RUDOLF BIKKERS

1943 - 2023

BIKKERS, RUDOLF April 5, 1943 - February 6, 2023 Surrounded and supported by the love of his family, Rudolf chose a medically assisted death at home, after a long struggle with Parkinson's Disease. He was born and raised in The Netherlands. At 17, he was the youngest student to be admitted to the Jan van Eyck Academy in Maastricht on a six-year scholarship, majoring in printmaking and graduating with honours in 1966. He continued his cello studies as well, at the Conservatory next door. He immigrated to Canada in the summer of 1966. Combining his passion for printmaking with his enthusiasm for teaching, he's had a long and varied career. He taught drawing at H.B. Beal High School in London, ON, primarily to become more confident in conversational English; progressed to Chair of Printmaking at Fanshawe College; and then assumed Chairmanship of OCA's (now OCADU) Print Department in Toronto in 1983, where he taught until 2012. Rudolf's inquiring mind and contagiously creative spirit have inspired generations of young artists, fortunate to have been his students. In the seventies, he also established the masterprint studio, Editions Canada, where he produced numerous national and international artists' prints. A prolific artist, he's had 23 solo shows and participated in 20 group shows in Canada, the U.S., Europe, South Africa, Japan and China. Rudolf's imagery could be described as biomorphic, biocentric or perhaps better, biodynamic. His prints and paintings can be found in many public, corporate and private collections. His awards include the A.J. Casson Award. He was elected member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts and received the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal in 2002. Rudolf's sense of adventure, happily shared with his family, led to great travels. They've zig-zagged their way across Europe, most of North America, and included a four-month house-sitting stint on a Fijian island. When the kids went their own way, he and Thera continued their travels, checking out cities and places in alphabetical order. Working their way through the B's (Berlin, Budapest, Bali, Barcelona, Bordeaux and everything in between), his disease gradually put a stop to the fun. Rudolf is remembered with love by his wife of 56 years, Thera; their daughter, Anouk (Adam); son, Tibor (Deepa); and adored granddaughter, Marin. Cremation has taken place. Please do not send flowers. Generous to a fault, nothing would make Rudolf happier than knowing that we'd all show a little extra generosity of spirit towards each other. A celebration of his life will take place at a later date.