Bertram Richard Brooker: Pioneer of Canadian Abstract Art Bertram Richard Brooker (1888-1955) stands as a singular figure in the annals of Canadian art history—a painter, novelist, poet, screenwriter, playwright, essayist, copywriter, and graphic designer who seamlessly blended artistic vision with diverse creative pursuits. Born on March 31st, 1888, in Croydon, England, Brooker’s family relocated to Portage la Prairie, Manitoba when he was seventeen years old, marking the beginning of a life deeply intertwined with the prairie landscape and its burgeoning artistic community. His artistic j…