An abstract painter, Kathleen Margaret Graham began her formal artistic career only after the sudden death of her husband in 1962. Although Graham attended classes at Central Technical School in Toronto, she is largely a self-taught painter. Jack Bush, a friend and mentor to Graham, hung her first exhibition “Homage to Emily Dickinson” at the Carmen Lamanna Gallery in 1967. In the 1970s, Graham began her many trips to Cape Dorset where she would later become an artist in residence. Here, Graham produced several series of lithographs that were in addition to her creations on canvas. Up until the 1990s, Graham traveled extensively to Newfoundland and Labrador, which became a major inspiration for her work.
Graham actively exhibited from the 1960s until the 2000s at galleries such as Carmen Lamanna, The Pollock Gallery, David Mirvish, and the Moore Gallery. Graham’s work can be found major collections such as the Art Gallery of Ontario, the National Gallery of Canada, the Vancouver Art Gallery, and the British Museum.
Source: “Graham, K. M. (Kathleen Margaret)” prepared by Aline Zara. Art Gallery of Ontario, E.P. Taylor Research Library and Archives. Accessed October 13, 2025. https://atom.ago.ca/index.php/graham-k-m-kathleen-margaret-1913-2008
