Walter Redinger (1940–2014, Wallacetown, Ontario) was one of Canada’s most radical and historically significant sculptors of the 20th century. Best known for his large-scale, organic fiberglass sculptures, Redinger forged a bold and visceral visual language that shaped the course of contemporary Canadian sculpture in the late 1960s and '70s. His work bridged the raw physicality of Abstract Expressionism with a singular biomorphic vision, producing forms that feel both ancient and futuristic, primal and psychological.

Raised on a tobacco farm in rural Southwestern Ontario, Redinger’s early life was grounded in physical labour, isolation, and direct contact with nature — all of which fed into the highly tactile, corporeal nature of his sculpture. Entirely self-taught as a sculptor, he began working in fiberglass in the early 1960s, making him one of the first artists in Canada to explore the material for fine art. He quickly attracted the attention of Toronto’s influential Isaacs Gallery, where he held his first solo show in 1963.

Throughout the late '60s and '70s, Redinger rose to national and international prominence, representing Canada at the 1972 Venice Biennale alongside Gershon Iskowitz — a career-defining moment that solidified his place in the canon of Canadian art. Major works from this period, including Klonos and Caucasian Totems, brought together body, machine, and metaphor in sculptural language that was fearless, sensual, and unapologetically physical.

Over a five-decade career, Redinger produced work in distinct, often radical phases — from his early “Organic Engine Combines” to his monumental suspended “Skeletals” and late-career masterwork, Ghost Ship (1990–2006), a 42-foot-long sculptural vessel that took more than 20 years to complete. This landmark work was featured in his critically acclaimed retrospective Return to the Void, curated by David Liss and presented at MOCCA (Toronto) and Museum London.

Redinger’s art can be found in major public collections including the National Gallery of Canada, Art Gallery of Ontario, Art Gallery of Hamilton, and Museum London, which holds over 50 of his works. His commissions and public installations appear in institutions across Canada and internationally, from Gairloch Gardens (Oakville) to the Het National Ballet (Netherlands).

Collectors and curators alike are drawn to Redinger’s work for its historical relevance, raw intensity, and fearless experimentation with form and material. As a sculptor who never wavered from his vision and lived most of his life just miles from where he was born, Walter Redinger stands as a singular voice in Canadian art history — an artist whose legacy continues to challenge and inspire.

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