17 Facts About Carl Ray

Carl Ray was a First Nations artist who was active on the Canadian art scene from 1969 until his death in 1978.

Carl Ray was a founding member of the Indian Group of Seven.

Carl Ray did not touch a brush or paint for many years after having been admonished by his elders for doing so.

Carl Ray eventually left the reserve to work in the Red Lake gold mines where his drinking and guitar playing abilities earned him the nickname Ira Hayes.

Carl Ray apprenticed under Norval Morrisseau and worked on the mural for the Indians of Canada Pavilion of Expo '67 in Montreal.

Morrisseau had designed and sketched the mural but it was Carl Ray who did most of the work and was left to finish it.

Stevens reported that Carl Ray "perceived this reversion to a more austere style as a loss of face" Many of the illustrations would somewhat haunt him since it was now the kind of work that was expected of him in certain markets.

Carl Ray taught at the Manitou Arts Foundation on Schreiber Island in 1971.

Carl Ray continued to develop and paint through the mid 70's completing notable large scale mural opportunities at schools and the Sioux Lookout Fellowship and Communications Centre as well as smaller works becoming more and more popular with white buyers.

Carl Ray illustrated the cover of "The White City" published by Tom Marshall in 1976.

Much of Carl Ray's art was influenced by his often troubled personal life and inner demons and excesses.

Carl Ray was known by his peers as a man of general good humour.

Carl Ray was known as somewhat of a jokester as described by fellow painter Alex Janvier: "Carl Ray was the guy who could laugh, make fun of you, throw a joke on you and he'd laugh his head off".

Carl Ray was stabbed to death as a result of a drunken brawl over money in Sioux Lookout in 1978.

Carl Ray is best known for his work executed in the style of the Woodlands School.

Carl Ray's lesser known, but equally powerful scenic western style canvases were a large part of Carl's repertoire.

Carl Ray combined the two styles on occasion, capturing his imaginative images of Cree legends in full electrifying colour.