Sorel Etrog Israeli-Canadian, 1933-2014

Since the late 1950s, Sorel Etrog's work has been exhibited extensively in solo and group exhibitions across Canada and internationally.

Etrog's work is represented in major cities all over the world, and he has received several important commissions — including those for Expo 67, Montreal; SunLife Centre, Toronto; Windsor Sculpture Garden, Windsor, Ontario; Los Angeles County Museum and Olympic Park in Seoul Korea. In 1966, works by Etrog along with those of Alex Colville and Yves Gaucher represented Canada at the Venice Biennale. In 1968 Etrog was commissioned to design the Canadian Film Award that was originally named the "Etrog" and later renamed the "Genie.”

Etrog is also known for his writings and published plays, poetry, and non-fiction. Of his many collaborations, the most acclaimed are his book illustrations for Eugène Ionesco and Samuel Beckett in the late 1960s. Etrog and Marshall McLuhan collaborated on the publication Spiral, drawn from Etrog’s film of the same title which was broadcast on CBC television in 1975.

Numerous reviews, articles, monographs and catalogue texts have been written about Etrog, including Pierre Restany’s comprehensive textbook published by Prestel 2001. A major exhibition of Etrog’s paintings and drawings from the 1960s was exhibited in March 2008 at Buschlen Mowatt Gallery, Vancouver.