Pegi Nicol MacLeod
Encyclopedia
Pegi Nicol MacLeod, was a Canadian artist. Born Margaret Kathleen Nicol, she was part of the first wave of Canadian modernist painters. She was born in Listowel, Ontario and was a pupil of Franklin Brownell in Ottawa
. She later studied at the École des Beaux-Arts de Montréal
. In 1932 she won the Willingdon Arts Competition prize for painting. She lived in Toronto
from 1934 to 1937 when she married Norman MacLeod. The couple them moved to New York City
, but she returned annually to Fredericton, New Brunswick
, where in 1940 she opened an art centre for aspiring artists at the University of New Brunswick
.
A painter of people and landscapes, her pieces tend to reveal a sombre though joyful, reflective and humanitarian insight. MacLeod often painted in muted tones, showing the likely influence of the Group of Seven
, which had a similar impact on many Canadian painters in the first half of the Twentieth century.
MacLeod was opposed to World War II, though in 1944 she accepted a commission by the National Gallery of Canada
to paint many scenes depicting the Women's Division of the Armed Forces
as means of showcasing the war from a female perspective. MacLeod died of cancer
in New York City in 1949, leaving a legacy of more than a thousand works of art that included many paintings and other art forms including as designs for hooked rugs.
Today MacLeod is a well-regarded artist whose wartime work, which includes more than one hundred oil paintings, sets her apart from many of her contemporaries.
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
. She later studied at the École des Beaux-Arts de Montréal
École des Beaux-Arts de Montréal
École des Beaux-Arts de Montréal was an educational institution founded in Quebec in 1922. The Saint-Jean-Baptiste Society was instrumental in its creation....
. In 1932 she won the Willingdon Arts Competition prize for painting. She lived in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
from 1934 to 1937 when she married Norman MacLeod. The couple them moved to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, but she returned annually to Fredericton, New Brunswick
Fredericton, New Brunswick
Fredericton is the capital of the Canadian province of New Brunswick, by virtue of the provincial parliament which sits there. An important cultural, artistic, and educational centre for the province, Fredericton is home to two universities and cultural institutions such as the Beaverbrook Art...
, where in 1940 she opened an art centre for aspiring artists at the University of New Brunswick
University of New Brunswick
The University of New Brunswick is a Canadian university located in the province of New Brunswick. UNB is the oldest English language university in Canada and among the first public universities in North America. The university has two main campuses: the original campus founded in 1785 in...
.
A painter of people and landscapes, her pieces tend to reveal a sombre though joyful, reflective and humanitarian insight. MacLeod often painted in muted tones, showing the likely influence of the Group of Seven
Group of Seven (artists)
The Group of Seven, sometimes known as the Algonquin school, were a group of Canadian landscape painters from 1920-1933, originally consisting of Franklin Carmichael , Lawren Harris , A. Y. Jackson , Franz Johnston , Arthur Lismer , J. E. H. MacDonald , and Frederick Varley...
, which had a similar impact on many Canadian painters in the first half of the Twentieth century.
MacLeod was opposed to World War II, though in 1944 she accepted a commission by the National Gallery of Canada
National Gallery of Canada
The National Gallery of Canada , located in the capital city Ottawa, Ontario, is one of Canada's premier art galleries.The Gallery is now housed in a glass and granite building on Sussex Drive with a notable view of the Canadian Parliament buildings on Parliament Hill. The acclaimed structure was...
to paint many scenes depicting the Women's Division of the Armed Forces
Armed Forces
Armed Forces is Elvis Costello's third album, his second with the Attractions, and the first to officially credit the Attractions on the cover. It was released in the UK by Radar Records and in the U.S. by Columbia in 1979...
as means of showcasing the war from a female perspective. MacLeod died of cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
in New York City in 1949, leaving a legacy of more than a thousand works of art that included many paintings and other art forms including as designs for hooked rugs.
Today MacLeod is a well-regarded artist whose wartime work, which includes more than one hundred oil paintings, sets her apart from many of her contemporaries.