Ernest Albert Land Canadian (1918-2006) Attic Window Oil on masonite Biography from Butler Institute of American Art Ernest Albert Land was born in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. His family moved to New York City when he was three years old, and by the time he was nine, he had already decided on his life's work. His enormous natural talent pointed into the direction all his schooling was to take, until interrupted by World War II. During his military service in which he served as an ensign, he traveled extensively to most countries of the world. This included two secret expeditions to the North Pole in 1941, the Invasion of Casa Blanca, the invasion of Cherburgh and the invasion at Normandy Beach. After his discharge in 1945, he returned to his easel and the task of making his place in the art world. His first painting in the realistic vein was accepted by Grand Central Galleries in New York City. It received recognition by the art critics and led to his life membership in that gallery. His first solo show in New York in 1954 was soon followed up by many more throughout the country. Many of his works have been reproduced in Switzerland and distributed throughout the United States. Mr. and Mrs. Land now live in Falls Church, Virginia, where he has his studio. He is painting full time. Mr. Land is dedicated to the techniques of the early masters. Like the artists of the past who depicted the seeable, touchable world of their time, here is a contemporary artist, highlighting the essence and uniqueness of our times. Today is a world of 'break-throughs,' with new horizons opening upon an ever expanding future. He asks : what are we breaking through to?, what do these new horizons reveal? His paintings, highlighting an imagery strange and magical, reflect the deepest realities of our time. He expresses a balance of the old and the new and the eternal in the new. Through his eyes, our times are not only a confusion and an upheaval, but also a revolution and a revelation. His techniques uf super realism and trompe l'oeil, greatly enhance his rendition of the strangeness of our time, where reality seems to exist beyond the third dimension. Yet with all his seriousness his work has a light and whimsical touch as if to say : where to now little man? HIs work is included in the collections of Kress, French Co., American Telephone and Telegraph, IBM, Boston College, Grumbacher, Lederle Laboratories, Andrew Mellon, Coca Cola, Co. , Equitable Life Assurance, Aldophe Menjou, Hildegarde, Steinway Co., and Serge Rubenstein. Honors : Life Fellow to Royal Society of Arts in London 1964; First Prize American Artists Professional League in New York 1956; First Prize from National Arts 1957; Purchase Award Grumbacher 1959; First Prize in Washington Pen Women 1962; Grumbacher Traveling Exhibition of Prize Winners 1963; First Prize Saint Peters Glebe Circle Religious 1968; Best in show Saint Peters Glebe Circle 1968; 1968 First Prize and Second Price from Washington Cherry Blossom Art Festival Source: Exhibition catalog Ernest Albert Land, F.R.S.A. Paintings published by Capricorn Galleries in 1970. The following is from Ernest Albert Land's application for Who's Who in American Art: Work in Public Collections: NASA Space Museum; Grumbacher Collection of Fine Art ; IBM Collection of Fine Art. Commissions : 7 Carved Altar Panels for the Worship and Fine Arts Committee at Peace Lutheran Church in Alexandria, VA; Mural for U.S. Army Corp. of Engineers for Seattle World's Fair; 9 Murals for U.S. Navy Museum at Indian Head, Maryland; National Geographic Explorers Hall for archeological exhibit of the Work of Dr. Leaky. Exhibitions : Butler Institute of American Art Annual 1970; Mainstreams, Annual International Competitive Exhibition at Marietta College 1970, 1972; Allied Artists of America, 58th Annual Exhibition 1971; American Artists Professional League, Grand National Exhibition 1971. Positions : Teacher/Lecturer, Chase Manhattan Bank 1954-1955, American Telephone and Telegraph 1955-1962. Awards : Grumbacher Purchase Award 1957; Grand National Arts Award 1956; Best in Show at St. Peter's Episocopal 3rd Annual Religious Art Exhibition in McLean, Virginia, 1968. Bibliography: Joseph Grumbacher Twenty-one paint in Polymer 1965; Gutierrez and Roukes Painting with Acrylics 1965; Jospeh Giacalone Leonardo would have used Polymer 1966 20" x 26", 27 1/2" x 33 1/2" (frame)