Canadian Portrait Academy

The Canadian Portrait Academy (CPA), is a professional Canadian art academy dedicated to the practice and appreciation of portraiture within Canada and abroad.

In 1996, Canadian artist and historian Christian Corbet visited the studios and corresponded with some of the leading portrait artists of the time. It was noted then that no official portrait organization had ever been formed in Canada prior to that year and on 7 March 1997 the CPA was established. Some of the CPA founding members included: Christian Corbet, who served as the first President of the CPA, Elizabeth Bradford Holbrook, Myfanwy Pavelic, and Dora de Pedery-Hunt. The first CPA Honorary Academician was Cleeve Horne.

The CPAs first annual exhibition was held in Vancouver, British Columbia in 1998, lauded by noted Canadian art historian Joan Murray and Canadian Governor General Roméo LeBlanc.

Since its inception the CPA stands as the first professional academy dedicated to the fine art of portraiture in Canada, raising the profile of portrait artists internationally. The CPA does this by means of sponsored exhibitions, the CPA Permanent Collection and the extensive artists files that the Academy houses.

The CPA has exhibited from coast to coast in Canada and in the United Kingdom, and has donated and commissioned numerous portraits for many important art galleries and museums around the world including the Imperial War Museum and the British Museum, among many others. Some noted personalities to have had their portraits commissioned by the CPA include: Queen Elizabeth II, Dame Jane Goodall, Conrad Black, and Barbara Amiel.

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