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Fostering and promoting the Visual Arts throughout Ontario since 1872. |
Notices and Obituaries
Jaya Datta (Gupta) ObituaryJaya Datta, age 74, passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 23, 2026, surrounded by her loved ones. She was a wonderful mother, wife, sister, grandmother and friend. Over the course of her life, Jaya lived in 3 different countries, raised two successful children, pursued her passion, and became an accomplished artist. Despite her battle with cancer, Jaya kept a positive spirit and smiled her way through the tough times. Jaya is survived by her devoted husband of 50 years, Pradeep; sons Siddharth & Kunal; daughters-in-law, Rakhee & Zahra; and grandson, Kavir. We thank everyone that has touched Jaya and our families lives over the years. |
| Lillian Michiko Yano Blakey (July 5 th, 1945 – March 2 nd, 2026) Remembering a Remarkable Artist and Leader The OSA mourns the loss of a truly great artist and an outstanding member and former President. Who Was Lillian Michiko Blakey? She was not only an artist but also a dedicated teacher and a passionate advocate for equity. Through her images and words, she gave a voice to those who could not speak for themselves, honouring the memory of those who came before us, those who are with us now, and those who will come after. Lillian was also an environmental activist, a key committee member of the ongoing project, Letters to the Earth: Between Despair and Hope. |
Lillian’s Importance to the Ontario Society of Artists (OSA) Lillian played a vital role within the OSA. She was elected in 2005, and from the moment she joined, she worked tirelessly with the council. When she became president in 2006, she took over an organization facing significant challenges. Lillian got involved in all aspects necessary to make a volunteer society successful. Lillian served as President of the OSA from 2006 to 2008. Exhibitions and Accomplishments Lillian exhibited widely across Canada, including at the John B. Aird Gallery(Toronto), the Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre (Burnaby, B.C.),and the University of British Columbia’s "Absence in Remembrance: The Japanese Canadian Internment" exhibition. She participated in the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre’s "On Being Michiko" (2012), the Royal Ontario Museum’s "On Being Japanese Canadian: Reflections on a Broken World" (2019), the Canadian Museum of History’s "Lost Liberties: The War Measures Act" (2022), and the Canadian War Museum’s "Outside the Lines: Women Artists and War" (2024). Lillian also co-published the graphic novel " On Being Yukiko " (2020), with Jeff Chiba Stearns, which tells the story of her family’s forced relocation during the Second World War. Her art projections were featured in the world premiere of the ballet "Kimiko’s Pearl" (2024), produced by Bravo Niagara! Festival of the Arts atthe first Ontario Performing Arts Centre. Her works are also included in the Government of Ontario Art Collection and the Nikkei National Museum & Culture Centre. Lillian continued to create until her last breath, with books in progress and a constant flow of new artwork. She was recently one of the 7 recipients honoured with the King Charles III Coronation Medal awarded & presented by our Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, Edith Dumont, in 2025. Rest in Peace, dear Lillian. |