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Carle Hessay in 1960 (photo by N.C. Curtis, the Surrey Archives)

UPDATE April 2025 A juried article called "Searching for Carle Hessay: The Immigrant Artist Who Shaped My Life," was published in the International Journal of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences. Volume 06, no. 04, April 2025.  It is based on the presentation given to the Associates of the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria last year by Maidie Hilmo (mentioned below). See: https://ijahss.net/assets/files/1747518917.pdf

Abstract: The purpose of this article is to introduce the works of European born Canadian artist Carle Hessay, not only because of their high artistic merit, but because they speak so eloquently and profoundly to our own time.  Much is unknown about this extraordinary artist and international traveller who was caught in some of the seminal events of the first half of the 20th century. My approach in trying to recover and integrate fragmentary evidence is multifaceted. I will (a) draw on my own knowledge of him, (c) try to recover as much historical information as possible from records and other documentary evidence as possible, and (d) examine some of the most important historical paintings that constitute his real self-portrait and convey his thoughts and feeling to us in the most accessible way. His work has a surprising and important current relevance for us today. 

Recent UPDATES  Sept. 13, 2024 At the meeting of the Associates of the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, guest speaker Maidie Hilmo gave a presentation. She illustrated her talk to the Associates with multiple slides of Hessay’s paintings, covering his wide range of styles from abstract to traditional and his diverse themes." (Happenings, October - November2024, vol. 12, No. 2) 

Maidie answering questions about a Hessay painting after the presentation

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Nov. 25, 2023 The Carle Hessay Exhibit and Video Premiere of Carle Hessay, As We Knew Him was held at the Langley Community Music School in Langley, BC on November 25, 2023. Now available for the first time the following is the link to the people who knew him talking about the artist.

See:   https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuZBdkjlRD-nm_9A2jbc8dQkExgWOEA1S  

These include Leonard A. Woods, Warren Sommer, Susan Magnusson, Mary Mikelson, Anne Bowen, Pat Parungao, Jamie and Sheila Van Loon (Lawrence), and Father Dunstan Massey. Canadian poets bill bissett and Linda Rogers also respond. They reveal the character of the man and his artistic accomplishments. 
 

   After the Exhibit and Video Premiere,

   Forgotten Logging Camp and Magenta Fire

   are now displayed side-by-side,

   flanked by two bronzes by Leonard A. Woods,

   in the lobby of the Langley Community Music School

His dynamic paintings include abstracts, urban scenes, landscapes of the deep BC wilderness, ethnic, mythological, and biblical scenes, as well as Future World images. Learn more about Hessay's art and life by clicking on the menu bars on the left side of the page.

Carle Hessay helped define the cultural landscape of British Columbia, especially in the Lower Mainland, from the 1950s until his death at a New Year’s party in Spuzzum BC on January 1, 1978.

Carle Hessay's artist's statement, or what effectively serves as such, was included in a letter to a friend who wanted his advice on her work: "I believe it's perfectly natural for a person to have a creative urge which cries out for expression. When I look at a painting or listen to a musical composition, I try to understand the reason why this was created in the first place. I like to look at paintings that are original, of the artist's own imagination, (and) if they're poetic and communicate ideas that are new and exciting, I enjoy them that much more."  (Courtesy of Kelly Garner)

This site will be updated on an ongoing basis to add more paintings and additional information.

Variations in dimensions between metric and imperial measurements may depend on whether the paintings were measured unframed or inside the frame. The sizes of the thumbnail images do not reflect the relative size of the paintings.

Please contact carlehessayestate@gmail.com if you own a Hessay painting, have memories to share, would like to comment on a particular painting (possibly to be included and acknowledged on this site), or would like information on the paintings.