Thomas (Tom) Sherlock Hodgson

BYDealers Auction House Biography and Notes

Thomas Sherlock Hodgson was born in Toronto, Ontario, where he maintained a studio throughout his career. He was educated at the Ontario College of Art. A member of Painters Eleven, Hodgson was considered one of the great Canadian action painters, employing a palette of rich colours, with a penchant for large-scale works on canvas. His studio practice, and his colour selections more particularly, was deeply informed by his close relationship with fellow Painters Eleven artist Oscar Cahén. Hodgson and Cahén met while working at a Toronto design firm, and a shared desire to explore the potential of painting in colour and form led the both of them to explore less traditional colour combinations and compositions. Hodgson was also an accomplished athlete, competing for Canada on the Olympic paddling team. His work is held in the collections of the National Gallery of Canada, the Art Gallery of Ontario, the University of British Columbia, and many private collections. (W. K.)