Claude Breeze
Claude Breeze (1938– ) is a Canadian painter born in British Columbia but raised in Saskatoon. Breeze attended the University of Saskatchewan, where he was mentored by various members of the Regina Five. Breeze also attended the Vancouver School of Art in 1959. Breeze is most notably known for his visceral imagery and has been a member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts since 1974 and is Professor Emeritus at York University.
In 1960, Breeze was inspired by his observations of British Pop Art and his artwork began to shift from abstract painting to more Pop-inflected work. This shift is later credited as being one of the first expressions of Pop on the West Coast of Canada. In the early 1980s, He started painting a series of paintings inspired by his love of aikido, the Japanese martial art. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Breeze began incorporating computer technology into his work.
Breeze has been a member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts since 1974. In 1978, Breeze was awarded the Queen's Jubilee Medal due to his contribution to Canadian art. Breeze is Professor Emeritus at York University.
Breeze has exhibited his paintings in numerous solo and group shows around the world. His work can be found in public, corporate and private collections, including the National Gallery of Canada. Breeze has also created several pieces of public art, including a 300-foot ceramic tile mural at Lawrence West subway station in Toronto.