Maud Lewis

Maud Lewis (1903-1970)

The one thing I’ve come to appreciate the last two years of this pandemic is joy in the little things. 

One of those little things is Maud Lewis (1903-1970) and her art. I had the chance to experience this recently at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia where there is an entire wing devoted to telling the story of Maud and her husband and the story of their simple life in their teeny tiny house is joyous. Her folk art paintings jump with life and colour and happiness. She painted nearly every surface of their little house – the stove, the walls, the tea tin, the stairs. The Art Gallery and many volunteers have spearheaded an effort to take her home carefully apart, restore it, then move it permanently to the art gallery where visitors can peer in the tiny windows and front door to glimpse this amazing artist’s work. 

Maud made a living initially from selling Christmas cards door-to-door, then people would stop in to buy a painting or something from her and word spread until 1965 when CBC featured a film on her life and art. For the next 5 years despite debilitating pain from arthritis, Maud tried to keep up with the new demand for her work. 

Recently art thieves stole two beautiful works from a small B&B near the village where Maud had lived.  

In 2016 there was a movie made about her life – Maudie – but seems a bit tricky to track down. If anybody figures that out, please message us.

Please take a moment and visit this gallery if you are fortunate enough to be in Halifax. Otherwise you can look her up here: https://www.artgalleryofnovascotia.ca/maud-lewis.