Lawren Harris co-founder of the Group of Seven and one of Canada’s greatest landscape artist

On my walk in Kleinburg, Ontario, paintbrush in hand at the McMichael Gallery, I discovered the grave of the great Canadian artist, Lawren Harris, and his second wife, Bess.

Born in Brantford, Ontario, Lawren came from a wealthy family that made its fortune as merchants of farm machinery—better known to many Canadians as Massey-Harris.

Despite never having to worry about money, Lawren carved his own path. After attending the University of Toronto, he turned to painting urban landscapes, distinguished by a bright palette and an extraordinary focus on light. His early works evoke the vibrancy and intensity reminiscent of post-impressionist painter Vincent Van Gogh.

In 1911, Lawren met fellow artist J.E.H. MacDonald. Their shared vision took them on sketching trips across Canada, driven by the idea of painting landscapes that were distinctly Canadian and modern.

Nine years later, these two friends co-founded the Group of Seven, inviting artists Franklin Carmichael, A.Y. Jackson, Frank Johnston, and Frederick Varley to join. Together, they opened the eyes of Canadians—and the world—to the beauty of Canada’s wilderness and unique spirit.

Lawren’s love for the North is evident in his stunning depictions of Lake Superior and the rugged north shore. Later, he ventured west, creating breathtaking sketches of the Canadian Rockies with their majestic, snow-capped peaks.

On November 23, 2016, his iconic painting Mountain Forms was purchased by an anonymous buyer for a record-setting $11.2 million, underscoring Harris’s enduring importance in Canadian art.

Lawren Harris died in Vancouver on January 29, 1970. He was 85.

1885-1970

I visited Lawren Harris’s father and grandfathers cemetery plot at Greenwood Cemetery in Brantford, Ontario followed by a short drive to Glenhyrst Gardens to walk the beautiful grounds and gardens and view the commemorative plaque honouring the great painter.

Wellesley, Ontario, the annual “Apple,Butter and Cheese Festival”, September 27, 2025. A Massey-Harris tractor. (Photo provided by Ian McCutcheon, Toronto antique dealer).

MARCH 20, 1970: A.Y. Jackson places pine boughs on the caskets of Lawren Harris and his wife, Bess, during a memorial service outside the McMichael gallery in Kleinburg, Ontario. A.Y. Jackson was the last survivor of the group.

Harris’ Mountain Forms