Although he was well known as a painter of innocence and  simple childhood scenes, William Kurelek (1927-1977) was also a "chronicler of the experiences of various cultural groups in Canada, devoting entire series to Ukrainian, Polish, Irish, Jewish and Inuit peoples".

William Kurelek: The Messenger is the largest retrospective exhibition of his art to date ever mounted. In his own words : "As an artist I have a particular vision of what will happen because of the things men are doing and becoming; and feel compelled... to express it graphically...".