April 25, 2024

Alum Spotlight: John N. Inglis’ Dedicated Life to the Arts

John N. Inglis is a distinguished Canadian artist and a life member of the Canadian Society of Painters in Watercolour (CSPWC) whose work consists of a vast selection of paintings spanning over 60 years of enquiry and development. Born in Toronto in 1931, Inglis has been fascinated with drawing and painting since an early age but describes most of his primary and secondary school years as a time when he felt confined to cultural settings. Relief came when, at the age of seventeen, Inglis enrolled in a four-year post-secondary program at the Ontario College of Art (OCA) where he later graduated with honours in Drawing & Painting in 1952. Inglis participated in many group shows and held several solo exhibitions in the years that followed.

“I have been inclined toward the practice of drawing and painting from an early age. Coinciding with this tendency has been an innate curiosity about the world I live in that has, in later years, led to finding answers to the big cultural questions of the day,” says Inglis in his 2023 catalogue, Toward a New Synthesis.

Inglis’ journey with OCA did not stop there. A few years after graduation, Inglis returned to OCA to teach various courses throughout the year until becoming a full-time faculty member in 1965. Throughout his 35-year tenure as an instructor, Inglis is estimated to have met and worked with between five and six thousand students. Furthermore, Inglis reached various career milestones until his retirement after which he received the esteemed A.J. Casson Award for his distinguished service to OCA.

“Working with young, dedicated, post-secondary students became a major event in my life as it led to a more profound engagement in communication using every resource that I could bring to bare for this purpose. I put a lot of time and energy into this new-found direction in my life. I consider myself fortunate to have been able to spend a significant part of my living and learning as a teacher at OCA”

- John N. Inglis

In addition to his academic career, Inglis has authored multiple publications including his 2010 book, In Quest of a Countenance: A Search for Meaning in a World in Transition at the Art Square Gallery. The book was published in conjunction with OCAD University’s first alumni group exhibition and Inglis was subsequently awarded the Alumni Emeritus Member Designation in recognition of his long-term dedicated service to the Alumni Association and OCAD U as a whole.

In a remarkable gesture of generosity, John N. Inglis has cemented his legacy at our University with a generous planned gift alongside his wife and fellow OCA alum, Kwan-Wah Inglis. Their generous bequest will establish the annual John Noel Inglis Scholarship supporting aspiring artists enrolled in the Drawing & Painting program at OCAD U. Additionally, Inglis has donated copies of his published book and catalogues to enrich our library's collection, ensuring students and scholars have access to his invaluable insights. Inglis’ contributions resonate deeply within our community, inspiring future generations of creativity and learning.

At 93, John is still painting and is currently interested in following developments in metamodernism.

John N. Inglis’ work can be viewed at his website: www.inglisquest.com.