Brydon Evans SMITH

1938 - 2022

BRYDON EVANS SMITH Brydon Evans Smith, prominent art curator and museum administrator, died in Ottawa on July 19, 2022. He was born on February 1, 1938, to Mildred and Clifford Smith in Hamilton, Ontario, a city for which he retained a lifelong affection. Beloved father of Shannon (Jamie Carstairs), David (Karen Stauss), Bronwyn, and Rebekah (Andrew Lockey), grandfather to Mahaila, Leona, Azura, Raven, Terra, and Theo; great-grandfather to Nebula and Ajax. Dearly loved spouse, friend, colleague, and fellow traveller to Ann Thomas. Predeceased by his first wife, Jane Irwin. He will also be deeply missed by his nephews, David, Spencer, and Matthew; his nieces, Susan and Sally; his sister-in-law, Joan Lister; and other extended family members. He placed great value on friendship and to the end of his life he enjoyed the enduring affection and respect of his former national and international colleagues and artists, despite the limitations that his declining cognitive condition placed on social gatherings. Brydon studied science at McMaster University before falling under the spell of art and completing an M.A. in art history at University of Toronto. His interest in the relationship between art and science underpinned his analytical and aesthetic appreciation of works of art. It also informed his knowledge of and respect for art conservation. From his position as Assistant Curator at the Art Gallery of Ontario, he was brought to the National Gallery of Canada in 1967 by its director, Jean Boggs. Known nationally and internationally for his bold and prescient acquisitions and landmark exhibitions, he had an indelible impact on the cultural landscape of Canada. As Assistant Director and Director of Research and Collections, he played a key role in the planning and realization of the new National Gallery of Canada building in 1988, for which he received a Public Service Award of Merit. His defence of his acquisition of controversial works of art such as Claes Oldenburg's Floor Burger and Barnett Newman's Voice of Fire were conducted with passion, eloquence, and humour and launched national public conversations about art. His championing of Indigenous artists was a vital but lesser-known aspect of his career. Smith was honoured in 2014 with a Governor General's Award in Visual and Media Arts for his extraordinary contribution to the visual arts in Canada. Accomplished magician, generous and fun-loving host, eco-warrior, inventor of the Samuel Beckett Martini, margarita-maker par excellence, Brydon will live on in our memories not only for having made a lasting contribution to the arts in Canada and abroad but as a lover of life to its fullest. Donations may be made in his name to: The Canadian Wildlife Federation, The Alzheimer Society of Canada Research branch or the Dementia Society, Ottawa Renfrew. Celebrations of Brydon's life will be held in the coming months.