Ronald T. Crawford’s paintings reflect both the theoretical and physical aspects of his life. On the one hand he has an extensive fine art education and has been exhibiting his work for over 30 years. On the other hand, for the past 25 years he has had extensive experience working on Salt Spring Island with functional and sculptural stonework.

His multifaceted paintings are the result of the blending of contemporary painting concerns with the earthy spiritualism of stone. These works are made with a unique combination of plaster and acrylic paint, resulting in a modern variation on the frescoes.The surfaces are carved, shaped, sanded and painted until they take on a rich, naturally eroded appearance. The physical depth of the plaster gives a real surface for shadow and light to alter and enrich the image. Within the plaster, natural and man made patterns co-exist in an uneasy alliance of form.

Ronald T. Crawford is a Canadian painter and sculptor whose art bridges contemporary
painting with a masters knowledge of stone.He trained at the University of Oklahoma,
BFA, University of Calgary, Art History, Red Deer College Art and Design Program and
The Banff Centre under Takao Tanabe.

Since 1988 he has lived on Salt Spring Island developing a career between functional
and sculptural stonework that has strongly influenced his unique modern fresco
paintings.

The paintings built from plaster, sand, mica and acrylic paint are carved, shaped,
sanded and repainted until the surface transforms into an object of mystery and a
marker of geologic time. The textured surfaces catch light and reflect shadows acting as
a visual ambient landscape. Crawfords work continues to elaborate the the fusion and
tension of paintings that read as both images and objects,

• B.A. program. University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta.  Major in Art History. 1984-1986.  
• Studio Winter Program, The Banff Centre, Study with Takao Tanabe.
• Banff, Alberta. 1978- 1979. B.F.A. Graduate, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, U.S.A. 1976-1978. 
• Art and Design Graduate, Red Deer College. Red Deer, Alberta. 1974-1976A

Exhibitions 

FBC EXHIBITION Contemporary Craft , Group Exhibition,  Janaki Larsen Studio 110-1706 West 1st Ave. Vancouver BC October 17 to 19th 2025 

SUMMER GROUP SHOW    Group Exhibition,  Paul Kyle Gallery, 4-258 East 1 Avenue, Vancouver BC. August 20th - October 2025. 

SOOKE FINE ARTS SHOW 2024  Juried Exhibition  Seaparc Recreation Centre, 2168 Phillips Rd. Sooke BC. July 26 - August 4 2025 

ABOUT TIME Two person exhibition  Ronald T. Crawford, Peter McFarlane  Steffich Fine Arts Gallery, Salt Spring Island BC. May 2025. 

MARKING TIME Two person exhibition, Ronald T. Crawford, Janaki Larsen  Janaki Larsen Studio 119-1706 West 1st Ave. Sept 21 to Sept 29th 2024  

EXQUISITE SURREAL  Salt Spring National Art Prize Auction and Fundraiser. Mahon Hall, Salt Spring Island Oct 7 to Oct 15 2024 

OCTOGONY EIGHT ARTISTS NEW WORK  Mahon Hall, Salt Spring Island, BC. September 21 to 29th.  2022 

*CAVE CHANTING A RONALD T. CRAWFORD RETROSPECTIVE 1989-2021, Curated by Rosalie Matchett. Mahon Hall, Salt Spring Island, April, May 2021. 

STEEL AND STONE  Two person exhibition Ronald T. Crawford, Peter McFarlane, Steffich Fine Arts Gallery, Salt Spring Island BC. June 2020

SYMBOLICALLY 8  Gallery 8 artists, Gallery 8, 3104 115 Ganges Point Square, Salt Spring Island. BC  May 2018

THE TIDAL EDGE -NEW PAINTINGS BY CAROL HAIGH / RONALD T. CRAWFORD. Steffich Fine Arts Gallery, Grace Point, Salt Spring Island. June 28th to July12 2013 

SOOKE FINE ARTS SHOW 2O13 Juried Exhibition Seaparc Recreation Centre, 2168 Phillips Rd. Sooke, BC. July 26 to August 5 2013

TWO  WINGS EXHIBITION  Group Exhibition Gallery 8, 3104 115 Ganges Point Square, Salt Spring Island, August 31st to October 1st. 2012. 

SIGNATURE SHOWCASE  A group exhibition juried by Matt Steffich. ArtSpring Centre for the Arts, Salt Spring Island, BC June 29th to July 7, 2012. 

SIDNEY FINE ARTS Juried Fine Arts Show. Mary Winspear Centre, Sydney BC  Oct 14, 15, 16, 2011 and 2012 

ATTACHMENTS  A gourd exhibition, Mahon Hall, 114 Rainbow Road, Saltspring Island, BC. September 23 to October 2nd, 2011

SYMBOLICALLY EIGHT  Group Exhibition , Gallery 8, 3104 115  Grace Point Square, Salt Spring Island, April 2010. 

RONALD T. CRAWFORD & MICHAEL ROBB  NEW WORKS.  Gallery 8, 3104 115 Ganges Point Square, Salt Spring Island, BC. Sept 10 to Oct 2nd. 2010 

MASTERPIECE WEEKEND 40 WORKS BY 40 ARTISTS, Curated by Matt Steffich. ArtSpring Island Art Centre, Salt Spring Island, BC. June 19 to June 21. 2009 

ONE PERSON EXHIBITION OF NEW WORKS, Judy Mitchell Gallery, Grace Point Square, Salt Spring Island, B.C. May 17 to June 4. 2008. 

LINEAGE, IN THE COMPANY OF DAUGHTERS. An exhibition of father and daughters . Judy Mitchell Gallery, Grace Point Square, Salt Spring Island, BC. September 28 to October 24th. 2007 

LAND MARKS, Work by Ronald T. Crawford, Gillian McConnell and Ian Thomas, curator Margaret Day. The Point Gallery, 132 Beaver Point Road, Salt Spring Island, BC. April 6 to May 6th. 2007

BETWEEN LOW TIDE  Featured Exhibition. Judy Mitchell Gallery, Salt Spring Island, BC. 2006

FIVE Stone Sculpture Installation, A Group Show, ArtSpring Gallery, Jackson Avenue, Salt Spring Island, BC August 16 to 28. 2005

THE PENDULUM SHOW Contemporary Art by 8 SaltSpring Artists. Pendulum Gallery, West Georgia Street,  Vancouver, BC.  August 30th to September 18th.  2004 

RONALD T. CRAWFORD An exhibition of New Works. Judy Mitchell Gallery, Salt Spring Island, BC. April 2003

FOUR ON THE FLOOR, THREE OFF THE WALL  An Exhibition of Paintings and Sculpture, ArtSpring Gallery, 105 JacksonAvenue, Salt Spring Island, BC  2003 

SPHERE Group Exhibition  Larsen Gallery, Granville St, Vancouver, BC August 2001 

VERNAL FANCIES  Paintings and Sculpture.  Gallery L.V. 2331 Granville Street, Vancouver, BC. June 2000

SEVEN ARTISTS  Salt Spring Gallery of Fine Arts, 124 Lower Ganges Road, Salt Spring Island, BC.    May 15 to June 15. 1999 

EROS 98. An Exhibition of Erotic Art, Mahon Hall, Salt Spring Island BC 1998

STEPPING AWAY A Juried Exhibition, Salt Spring Island Arts Council, Mahon Hall, Salt Spring Island, BC 1997 

VORTEX ANNUAL INVITATIONAL Mixed Material Group Exhibition, Vortex Gallery, Salt Spring Island, BC. 1997 

NOT JUST QUILTS Mixed Material, Group Exhibition, Mahon Hall, Salt Spring Island, BC.  1997 

THREE SIDES Three Alberta Artists. Alberta House, London , England 

COMMON GROUND, FOUR EMERGING ARTISTS Red Deer and District Museum and Archives, Red Deer, Alberta, Muttart Gallery, Calgary, Alberta. 1984/1985 

NEW ALBERTA ARTISTS Muttart Gallery, Curated by Elyse Elliot-Los , Calgary, Alberta. August 16 to September 10. 1983 

ALBERTA NOW  THE EDMONTON ART GALLERY  Curated by Jeffrey Spalding, Peter White, Wayne Staples and Russel Bingham Edmonton Art Gallery, Edmonton Alberta, May 2nd to June 22nd. 1980 

MADE IN ALBERTA Goup Exhibition Curated by Lorne Falk, Walter J. Philips Gallery , Banff, Alberta. 1979