ISABEL MCLAUGHLIN (1903-2002)

Isabel McLaughlin was a prolific modernist landscape painter and patron of the arts whose philanthropy supported a foundational generation of Canadian artists. As a student at the Ontario College of Art (OCA, now OCAD University), McLaughlin studied under influential instructors, including Yvonne McKague Housser, whose guidance helped shape her development as a modernist painter, and Group of Seven member Arthur Lismer.

Early in her career, her peers and mentors noted her dedication as an artist. She was invited to exhibit alongside the Group of Seven in 1931 and held her first solo exhibition at the Art Gallery of Toronto (now the Art Gallery of Ontario) in 1933.¹

As a founding member of the Canadian Group of Painters in 1933, McLaughlin helped expand the national conversation around contemporary art. In 1939, she became the first woman to serve as president of the organization, demonstrating the growing influence of women artists in Canada’s cultural landscape.² 

Beyond her own creative achievements, McLaughlin was a dedicated supporter of Canadian artists. Through her extensive collection and philanthropy, she preserved important works by generations of Canadian creators and helped ensure their continued accessibility for future audiences. Her contributions shaped the collections of numerous public art institutions and strengthened Canada’s cultural landscape.

Learn more about Isabel McLaughlin

¹ Robert McLaughlin Gallery, History

² Loch Gallery, Isabel McLaughlin

Image credit: Isabel McLaughlin, A Blowy Day at Cowansville, P.Q. 1937