Robert Francis Michael McInnis was born in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1942. After receiving a Diploma in Fine and Applied Arts in 1961 he spent five years in the Royal Canadian Air Force as a photographer. He is a recipient of Fellowship from The Royal Canadian Geographical Society College of Fellows (FRCGS).
“It was the nearest to making pictures I could do and still earn a living in those days”. Thus began a career of traveling and painting. McInnis has lived and painted in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, and Quebec. These experiences have provided McInnis an opportunity to get to know the history, the people, the terrain, and the art scene of most of Canada. During his stay in Calgary in the late 1970’s he was commissioned to do portraits of the leaders of the Progressive Conservative Party which currently hang in the National Headquarters building in Ottawa. In 2006 he relocated to the city of Winnipeg. He finds inspiration in the city’s locations and landscapes and has completed a series of paintings of views from his studio window.
STUDIED AT
Saint John Vocational School: Fine & Applied Arts Diploma
PUBLICATIONS:
Drawings appear in two books:
1) “Toronto We Love You, The Brunswick House”
2) “The Renegades Lament”
In 1974 he was commissioned by Joyce Wieland to do 50 paintings for her feature movie “The Far Shore”
Limited edition serigraphs included in book with text by Pierre Burton,
“Steel and Steam”, 1985
“Treasured Moments”, , Gallery Publication, 1997
“A is Albert, 26 Paintings,” with text by Ken Tingley
Solo Exhibitions:
2022 – 80-60-40, Roberts Gallery, Toronto
2016 – Front Gallery, Edmonton
2011 – Cityscapes, Roberts Gallery, Toronto
2011 – Art Chicago, Chicago, USA
2006 ’20, ‘22 – Mayberry Fine Art Gallery, Winnipeg, MB
2005, ‘16 – The Front Gallery, Edmonton, AB
1999 – Leighton Centre, Calgary, AB
1989, ’92, ’94 – Canadian Art Galleries, Calgary, AB
1993 – Gallery Woltjen, Edmonton, AB
1991 – Rodman Hall Art Centre, St. Catharines, ON
1998 – Assiniboia Gallery, Regina, SK
1985, 1988 Edmonton Art Gallery, Edmonton, AB
1989, ’91, ’93, ’07, ‘11, ‘22 – Roberts Gallery, Toronto, ON
1979, ’80, ’87, ’99, 2016 – Master’s Gallery, Calgary, AB
1985, 1988 – Walter Klinkhoff Gallery, Montreal, QC
1985, ’87, ’89, ’91, ’97, ’99 – Wallack Galleries, Ottawa, ON
1987, 1988 – West End Gallery, Edmonton, AB
1988 – Galerie Zanettin, Quebec City, QC
1986 – Kinsman Robinson Galleries, Toronto, ON
1980 – Muttart Gallery, Calgary, AB
1980 – Prince Arthur Gallery, Toronto, ON
1978 – Clouds ‘n Water Gallery (The New Gallery), Calgary, AB
Public:
Alberta Foundation for the Arts, Edmonton, AB
Art Gallery of Alberta, Edmonton, AB
Art Gallery of Grande Prairie, Grande Prairie, AB
Beaverbrook Art Gallery, Frederiction, NB
Bibliothèque nationale du Québec, Montreal, QC
Canadiana Fund, Residences of The Governor General
Glenbow Museum, Calgary, AB
Government House, Edmonton, AB
Hart House, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON
MacKenzie Art Gallery, Regina, SK
Medicine Hat Art Gallery, Medicine Hat, AB
Moncton Museum, Moncton, NB
National Archives of Canada, Ottawa, ON
New Brunswick Museum, Saint John, NB
Nickel Art Museum, U of C, Calgary, AB
Office of the Chief of Justice of Canada, Ottawa. ON
Parliamentary Restaurant, Ottawa, ON
Provincial Museum of Alberta, Edmonton, AB
P.C. Headquarters, Ottawa, ON
Rideau Club, Ottawa, ON
Red Deer and District Museum, Red Deer, AB
Red Deer College Collection, Red Deer, AB
Rodman Hall, St. Catharines, ON
Royal Alberta Museum, Edmonton, AB
University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge AB
Corporate:
Air Canada
Alberta Energy Corporation
Allarco Group
Argus Corporation
Alberta Government Telephones
Bank of Montreal
Brascan Corporation
Canadian Perspectives Ltd.
Canadian Utilities
Chevron Standard
CSL Ltd. (Canadian Steamship Lines)
Dominion Securities Ames Ltd.
Esso Resources
Gulf Canada
MediCentres
Ontario College of Physicians & Surgeons
Royal Bank of Canada
Rothmans
Rideau Club, Ottawa
Shell Resources
Trizec Corporation
Union Bank of Switzerland
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