Carl Ray A First Nations Artist and Founding Member of The Indian Group of Seven
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Carl Ray (1943–1978) was a First Nations artist who was active on the Canadian art scene from 1969 until his death in 1978. Considered primarily a Woodlands Style artist, he also painted European style wildlife and landscapes. He was a founding member of the Indian Group of Seven.

Self taught artist Carl Ray was born in 1943 on the Sandy Lake First Nation reserve in northern Ontario, Canada and was known in his Cree community as Tall Straight Poplar (he was 6’4″ tall) where he hunted and trapped after leaving residential school at fifteen following the death of his father. At this traditional way of living he was a failure – in Carl’s own words years later: “a year’s catch consisted of four beaver, one lynx, and an assortment of mice and rabbits”. Despite showing artistic promise at an early age, Carl was reluctant to break the taboo of painting the sacred beliefs and stories of his people. He did not touch a brush or paint for many years after having been admonished by his elders for doing so.

Carl Ray is best known for his work executed in the style of the Woodlands School (often referred to as “legend painting” style).

Lacking sophisticated technique, but resplendent with powerful imagery, his super-realistic images were unique, and his signature style is easily recognized. Describing his work, Carl stated “What you are looking at is ancient and sacred. In fact what you see could be described as a part of my soul”. The spiritual and emotional commitment he put into his work was substantial – “his (work) came from a very deep journey, a lot of people are afraid to make that journey” Many of his works were limited to two or three colours, brown, black and blue, often mixing ink and watercolours.

His lesser known, but equally powerful scenic western style canvases were also a large part of Carl’s repertoire. Often ensconced in hues of electric blue, he captured the wildlife and beauty of the Sandy Lake area. He also combined the two styles on occasion, capturing his imaginative images of Cree legends in full electrifying colour.

Carl was known by his peers as a man of general good humour. He was also known as somewhat of a jokester as described by fellow painter Alex Janvier: “Carl Ray was the guy who could laugh, make fun of you, throw a joke on you and he’d laugh his head off”.

Carl Ray was murdered, stabbed to death, as a result of a drunken brawl over money in Sioux Lookout in 1978. He was only 35 years old. In a note to Carl Ray by George Kenny after his death he wrote “I wonder if those paintings you painted ever satisfied your demons that drove you to paint…Didn’t you realize that fame only comes at the meeting of one of those demons — DEATH? ….Now we’ll never know the extent of your greatness…”