Saskatchewan Artist

Joseph Cross

Joseph Cross was born in Saskatchewan in 1949. In 1974, Cross moved to Cranbook, British Columbia. It was there that he began painting. A self-taught artist, Cross works in oils, pastels, acrylics, watercolours, and pen and ink.

Cross focuses on the natural world in his work, with frequent subjects being mountains, lakes, and prairie fields, though he has also been commissioned to paint portraits. Of his nature-themed work, Ruth Martens wrote: “From his towering mountains, golden fields of grain, turbulent rivers and colourful alpine meadows emanates the glow of a world at peace with itself. This perception is enhanced by the remarkable attention to detail in his landscapes, resulting in a near photographic representation of the subject.”

One series of Cross's work from 2006 explores the life of early-1800s fur trader and mapper David Thompson. Paintings from this series, the “David Thompson Legacy Art Project,” have been exhibited at the Jasper Yellowhead Museum in Alberta (2010) and featured in British Columbia magazine (2005). Cross was invited to create this series—which includes nearly 100 paintings — by the North American David Thompson Bicentennials Steering Committee.

Cross's works have been exhibited across Canada and have appeared in numerous magazines, including International Artist (2002, 2005), Pastel Artist International (2002), and Galleries West (2004). He has completed commissions for the College of the Rockies (Cranbrook), Kenora Heritage Mural Society (Ontario), Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (Edmonton), Ktunaxa Tribal Council, and other institutions.

In 2007, Cross was named “Artist of the Year” by Trout Unlimited Canada.

Joseph Cross lives in Cranbrook, British Columbia, where he works from his home studio.