{{short description|Canadian artist (born 1935)}} {{Use dmy dates|date= September 2022}} {{Infobox person | name = Barbara A. Paterson | image = Image:barbara paterson.jpg | image_size = | alt = | caption = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth year and age|1935}} | birth_place = Edmonton, Alberta | death_date = | death_place = | nationality = | spouse = | education = | awards = | occupation = Sculptor }}
'''Barbara A. Paterson''' {{post-nominals|country=CAN|CM|RCA|size=100%}} is a Canadian artist, primarily known for her bronze figurative works, specializing in a variety of sculpture media including wax, stone, bronze and welded steel. She is based in Edmonton and is best known for her public sculptures of the "Famous Five."
== Biography == Paterson was born and raised in Edmonton and is the great-granddaughter of physician, [https://www.albertadoctors.org/about/who-we-are/history/pioneering-alberta-doctors/dr-william-morrison-mackay/ William Morrison MacKay].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/26598877/edmonton_journal/|title=Depicting History for the Future|last=Staples|first=David|date=30 September 2015|work=Edmonton Journal|access-date=2018-12-28|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Paterson attended the University of Alberta (U of A), where she met her future husband John Paterson. After receiving her Fine Arts diploma, Barbara worked as a stay-at-home mom.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Mandel |first=Charles |date=29 October 1997 |title=Sculptor of Famous Five Making Her Own History |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/26598344/edmonton_journal/ |access-date=2018-12-28 |work=Edmonton Journal |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> After raising three sons, she returned to U of A and earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1988.<ref name=":0" />
Paterson sculpted numerous public commissions, including Lois Hole "A Legacy of Love and Learning", and the "Famous Five" monuments in Calgary, Alberta's Olympic Square and on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www2.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/comment/story.html?id=479de94e-a305-4a52-a772-e703cbbb4c7f |title=Give a gift to the city: The Emily Carr statue |publisher=.canada.com |date=2009-10-22 |access-date=2011-02-04}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.gc.ca/web/article-eng.do?m=/index&nid=554679 |title=Government of Canada Supports Commemoration of Canadian Artist and Writer Emily Carr |publisher=News.gc.ca |date=2010-08-20 |access-date=2011-02-04 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120327075103/http://news.gc.ca/web/article-eng.do?m=%2Findex&nid=554679 |archive-date=2012-03-27 }}</ref> A detail image from the "Famous Five" monuments was featured on a Canada Post stamp in October 1999, and was pictured on the Canadian $50.00 bill. An image of part of the statue can now be seen on the inner pages of the Canadian passport. The "Famous Five" sculpture, which is titled the ''Women are Persons! Monument'', includes an empty chair which the artist added in order to make the sculpture more interactive.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/26599406/calgary_herald/|title=Artist Invites Calgarians to Join with Famous Five|last=Adams|first=Jeff|date=6 August 1999|work=Calgary Herald|access-date=2018-12-28}}</ref>
In 2000, Paterson was honoured by U of A with a Distinguished Alumni Award,<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Barbara Paterson |url=http://www.heroines.ca/people/paterson.html |url-status= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181111200601/http://www.heroines.ca/people/paterson.html |archive-date=11 November 2018 |access-date=28 December 2018 |website=Heroines.ca}}</ref> and in 2021, was named to the Order of Canada for her extraordinary contributions.
==Works== <gallery> File:Emilymurphy.jpg|Barbara Paterson's statue of Emily Murphy in the Famous five, Parliament Hill, Ottawa, Ontario File:Famous Five-Headline.jpg|Barbara Paterson's statue of Nellie McClung in the Famous five, Parliament Hill, Ottawa, Ontario </gallery>
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links ==
* [http://albertasocietyofartists.com/2016/05/06/featured-artist-for-may-6-barbara-paterson-bfa-rca-asa/ Featured Artist interview]{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} {{commons}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Paterson, Barbara}} Category:Canadian sculptors Category:Artists from Edmonton Category:Living people Category:Canadian women artists Category:University of Alberta alumni Category:Members of the Order of Canada Category:Members of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts Category:1935 births
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