Art Articles & Reviews

Bill Perehudoff will be missed by the art world.

His work can be found in major gallery collections around the world. The new Remai Art Gallery of Saskatchewan will be installing a restored wall mural Bill created for Intercontinental Packers in the 60's. Bill was a Prairie boy who travelled in the heady world of abstract art from the West Coast to Eastern collections to his gallery in New York and European markets. He was a member of the Order of Canada and had been awarded the Saskatchewan Order of Merit.

I became aware of Bill when I was hired as his replacement, when he retired as a graphic designer with Modern Press and the Western Producer in Saskatoon. Sitting at his desk, I could see how graphic design influenced his structured abstracts and how daily use of colour theory developed his knowledge of colour field painting. Graphic design set up a structured and disciplined work ethic allowing him to bridge the commercial advertising world in his day job, by using this information to theorize and develop his own painting vision.

I met Bill a number of times at art openings over the years, not as a close friend, more as a curious observer and emerging artist. He was a quiet and reserved gentleman and I remember having a short conversation about graphic design and its importance in good art making. it was at his wife's (Dorothy Knowles) art opening, at the Douglas Udel Gallery in Edmonton.

William Perehudoff is survived by his wife Dorothy Knowles, daughters Catherine, Carol and Rebecca.

Paul Constable, Director of Artists in Canada