Les Graff

At 88 years of age, Graff remains a prolific painter, producing mature, complex work that is richly engaging.

Les Graff (Dip ’59, Painting) is a painter who has significantly shaped the visual arts in Alberta as an artist, administrator, curator and educator. His distinct approach to abstraction, inspired by the Western Canadian landscape and deeply rooted in his experience, has put an enduring stamp on Canada’s art history.

At 88, Graff remains a prolific painter, producing mature, complex work that is richly engaging. In recent years, Graff no longer feels the need for a structured approach to making art. His tacit knowledge and memory serve as inspiration in the studio, and his latest work seems like an effortless culmination of ideas he has explored in the past with a new-found freedom to push those boundaries aside.

Les Graff, “Seeing all things Equally,” oil on canvas, 44" x 56"