Remembering Duncan de Kergommeaux

July 5, 1927 – October 24, 2024

Painted self portrait of Duncan de Kergommeaux

It is with sadness that we share the news of the passing of Duncan de Kergommeaux, renowned artist and Professor Emeritus at Western University. Born in 1927 in northern British Columbia, de Kergommeaux’s seven-decade career spanned far beyond his own time, leaving an indelible mark as a painter, teacher, and cultural leader.

De Kergommeaux’s journey began at the Banff School of Fine Arts in 1951, and his artistic evolution flourished as he moved to Ottawa in 1953. There, he held his first solo exhibition in 1955, beginning a prolific career that would include over 50 solo exhibitions. His contributions extended beyond the canvas. De Kergommeaux’s teaching legacy is equally significant. As a professor of drawing and painting at Western University from 1970 until his retirement in 1994, he guided generations of students, fostering a deep appreciation for process and the exploration of abstraction. He was instrumental in founding the permanent art collection at Carleton University Art Gallery and played a vital role in Ottawa’s art scene, directing the Blue Barn Gallery and Lofthouse Galleries in the 1960s.

While he may no longer be with us, Duncan de Kergommeaux’s creative spirit endures in the many works he left behind, in the lives he touched as a mentor, and in the communities he helped to shape. His contributions to Canadian art will continue to inspire for generations to come. There are major collections of his art at the Carleton University Art Gallery, the Ottawa Art Gallery, Museum London, and the McIntosh Gallery at Western University. His work is also part of many private, public and corporate collections including the Art Gallery of Ontario and National Gallery of Canada.

His 2008 work, Burnt Island, is currently on view in Taking the Long View: The Museum London Art Collection, through June 1, 2025 at Museum London.