Born in Toronto, Robert Bateman has
been a keen artist and naturalist from his early days.
He always painted wildlife and nature, beginning with
a representational style, moving through impressionism
and cubism to abstract expressionism. In his early thirties
he moved back to realism as a more suitable way to express
the particularity of the planet. It is this style that
has made him one of the foremost artists depicting the
world of nature.
In the '70s and early '80s, his work received critical
acclaim and attracted an enormous following. In 1982,
his first one-man show in the United States took place
at Gallery One.
He soon was commissioned by the Governor-General of
Canada to create a painting (Northern Reflections - Loon
Family) as the official Canadian wedding gift for Prince
Charles. Museums and noted collectors such as Prince
Philip, the late Princess Grace and Prince Bernhard sought
his images.
Bateman’s 1987 exhibition at the Smithsonian Institution
in Washington, D.C. attracted record-breaking crowds.
A plane-load of Gallery One collectors were privileged
to attend the opening festivities and enjoy a private
tour of the exhibition conducted by the artist.
His honors, awards and honorary doctorates are numerous;
he was made Officer of the Order of Canada, that country's
highest civilian award. He was awarded the Golden Plate
Award from the American Academy of Achievement. He also
has been the subject of three films and several video
productions. Three books of his art, The Art of Robert
Bateman, The World of Robert Bateman, and Robert Bateman:
An Artist in Nature, have made publishing history. A
fourth book of his art, Robert Bateman: Natural Worlds,
focuses on the importance of natural and cultural heritage.
Safari, an illustrated book for young readers, contains
first-hand accounts and interesting facts about African
wildlife. Thinking Like a Mountain, details Bateman's
environmental philosophies and observations and includes
pencil sketches throughout. Released in 2002, Birds,
is lavishly illustrated and filled with Bateman’s
insightful reflections on bird life.
It is in honor of his contributions to art and conservation
that both a public school and a secondary school in Canada
have been named after him. With a degree in geography
from the University of Toronto, Bateman taught high school
for 20 years, including two years in Nigeria. He traveled
around the world in a Land Rover in 1957-58, increasing
his appreciation of cultural and natural heritage. Since
leaving teaching in 1976 to paint full time, he has traveled
widely with his wife, Birgit, to many remote natural
areas.
Bateman's art reflects his commitment to ecology and
preservation. He has become a spokesman for many environmental
and preservation issues and has used his artwork and
limited edition prints in fund-raising efforts which
have provided millions of dollars for these worthy causes.
Locally, his efforts helped raise $33,000 to benefit
the Red Brick Schoolhouse in Willoughby.
