Gordon Smith: The Act of Painting presents a comprehensive overview of the work of one of Canada’s most prominent and influential artists. Gordon Smith has been praised by Lawren Harris as “a consummate artist of very considerable power.” After returning from war service and settling in Vancouver in the 1940s, Gordon Smith won recognition as an important modern painter. In 1955 the National Gallery of Canada awarded him first prize in the very first Biennial of Canadian Painting, and in 1960 he was chosen to represent Canada at the Sao Paulo Bienal. In his paintings, which are noted for their strong sense of atmosphere, colour and light, Smith struggles to find a balance between pure abstraction and depicting the British Columbia wilderness. His work reflects his attachment to the physical and emotional act of painting, and his affection for the land. Gordon Smith remains an avidly collected contemporary artist. He refuses to rest on his successes and continues to challenge his own history and abilities.