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Old Masters, 19th and 20th Century Art
William Ronald
Abstract Composition
Canadian William Ronald studied at the Ontario College of Art. He was a big man and played hockey while in college. He won a $1000 scholarship from the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association and used it to study with Abstract Expressionist Hans Hoffman for six months in New York. On his return to Ontario he formed a group of artists known as Painters Eleven and managed to land the group an important exhibition in New York at the Riverside Museum on the occasion of the 20th Anniversary of American Abstract Artists. He then had a solo exhibition at the Greenwich Gallery in Toronto. He began selling for high prices to collectors one of whom, Countess Ingeborg de Beausacq, threw him a wild party where he met the art dealer Samuel Kootz who represented him over the next seven years. During this time he was highly praised by fellow Abstract Expressionists Mark Rothko and Franz Kline. Later in life he became a television broadcaster and enjoyed a life of relative wealth and celebrity. Ronald was a colorful character, very outspoken, even considered to be a bit wild by some. His bright compositions have remained popular with collectors even after his death in 1998.
Museums:
Whitney Museum of American Art, NYC
The National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa
The Newark Museum, New Jersey
Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh/ Carnegie Institute
Neuberger Museum of Art, Purchase, NY
Portland Art Museum, Oregon
Allentown Art Museum, PA
Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, Norman, OK