2012 Fellows - Royal Architectural Institute of Canada

Christopher Pratt C.C.
Honorary Fellow
Christopher Pratt C.C., Hon. FRAIC is one of Canada’s most prominent painters
and printmakers and is recognized for his very distinguished body of artistic works,
grounded in place and regional context. The ideas that inspire his visual art, also
find expression through his poetry and prose.
His Newfoundland roots run deep on both sides of his family. His mother’s family,
the Dawes, were among the island’s first settlers, arriving on Newfoundland’s
shores as early as 1595. His great-grandmother on the Pratt side was Fanny Pitts
Knight, whose Newfoundland lineage dates back to the early 1700s. His first
interest in painting was encouraged by his paternal grandfather.
Mr. Pratt’s paintings explore many themes: landscapes, architecture, waterscapes,
interior spaces and the human figure.
His works have been exhibited in Canada, the United States and Europe and his
collections can be found across Canada, including the National Gallery of Canada,
Vancouver Art Gallery, the Art Gallery of Ontario, The Rooms Provincial Art
Gallery, and Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec.
In 1980, he designed the Provincial Flag of Newfoundland and Labrador. The flag,
with its blue and red triangles and its golden arrow on a white background has
become a symbol of the province’s past, present and future.
In 1973 he was named an Officer of the Order of Canada and made a Companion
of the Order in 1983. He is also the recipient of several honourary doctorates
from Canadian universities: Mount Allison University, Doctor of Literature, 1972;
Memorial University, Doctor of Laws, 1972; and Dalhousie University, Doctor of
Laws, 1986; Fellow of the Ontario College of Art, 1990.
Throughout his career he has served on numerous committees and councils,
including the Board of the Canada Council for the Arts.
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