B.C.-based painter, philanthropist and educator Gordon Smith has died.

VancouverB次元官网网址檚 Equinox Gallery says the celebrated artist, who dedicated his life to the arts and mentoring new talent, died Saturday. He was 100.

The gallery says the English-born Smith came to Winnipeg in 1933 and studied at the Winnipeg School of Art. He had his first professional exhibition in 1938.

In 1941, he served in the Second World War with the Princess PatriciaB次元官网网址檚 Canadian Light Infantry, and then joined the University of British Columbia where he taught until 1982.

His dedication to new talent included the Gordon and Marion Smith Foundation for Young Artists, which he founded with his late wife Marion Fleming. SmithB次元官网网址檚 various awards include the Order of Canada, the Order of British Columbia, the Governor GeneralB次元官网网址檚 Award in Visual and Media Arts and the Audain Prize for Lifetime Achievement in the Visual Arts.

The Equinox Gallery, where Smith held more than 25 solo exhibitions, says a memorial in his honour will be announced at a future date.

B次元官网网址淎 key figure in Canadian art, Smith lived his life with a generosity and grace that was a gift to the world,B次元官网网址� the gallery said in a statement on the weekend.

B次元官网网址淕ordon Smith, an exceptional artist and uniquely generous human being, will be greatly missed by all who had the privilege to know him.B次元官网网址�

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