Internationally acclaimed Canadian artist Philip Aziz, whose residence sprawls above the main campus at The University of Western Ontario, died Sunday at the age of 86 following a battle with cancer.
Born in St. Thomas, Aziz’s works hang in institutions, public galleries, universities and churches worldwide including London, Ottawa, New York, Detroit, Montreal, Washington, Paris, Australia and even the Vatican.
Aziz’s resume included painter, sculptor, designer of buildings, jewelled metal work chapels, altarpieces, chalices and crosses. He was featured in the world’s and Canada’s book of Who’s Who.
Despite this international acclaim, Aziz continued to live in London – on Philip Aziz Avenue, in fact – named in his honour during London’s 150th celebration.
A graduate of Yale and Harvard, Aziz was an instructor at Western and was the first artist-in-residence at the university, helping to expand the art collection at the McIntosh Gallery.
Aziz is survived by his brother Taft, sister Elias (Julie) Bourisk. Other survivors include his sister-in-law, Josephine Aziz and her children Peter and his wife Kate Aziz of Toronto, Charles Aziz, Sandra Wilton and Susan Aziz of London and several other out of town nieces and nephews.
A celebration of Aziz’s life will be scheduled at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Philip Aziz Foundation of Art, 150 Philip Aziz Ave., London, ON N6G 1G8.
