William Ronald (born William Ronald Smith, son of a factory worker) studied at the Ontario College of Art under Jock MacDonald and George Pepper. He organized the Painters Eleven in Toronto in the 1950's. This group of abstract painters played a seminal role in the development of Canadian Art and were considered Canada's best.

He studied under Hans Hoffmann and moved to N.Y.C. where he got a contract with the prestigious Kootz Gallery who handled Picasso. When popular tastes changed to Pop Art, Kootz wanted him to change his style but Ronald would not. They parted company with angry words from both sides. In 1965 Ronald returned to Toronto and painted until his death in 1998. Redkettle Art is pleased to have two originals from the early '80's.

< Back To Biographies