William Kurelek, the oldest of seven children in a Ukrainian immigrant family, was born in 1927 and raised on family farms in northern Alberta and Manitoba. At the time of his death in 1977, he was one of the best-known artists in Canada, and his reputation has continued to grow, with his work featured in galleries across the country and highly sought after for private collections. His distinctive works explore his Depression-era prairie roots and his engagement with spiritual and religious imagery. Kurelek also wrote and illustrated many award-winning books, including A Prairie Boy's Winter and A Prairie Boy's Summer. He was made a member of the Order of Canada in 1976.
