McCanse Art

08/25/2026

George Patrick Forgie
1932–2024

‘45-S’ dates to 1968, a period when bold colour, geometric forms, and pattern were prominent in contemporary painting. Forgie’s composition brings together repeated vertical stripes, organic dark forms, and a central field of patterned shapes, creating a striking interplay of colour, repetition, and abstraction.

45-S
1968
Oil on canvas
Image size: 36 × 36 in
Condition: Good
Signed lower left. Labels of the Dunkelman Gallery, Toronto, and the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts on verso.
$975 CAD

About the artist: George Patrick Forgie (1932–2024) was a Toronto artist and educator who taught at Victoria Park Collegiate Institute. Born in Toronto to Scottish immigrants, Forgie began his career as a landscape painter in the manner of the Group of Seven before moving into figural works and surrealism, which he called his Romantic Period. He later took a ten-year hiatus from painting, during which he wrote two books. Forgie also worked as a stoneware sculptor, photographer, and in oil, watercolour, and pen-and-ink. A retrospective of Forgie’s 40-year painting career was held at the Cultural Expressions Art Gallery in Ajax in 2009.

George Patrick Forgie - 45-S

08/14/2026

Ronald York Wilson
1907–1984
OSA, RCA

‘Isfahan’ is part of Ronald York Wilson’s Cities portfolio, a series of seven screenprints created in 1967. The composition features bold blue and black stripes alongside rich purple tones, showcasing Wilson’s interest in colour and abstraction.

Isfahan
1967
Screenprint in colours on paper
Image size: 15.5 × 20.5 in
Edition number: Artist’s proof
Condition: Good
Signed, titled, and numbered in margin.
$750 CAD

About the artist: Ronald York Wilson (1907–1984) was a Canadian painter known for his murals, illustrations, and abstract works. Largely self-taught, he studied at Central Technical School and later took night classes at the Ontario College of Art. He worked as a commercial artist and illustrator before developing a practice that moved from representational painting and social realism towards abstraction and mural painting. A six-month trip to Mexico in 1949 was a turning point in his work, where encounters with artists including David Alfaro Siqueiros and Rico Lebrun stimulated his interest in mural painting and abstraction. Wilson later created murals for several Toronto buildings and institutions, including the O’Keefe Centre, Salvation Army Headquarters, Imperial Oil Building, and Bell Telephone Building.

Available here: https://mccanseartshop.com/products/ronald-york-wilson-isfahan

08/10/2026

Nicholas Hornyansky
1896–1965
RCA, OSA, CPE

‘Ocean Terminal, Harbour of Toronto’ offers a view of Toronto’s harbour and waterfront. Dating to circa 1950, this aquatint depicts Toronto’s Ocean Terminal and the bustling activity of the city’s harbour. 🛥️

Ocean Terminal, Harbour of Toronto
Circa 1950
Aquatint
Image size: 4.5 × 6 in
Edition number: Unknown
Condition: Good
Signed and titled lower right.
$950 CAD

About the artist: Nicholas Hornyansky (1896–1965) was born in Budapest, where he studied at the Academy of Fine Arts and elsewhere in Europe. An accomplished portrait painter, he exhibited in Antwerp and Brussels before branching into etching and landscape painting. He travelled throughout England and France before immigrating to Canada in 1929. Hornyansky exhibited regularly with the Royal Canadian Academy and the Ontario Society of Artists, and his work was exhibited widely across the United States and internationally. He is recognized for his major contributions to the advancement of printmaking in Canada.

Available here: https://mccanseartshop.com/products/nicholas-hornyansky-ocean-terminal-harbour-of-toronto

08/05/2026

Anne Nicholls
20th century

‘Main Street, Kleinburg, Ontario’ offers a glimpse of one of Ontario’s best-known historic villages. Painted in 1976, this oil on Masonite captures the character of Kleinburg’s main street, home to the McMichael Canadian Art Collection and long associated with Canadian art.

Main Street, Kleinburg, Ontario
1976
Oil on Masonite
Image size: 16 × 20 in
Condition: Good
Unframed. Signed lower right. Label on verso with artist, title, and date.
$600 CAS

About the artist: Little is currently published about Anne Nicholls’ life and career. Her known works depict locations in Toronto and across Ontario, including Main Street, Kleinburg, Ontario (1976), Huron Street, House in Hogg’s Hollow, Todmorden Mills, a winter street scene in downtown Toronto, and Old Woman Isle, Lake Muskoka. Together, these works reflect a sustained interest in painting recognizable Ontario places.

Available here: https://mccanseartshop.com/products/anne-nicholls-main-street-kleinburg-ontario

07/29/2026

Alan Caswell Collier
1911-1990
RCA, OSA

‘From Kelsey Bay, Van. Is., B.C. Looking up Johnstone Strait’ shows Collier’s eye for where land meets water along BC’s coast, the interplay of rock, tide, and shifting light he returned to throughout his career. The painting is part of his broader body of work documenting Canada’s diverse regions.

From Kelsey Bay, Van. Is., B.C. Looking up Johnstone Strait
circa 1970
Oil on board
Image size: 12 × 16 in
Condition: Good
Signed lower right. Verso with artist’s label.
$2,950

About the artist: Alan Caswell Collier (1911-1990) RCA, OSA was a Toronto-born artist and educator. He studied at the Ontario College of Art under J.E.H. MacDonald and Franklin Carmichael before travelling to New York to continue his studies at the Art Students’ League. Following service in the Canadian Army during the Second World War, Collier travelled extensively, producing paintings of Canadian landscapes and mining communities. In 1963, he was commissioned by Standard Oil to create a series of paintings along the Trans-Canada Highway. He later completed murals for Ryerson Institute of Technology and taught advertising art at the Ontario College of Art before retiring to focus on painting full-time. His work is held in the collections of the National Gallery of Canada, the Art Gallery of Ontario, and the Art Gallery of Hamilton, among other institutions.

Available here: https://mccanseartshop.com/products/alan-caswell-collier-from-kelsey-bay-vancouver

07/23/2026

George Burton Wallace
1920-2009
CPE

‘Cliff Workings’ captures the rugged forms and textures of the landscape through George Burton Wallace’s expressive approach to colour and composition. Created in 1956, this oil on board reflects Wallace’s distinctive approach to landscape and abstraction.

Cliff Workings
1956
Oil on board
Image size: 13 × 23 in
Condition: Good
Signed lower right. Titled, signed, and dated on verso.
$1,500 CAD

About the artist: George Burton Wallace (1920-2009) was an Irish-born artist and educator who immigrated to Canada at the age of 37. After studying philosophy at Trinity College Dublin and teaching in Ireland, Wallace continued his career in Canada, where he taught at Toronto Metropolitan University (Ryerson) and McMaster University. He was instrumental in developing McMaster’s Fine Arts Department and art collection. Wallace worked across multiple disciplines, including painting, printmaking, drawing, and sculpture, with his large welded steel sculptures installed in public spaces across Ontario. He exhibited widely, including at the Art Gallery of Hamilton and the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria. Wallace died in Victoria, BC in 2009.

Available here: https://mccanseartshop.com/products/george-burton-wallace-cliff-workings

07/21/2026

Samuel Herbert Maw
1881-1952
CPE

Ely Cathedral, No. 23 highlights the soaring arches and intricate stonework of one of England’s most celebrated medieval cathedrals. Created circa 1920, this aquatint reflects Samuel Herbert Maw’s architectural eye and mastery of light and atmosphere.

Ely Cathedral, No. 23
Circa 1920
Aquatint
Image plate: 8.75 × 4.25 in
Condition: Good
Signed and titled at lower edge.

About the artist: Samuel Herbert Maw (1881-1952) was an architect and etcher born in Suffolk, England. After studying throughout Europe, he immigrated to Canada in 1912, where he balanced a successful architectural career with printmaking. His atmospheric etchings earned critical acclaim, were collected by the National Gallery of Canada, and today 41 of his works are held in the permanent collection of the Art Gallery of Ontario.

Available here: https://mccanseartshop.com/products/samuel-herbert-maw-ely-cathedral-no-23

07/17/2026

Ken Danby
1940–2007
RCA

The Swimmer captures a quiet summer ☀️ moment, with a young boy standing in calm water. Created in 1970, this lithograph reflects Ken Danby’s gift for finding beauty in everyday life through his precise realism and luminous use of light.

The Swimmer
1970
Lithograph
Edition 47/75
Image plate: 19.25 × 15.25 in
Sheet: 23 × 17.75 in
Condition: Good
Edition numbered in pencil at lower left; signed and dated in pencil at lower right.

About the artist: Ken Danby was born in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, and was one of Canada’s foremost realist painters. He studied at the Ontario College of Art (now OCAD University) beginning in 1958 before establishing his studio in Guelph, Ontario. Danby is best known for his meticulously rendered paintings and for his iconic image of the Canadian hockey goalie, which has become a symbol of Canadian identity. Throughout his career, he received numerous honours, including the Order of Canada, the Order of Ontario, the Jessie Dow Prize, the 125th Anniversary Commemorative Medal of Canada, the City of Sault Ste. Marie Award of Merit, and both the Queen’s Silver and Golden Jubilee Medals.

Available here: https://mccanseartshop.com/products/ken-danby-the-swimmer

07/09/2026

Summer is in full swing ☀️ and McCanse Art is back at the Ontario Vintage Market this Sunday, July 12, from 10 am to 3 pm.

📍Visit us at Evergreen Brick Works, 550 Bayview Ave., Toronto.

🖼️ We’ll be bringing a curated selection of Canadian original art, including prints, posters, and paintings.

Looking forward to another great day of vintage finds and meeting fellow collectors and creatives 🎨. Catch McCanse Art at the market on:
• July 12
• August 9
• August 23
• September 13
• September 27
• October 11
• November 1

See you there!

07/08/2026

Frederick Hagan
1918–2003
RCA, OSA, CPE

‘Clown Act’ is a mid-century lithograph by Frederick Hagan depicting a group of circus performers on stage, including clowns and a stilt walker. Printed with strong graphic contrasts and expressive colour, it demonstrates Hagan’s skill as a printmaker and his dynamic approach to figurative composition.

Clown Act
1954
Lithograph
Edition 38/100
Image plate: 12 × 9.75 in
Condition: Good
Signed, dated, titled, and editioned in pencil at lower edge.

About the artist: Frederick Hagan was born in Toronto and was a Canadian painter, printmaker, and educator. Following the death of his father, Hagan left school at the age of 13 to work in a paper factory, an experience that influenced his lifelong interest in the lives of working people. He later studied at the Ontario College of Art (now OCAD University), where he became an instructor and eventually served as head of the printmaking department. Hagan is best known for his social realist imagery and his significant contribution to Canadian printmaking. His work is represented in the collections of the National Gallery of Canada, the Art Gallery of Ontario, the Art Gallery of Hamilton, the Glenbow Museum, and numerous other public institutions.

Source: McCanse Art, Extended Artist Biography: Frederick Hagan.

Available: https://mccanseartshop.com/products/frederick-hagan-clown-act