Robert Charles Davidson, O.C., O.B.C.
White Rock, British Columbia
Robert Davidson is a mainstay in contemporary art. A prolific sculptor and painter, he has driven the revival and advancement of Haida art for more than five decades, and his pieces and exhibitions have helped historical First Nations works to be newly appreciated. His 1969 totem pole was the first raised in the village of Masset in more than a century and continues to rally the region around the reclamation of Haida culture. A passionate mentor and community leader, he helps connect ancient teachings with modern life through his many potlatches and performances.
This is a promotion within the Order.
Member of the Order of Canada
Awarded on: 1996-05-09
Invested on: 1997-02-26
Wood, silver, gold, bronze and paint are some of the artistic mediums he has used in his works of art which hang in museums and private collections in Canada and abroad. He has developed his own technical skills and creativity in an astonishing variety of paintings, sculptures and totem poles that transcends culture and speaks to a universal humanity. Through his work, he has joined the past to the present and extended the rich traditions of Haida art into the future.