Carl Beam, R.C.A. (1943-2005)

Carl Beam, R.C.A. (1943-2005) – Artist Biography

Carl Beam R.C.A. (May 24, 1943 – July 30, 2005), born Carl Edward Migwans, made Canadian art history in 1986 as the first artist of Native Ancestry (Ojibwe), to have his work purchased by the National Gallery of Canada as contemporary art.

Beam worked in various photographic mediums, mixed media, oil, acrylic, spontaneously scripted text on canvas, works on paper, Plexiglas, stone, cement, wood, handmade ceramic pottery, and found objects, in addition to etching, lithography, and screen process.

Through these mediums he juxtaposed his personal history, traditional Woodland Native imagery and historical events to create and illustrate a politically charged message. By adopting a mixed media approach to his work, Beam distanced himself from the traditional school of art and developed a new platform to speak out against the unequal treatment of native peoples. He not only voiced his anger on his own past experiences, but ventured into commentary of significant historical eras. The Columbus Project is the largest series of work to this effect. In this suite, Beam directly challenges how history remembers the accomplishments of Christopher Columbus while downplaying the resulting turmoil on native peoples.

A major retrospective of his work, organized by the National Gallery of Canada, was on display until January 16, 2011 and is now touring through different cities in Canada and the United States. It recognizes Beam as one of Canada's most influential artists who succeeded in eliminating the boundary between aboriginal and contemporary art.