John Lennard has lived the life of both a professional musician and artist. His interest in art was first inspired by seeing the galleries of Europe while touring as a rock and roll musician in the early eighties. John then spent time in New York studying jazz, where he met the painter Richard Pitts who encouraged him to pursue his artistic talents. His first major step into the art world was his stay at the International School of Art in Italy studying under Nicolas Carone. This experience and Carone’s mentorship remain one of John’s strongest artistic influences.

John has since held studios in Paris, Berlin, Barcelona and Toronto. Travel and nature continue to be the greatest inspirations in his painting. His first museum show was held at the MacLaren Art Centre in Barrie in 2006 and was entitled “The Artist as Traveler”. While living in Barcelona in 2008, John was one of seven international artists featured in the newspaper Catalonia Today and his work can be found in both corporate and private collections throughout North America, Europe, and Hong Kong.

John’s intention in painting is to incorporate the lyrical sense of harmony, tension, rhythms and space into a visual experience. He is a true lover of the tradition of painting and is continually analyzing the work of master artists in his search for his own creativity.

Roberts Gallery, Toronto, Ontario
Solo Show – “Paintings from Paris and Barcelona”

MacLaren Art Centre, Barrie, Ontario
Regional Solo Show – “The Artist as a Traveler”
May to August

2005, 2006, 2007, 2008

International Art Fair, Toronto, Ontario
Group show with the Roberts Gallery

Hotel Templiers, Collioure, France
Permanent exhibition

Prince Street Gallery, New York
Solo Show

Jamie Kennedy Restaurant, Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, Ontario
Solo Show

Kraus Gallery, Berlin, Germany
Group Show

Kasper Gallery, Toronto, Ontario
Solo Show

International School of Art, Boca Raton, Florida
Group Show

International School of Art, Montecastello di Vibio, Umbria, Italy
Group Show

International School of Art, Montecastello di Vibio, Umbria, Italy
Group Show

Studio School, New York
Drawing Marathon course

International School Art, Montecastello di Vibio, Umbria, Italy
Summer session studying with Nick Carone

Art Students League of New York
Figure drawing

International School Art, Montecastello di Vibio, Umbria, Italy
Summer session studying with Nick Carone

Ontario College of Art and Design
Drawing and painting

Toronto School of Art
Drawing and painting

Art Gallery of Ontario
Figure drawing

University of Western Ontario
Bachelor of Arts – Social Sciences

Lived and painted in Paris, France and Barcelona, Spain
Held studios in both cities sharing space and ideas with highly accomplished international artists

Glasgow School of Art, Glasgow, Scotland
Invitation by a professor to paint and lecture

Painted in Paris, Collioure and Céret, France
In Collioure, painted with a group of artists on international grants

John has been an international recording saxophonist for twenty years. He was also captain of the University of Western Ontario squash team when it won the NCAA championships.