John Meredith was commissioned to create this triptych for the National Arts Centre’s Café (now called 1 Elgin). It originally hung in the restaurant during the Centre’s first years of operation before being installed in the Fountain Room (now the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award Hall of Honour), the Studio Foyer, and currently in the foyer of Southam Hall.
The piece is representative of Meredith’s work, which is characterized by bright, bold abstract forms. He has referred to his works as “mindscapes”— visual representations of thoughts and feelings. Though the approach to creating the artwork is uniquely Meredith’s, the abstract design of the artwork is representative of emerging styles from the mid-century that are reflected throughout the NAC, including another artwork commissioned from Meredith’s brother, William Ronald.
Born in Fergus, Ontario, John Meredith (1933 – 2000) grew up in Brampton. He showed an early interest in drawing and painting. Upon completing his studies in Toronto, Meredith returned to Brampton where he worked at a variety of jobs to support his art. His work was first exhibited in 1958 at the Gallery of Contemporary Art, in Toronto. Meredith exhibited across Canada and internationally. His work is included in public and private collections across the country.
