Joshim Kakegamic - The Litman Collection

As a resident of Kenora and later Winnipeg, Dr. Jerry Litman (1928 - 2020) brought a genuine excitement to collecting works of Indigenous art that reflected the communities in which he worked. Dr. Litman practised as a dentist in remote areas of Ontario and Manitoba where there was limited access to dental services, and also worked with Indigenous communities in these areas.

It was through this work that Litman encountered many remarkable artists, including Joshim Kakegamic and Norval Morrisseau. He became lifelong friends with Kakegamic and an enthusiastic patron of his art. With an eye for quality and a love for this flourishing contemporary art movement, Dr. Litman collected over 250 paintings by Kakegamic and other contemporary Indigenous artists.

Joshim (Josh) Kakegamic was an integral part of the Woodlands School and from the generation of Woodlands artists in the 1960s who were inspired by Norval Morrisseau.

Kakegamic was both a talented and prolific artist, creating a compelling body of work that was uniquely stylized in the midst of what had become a modern Indigenous art movement. As a pioneering member of this movement, he quickly developed his own sense of identity within his beautiful, smooth line drawings that became the foundation of his paintings.

It was through his work as a dentist in the Kenora area that Dr. Jerry Litman encountered many remarkable artists, including Kakegamic. He became lifelong friends with Kakegamic and an enthusiastic patron of his art, amassing a vast collection.

There are various reasons that a person becomes an avid art collector. Often, it is circumstance, but what all collectors have in common is a passion and a desire to acquire more of the art they love. 

The 51 paintings featured in Joshim Kakegamic: The Litman Collection date from the early 1970s to early 1980s, representing a mature period in the artist’s career. It is our intention to shine light on the tremendous contributions Kakegamic made to Canadian art.