Thomas Hogan (October 31, 1955 — January 17, 2014) was a Canadian First Nations artist. He painted in the

Woodlands style Woodlands style, also called the Woodlands school, Legend painting, Medicine painting,
''Native Am ...

, and lived on the streets in several Canadian cities.

Personal life

Hogan was born in Sioux Lookout in northern

Ontario Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central Ca ...

. After being abandoned at the age of one year by his Ojibway mother and Irish father, Hogan was raised in foster homes. He was abused as a child by foster parents, and began

sniffing glue Inhalants are a broad range of household and industrial chemicals whose volatile vapors or pressurized gases can be concentrated and breathed in via the nose or mouth to produce intoxication, in a manner not intended by the manufacturer. They ...

and drinking alcohol at age thirteen. At seventeen, Hogan was convicted of attempted robbery of a jewelry store, and served two and half years in the Stony Mountain prison in

Manitoba Manitoba ( ) is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada at the Centre of Canada, longitudinal centre of the country. It is Canada's Population of Canada by province and territory, fifth-most populous province, with a population o ...

. After his release from prison, Hogan was mostly homeless on the streets of

Winnipeg Winnipeg () is the capital and largest city of the province of Manitoba in Canada. It is centred on the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine rivers, near the longitudinal centre of North America. , Winnipeg had a city population of 749,6 ...

and Ottawa. He suffered for alcoholism throughout his life. Hogan died in Ottawa, Ontario in 2014, from heart and liver failure.

Art

Hogan's paintings are considered part of the

Woodlands style Woodlands style, also called the Woodlands school, Legend painting, Medicine painting,
''Native Am ...

of First Nations art, founded by

Norval Morrisseau Norval Morrisseau (March 14, 1932 – December 4, 2007), also known as Copper Thunderbird, was an Indigenous Canadian artist from the Bingwi Neyaashi Anishinaabek First Nation. Known as the "Picasso of the North", Morrisseau created works depi ...

. His paintings use bright colours, and portray animals and First Nations mythical figures in outline form. Hogan donated 200 of his paintings to the

Ottawa School of Art The Ottawa School of Art is a non-profit art school in downtown Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. The school offers a one-year certificate program, a three-year diploma program, art camps, and general interest courses, as well as providing exhibition s ...

at his death, with the proceeds of sold paintings going to scholarships for struggling artists.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hogan, Thomas Ojibwe people First Nations artists Artists from Ontario 1955 births 2014 deaths Woodlands style