Lars Jonson Haukaness


Lars Jonson Haukaness was a Norwegian born American-Canadian impressionist painter and art instructor who was known for his landscapes.

Early life and education

Haukaness was from the village of Folkedal, in Granvin municipality in the county of Hordaland, Norway. He was born the third of four sons of John Sjursen and Elisabet Haaversdatter on the Haukenæs farm in the Ulvik parish. In 1882, Haukaness receive a grant from the government of Norway, and from 1882 until 1885 he studied at the Royal Academy of Art with Knud Bergslien in Oslo.

Career

In 1888, Haukaness immigrated to the United States, locating in Chicago, Illinois. Haukaness was a designer and painter for the World's Columbian Exposition between 1892 and 1893. Works by Haukaness were exhibited at the Art Institute of Chicago in 1901 and 1902. Between 1902 and 1909, he lived in Madison and La Crosse, Wisconsin, and Spring Grove, Minnesota, where he worked as a portrait and landscape painter. From 1909 until 1913, he returned to Norway. Upon returning to the United States, Haukaness conducted exhibits in Chicago, Madison and Minneapolis. He also worked as a cartoonist.
In 1921, Haukaness moved to Manitoba, where he taught art in Winnipeg. In 1923, he was awarded a prize at the Chicago-Norwegian Exhibition. Works by Haukaness were exhibited at the Minnesota State Fair in 1925.
In 1926, Haukaness moved to Calgary, where he taught at the Provincial Institute of Technology and Art and introduced his students to modern art and impressionism. His students included Canadian artist Maxwell Bates. He painted frequently in the Ptarmigan Valley.

Death and legacy

Haukaness died in 1929, while head of the art department at the institute. He died of heart disease while camping in the Ptarmigan Valley in the Canadian Rockies, falling from his horse while trying to reach the resort at Lake Louise. He was buried in Banff, Alberta.
Art by Haukaness has been shown at exhibitions sponsored by St. Olaf College and the University of Minnesota. Works by Haukaness are presently featured in several art museums, including the Minneapolis Institute of Art and in the University of Alberta Art Collection.