Ernest Heidersdorf is one of Canada's foremost painters of flowers. His work is found in the homes of art lovers as well as in many private and corporate collections around the world.
Ernest Heidersdorf was born in Germany. He opened a commercial studio in Berlin where he established an international reputation for his wallpaper and textile designs. In 1953, he and his family settled permanently in Canada.
He became a full-time artist specializing in such difficult media as tempera casein and watercolors. His remarkable technique combined with the life and movement in his paintings drew the attention of many serious art collectors in Canada and abroad.
In 1966, he was commissioned to paint the "Centennial Rose" for presentation to the Queen at Buckingham Palace. In 1969, he painted the "Royal Canadian Rose" presented to Madame Vanier, wife of the former governor-general of Canada.
He had a number of successful one-man shows. In 1974, his painting "Black-Eyed Susans" was selected for the Canadian Nature Art Calendar.
In 1980, Ernest Heidersdorf was the only artist to be exhibited for the entire event at "Les Floralies Internationales de Montreal."
In November 1982, he had two of his paintings selected for the World Wildlife Fund Art Auction held in Toronto under the patronage of the Duke of Edinburgh.
In 1993, an exhibition titled "Wild Flowers of Canada" held at the Canadian Museum of Nature in Ottawa celebrated Heidersdorf's life work.
