Harry Wohlfarth
1921 - 1996
Painter and teacher, Harry Wohlfarth was born in Germany in 1921 and studied at the Dresden School of Fine Arts. He came to Edmonton, Alberta to accept a position at the Faculty of Extension at the University of Alberta, where he taught for 30 years. He also conducted art classes and judged art shows throughout the province. Harry was a member of the U.S. National Committee on Art Education and presented guest lectures at the Art Academies of Munich and Dusseldorf and the Universities of Berlin, Munich and Bonn.
Through his painting, printmaking and sculpture, Harry represented the human form, himself and a variety of lively city scenes with expressionistic style. One of Harry’s true passions was colour, specifically his discovery of high frequency colour kinetics – the after image created by bright colours. On this topic, he produced a thesis exhibition and eventually worked with dental offices and schools on his theories about how colour affects behaviour.
Harry’s pieces have been exhibited internationally and some of his paintings reside in public and private collections in Canada, the United States, Germany, Italy, Russia and India. He was the recipient of numerous awards, including receiving the distinction of Doctoris Academiae from the Roman Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1962; the Renaissance Prize and Gold Medal from the International Burckhardt Academy in Rome in 1979; and multiple Achievement Awards from the Government of Alberta.
Harry passed away in 1996.
Through his painting, printmaking and sculpture, Harry represented the human form, himself and a variety of lively city scenes with expressionistic style. One of Harry’s true passions was colour, specifically his discovery of high frequency colour kinetics – the after image created by bright colours. On this topic, he produced a thesis exhibition and eventually worked with dental offices and schools on his theories about how colour affects behaviour.
Harry’s pieces have been exhibited internationally and some of his paintings reside in public and private collections in Canada, the United States, Germany, Italy, Russia and India. He was the recipient of numerous awards, including receiving the distinction of Doctoris Academiae from the Roman Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1962; the Renaissance Prize and Gold Medal from the International Burckhardt Academy in Rome in 1979; and multiple Achievement Awards from the Government of Alberta.
Harry passed away in 1996.