“MY PAINTINGS CARRY NO OTHER MESSAGE BUT THE SURPRISE, SPONTANEITY, AND OPTIMISM OF COLOUR."
William Perehudoff was a distinguished Canadian painter known for his Color Field work and his deep connection to his Saskatchewan prairie roots. Initially a realist in the 1940s, Perehudoff's style evolved thanks to varied influences such as Cubism, Mexican muralists, and Abstract Expressionism. By the 1960s, he was renowned for his Color Field paintings, which — often reflecting the expansive prairie light — employed both rigorous musicality and emotional whimsy.
Born in Saskatoon and raised in a Russian Doukhobor colony, Perehudoff studied at the Yale School of Fine Art and the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center, learning fresco techniques from Jean Charlot. His early career included creating murals for International Packers and solo exhibitions at the Saskatoon Art Center. He participated in Will Barnet's Emma Lake artist workshops and developed influential relationships with artists like Kenneth Noland and Clement Greenberg.
Perehudoff's recieved numerous honors in his later years, including the Canada 125 Commemorative Medal, the Order of Canada, and an honorary Doctor of Laws. Major retrospectives of his work were held at venues such as the Mendel Art Gallery and his work was featured extensively in exhibitions across Canada and internationally. Despite his success, Perehudoff worked on his family farm throughout his life, and continued to paint until shortly before his death.
Perehudoff's works are in the collections of numerous institutions including the National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario; Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal, Quebec; Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto; Vancouver Art Gallery, British Columbia; Portland Art Museum, Oregon; The Royal Collection of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, London; and the National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi, India.