Maud LewisLife & Work

When it comes to folk art in Canada, there’s before Maud Lewis (1901–1970)—and after. Through her vivid, joyous paintings of brightly coloured landscapes, animals, and flowers, Lewis redefined how folk art is perceived by collectors, curators, and critics alike, and propelled Canadian galleries to collect and exhibit the once obscure artform.

Born and raised in rural Nova Scotia, Lewis spent much of her life in physical pain, suffering from juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. She lived in a one-room house in Marshalltown with her husband, Everett Lewis, and, over time, covered nearly every inch of it with her paintings, from the windowpanes to the wallpaper—even the dustpan. Now famous as “Maud Lewis’s Painted House”, the preserved site was her studio, gallery, and most famous creation. Working in isolation and challenging conditions, she forged her reputation and a surprising volume of inspirational work. Ultimately, she triumphed over poor health and poverty, finding solace in artistic creation.