Pioneering a fresh and vibrant use of colour, and known for his delicate handling of paint on small-scale wooden pochades, James Wilson Morrice (1865-1924) played a vital role in advancing modern artistic trends in Canada and abroad at the turn of the 20th century.

As an expatriate artist in Paris, Morrice became the first Canadian artist to achieve an international reputation. Abroad, he was influenced by renowned such as J. A. M. Whistler and eventually by Fauves including Henri Matisse.

Both Morrice and Matisse stayed at the Villa de France Hotel in Tangier and painted similar views from their windows. In this exhibition, stories of Morrice’s widespread travels and rise to fame as one of Canada’s most beloved modernist painters are shared through the passion of an avid collector, A. K. Prakash, who was determined to understand, celebrate and preserve the artist’s legacy for all Canadians.