.
Gibbs was self-taught artist. He was known not only for his finely detailed artwork, but the heartfelt way his paintings reflected memories, emotions and the warm and gentle moments of everyday life. He was known for his paintings of children, cowboys and marine subjects. Gibbs was masterful in his use of acrylic, although he also created watercolour paintings and dry brush on paper as well as drawings. He exhibited across Canada, as well as in the United States, England, Denmark and China. He was one of the original artists at “Painters at Painter's Lodge" in Campbell River, B.C., an Honorary Alberta artist and was made an Honorary Citizen of Victoria, B.C. in 1985. He also built and flew his own airplane, built model railroads, and loved to drive classic sports cars.
