Yellowhead at the Narrows

About Yellowhead at the Narrows

This contemporary painting of a historic indigenous figure is by Charles Pachter.

One of Canada’s greatest living artists, Charles Pachter, has long been inspired by the rich history of his own country. Known best for his colourful pop art that depicts iconic images like the Canadian flag, the maple leaf, the moose and the Queen, Pachter has also created artwork that commemorates significant figures and moments from our nation’s past. This painting is one of a series based on a famous indigenous chief from the Ojibwe tribe named William Yellowhead.
During the War of 1812, he fought alongside Canadians and the British against American occupation. In this piece, Yellowhead is wearing a beautifully decorated traditional dress. He stands with his back to the viewer beside a lake, looking towards the distant horizon. Dark hills loom in the background. A bright red sun hangs in the deep blue sky. His clothing is rendered in a mix of blues, reds, orange, yellow and black on white. Yellow, orange and white feathers make up a headdress. These vivid colours stand out against the deep blue of the water and the sky.

“Pachter’s art is woven into the very fabric of his country’s iconography and public consciousness.” Tom Smart, writer, art museum curator

Charles Pachter studied at the University of Toronto, the Sorbonne in Paris and at the Cranbrook Academy of Art in the USA. Among his many accolades, he is an Officer of the Order of Canada, a member of the Order of Ontario, a Chevalier of France’s Order of Arts and Letters and a recipient of the Queen’s Golden and Diamond Jubilee medals. He has had numerous solo exhibitions in Europe, Japan, the UK, India and Bangladesh. His work is held in both private and public collections around the world, including the Art Gallery of Ontario, the Royal Ontario Museum and the McMichael Gallery.