Bess Larkin Housser Harris

Place: Brandon

Born: 1890

Death: 1969

Biography:

Early Life and Education

, a pioneering Canadian painter, was born in 1890 in Brandon, Manitoba. She attended Havergal College in Toronto, Ontario, which laid the foundation for her future artistic endeavors.

Artistic Career and Associations

Bess Larkin Housser Harris participated in Group of Seven exhibitions, a pivotal moment in Canadian art history, and was an esteemed member of the Canadian Group of Painters. Her work was showcased at the Wembley show in England (1926) and the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. (1930).

Personal Life and Marriages

Bess married F.B. Housser in 1914 but later divorced him upon discovering his affair with artist Yvonne McKague. In 1934, she married Lawren Harris, with whom she spent time in the United States before moving to Vancouver, British Columbia, in 1940.

Artistic Contributions and Legacy

• Notable Artworks: Bess Larkin Housser Harris's paintings, though not as widely recognized as some of her contemporaries, contribute significantly to the Canadian art landscape.
• Contributions to the Canadian Bookman: Between 1923 and 1926, Harris wrote articles about art, further cementing her influence in the Canadian art community.

Later Life and Death

Bess Larkin Housser Harris passed away in 1969 in Vancouver, leaving behind a legacy that, though understated, played a crucial role in shaping Canada's artistic identity.

• Lawren Stewart Harris's "The Ice House" (a painting by her second husband) is a notable example of the artistic company she kept.
• For more on Canadian art and its influential figures, explore Wikioo.org's collection.

References:

• Bess Larkin Housser Harris's Profile on Wikioo.org
• Wikipedia: Canadian Art and the Group of Seven