Meet the Artist
Two dominant themes are evident in Lyn Westfall’s art:
The need to change, when her life takes a new direction or when the subject matter is exhausted.
Her love of colour, as she prefers to use imaginative colour, rather than realistic colour schemes.
A highlight of her career, occurred when 2 large works, Dies Irae (Day of Anger - see video) and The Poppy and the Wellington were featured in a 10 month exhibition at the Guelph Civic Museum’s Exhibition “Witnessing War” in 2023, as well as a YouTube video History Bites: Is Art a Salve to War? Guelph Museums February 2023.
Curriculum Vitae
Ontario College of Teachers - Qualifications in Primary through Senior Divisions
Visual Arts Specialist
University of Windsor - Bachelor of Arts, Fine Arts Major
Banff School of Fine Arts - Independent Program with David Bolduc
York University - Sessional Studies
Guelph University - Sessional Studies
Toronto School of Art - Five year independent study with Harold Klunder
British Institute of Florence - Sessional Studies
Exhibitions
2025 - Boarding House Arts, Guelph ON - Guelph Studio Tour (Saturday October 18th - Sunday October 19th)
2025 - Art Gallery of Guelph ON - 155,578 Exhibition
2024 - Red Brick Cafe Guelph ON - Abbey Collection
2023 - Art Gallery of Guelph ON - Lyn Westfall: A War Story - PowerPoint Presentation
2023 - Boarding House Arts, Guelph ON - Ashlar Gallery - "47" - a mini retrospective
2023/22 - Guelph Civic Museum, Guelph ON, "Witnessing War" - 150 Anniversary of John MacCrae's Birthday
2021- Boarding House Arts, Guelph ON - Ashlar Gallery - "Dies Irae"(Day of Anger)
2019 - Boarding House Arts, Guelph ON - Ashlar Gallery - Three Painters: Brent Garbett, Ron Shuebrook, Lyn Westfall
2018 - Silence, Guelph ON - "I Play Colours"
2017 - Boarding House Arts, Guelph ON - Ashlar Gallery "Improv • Vision"
2016 - The Art Gallery, St. James' Anglican Church - Dundas On "A War Story"
2015 - Boarding House Arts, Guelph On - Project Space - “L’Histoire II”
2014 - Boarding House Arts, Guelph On - Project Space - “L’Histoire I”
2012 - Youtube Video - “DIES IRAE” - (War Painting)
2009 - The Art Gallery, St. James’ Anglican Church - Dundas On “The Requiem Series”
2005 - St, Peters Seminary, London On - Lecture Series, “Lyn Westfall Paints Faure’s REQUIEM” (multimedia)
2003 - Gallery Lambton, Sarnia On - “The Requiem Series”
2003 - Kenneith Gallery, Sarnia On - “Hidden Treasures”
2002 - Pteros Gallery, Toronto On - “My Father’s Remembrance”
2001 - St. Peter’s Seminary, London On - “Full Well She Is”
1998 - Joseph D. Carrier Art Gallery, Columbus Centre, Toronto - “Holy Women”
1995 - The Art Gallery of Peel, Brampton On - “Full Well She Is”
1994 - The Tarragon Theatre, Toronto On - “People Works”
1986 - The Millcroft Inn, Alton On - “Floral Works”
1982 - Wilfred Laurier University, Waterloo On - “Lyn Westfall Paints”
1982 - Kaspar Gallery, Toronto On - “Floral Works”
Articles & Media
Guelph artist commemorates her father - The Hamilton Spectator - Nov 7 2016
L'Histoire - Boarding House Arts - Nov 2014
A Day of Anger - Guelph Mercury Tribune - Nov 9 2014
Daughter Retraces Fallen Airman's Life - Sarnia Observer - Nov 8 2013
"A very colourful life" -Sideroads of Caledon and Erin Magazine - Fall 2007
Tramble v. The Queen - Financial Post - Nov 01 2001
Full Well She Is - David Somers
Saints Inspire Caledon Painter - Toronto Star - Sept 21/95
Commisions & Awards
Ontario Arts Council - Exhibition Assistance Grant - 2017, 2003
Headwaters Arts Festival - Artists Choice Award - 2006
Ontario Arts Council - Exhibition Assistance Grant
The Cardinal Ambrozic Houses of Providence, Scarborough, 1999
Art Gallery of Peel - Jurors' Award 1995 - Grumbacher Art Award
Wellington County Museum - Jurors' Award 1994
Major Collections
St. Peter's Seminary, London Ontario.
Shell Canada, Calgary
Steven Slavin Agencies, Toronto
Neiman, Callegari, Bolton
Karoma Publishing, Michigan
Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo
Goodman, Phillips & Vineberg, Toronto
Xerox Canada, Toronto
Prudential Life, Toronto
Koffler Gallery, Toronto
House of Providence, Toronto
Peel Art Gallery, Museum + Archives, Brampton
The Austin Cooper Art Collection - Osgoode Hall Law School, Toronto