Maud Lewis

About Maud Lewis

Maud Lewis was born in South Ohio, Nova Scotia, in 1901. Living most of her life in poverty and crippled by arthritis Maud had a difficult life. In 1938, Maud married Everett Lewis, a fish peddler. She spent the rest of her life with Everett in their one room house in Marshalltown. Maud's first paintings were Christmas cards that she sold door to door. Soon, she was making larger paintings of the places, creatures and people in her community in bright, solid colors. Her paintings are cheerful and often humorous despite her harsh living conditions. Their tiny home had no running water, no indoor facilities and no power.

Maud is one of Canada's best known and loved folk artists. She painted on panels and cards but also on shells and even a dustpan. She decorated her small house inside and out with flowers and whimsical creatures. Maud's work can be found in the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, which has reconstructed her house and installed it in the gallery as part of a permanent Maud Lewis exhibit. Her work can also be found in the Canadian Museum of Civilization. She is the subject of a book, "The Illuminated Life of Maud Lewis", and a stage play has been written about her life. She is also the subject of two National Film Board of Canada documentaries, "Maud Lewis - A World Without Shadows" (1997), and "The Illuminated Life of Maud Lewis" (1998), and recently a biopic on her life entitled ‘Maudie’ starring Sally Hawkins and Ethan Hawke was produced.