Graeme Shaw

In the Falling Light (NWT Lake) draws on Graeme Shaw’s years living in the remote wilderness northeast of Yellowknife near the north arm of Great Slave Lake. During the six years he spent there teaching and travelling throughout the rugged shield country, Shaw developed a deep connection to the northern landscape—an environment marked by endless lakes, exposed rock, vast skies, and a beauty that is both harsh and unforgettable.

Painted from memory, this work reflects a scene commonly encountered across the Northwest Territories during the long northern summer evenings, when soft fading light settles across the water and the wilderness grows quiet. Rather than focusing on a specific location, Shaw captures the atmosphere and emotional resonance of the north: its stillness, isolation, and immense scale.

Part of Shaw’s ongoing exploration of Canadian wilderness landscapes, In the Falling Light (NWT Lake) balances observation with memory to create a painting rich in mood and authenticity. Through luminous light, expansive space, and expressive brushwork, Shaw conveys both the ruggedness and serenity that have inspired his northern paintings for more than three decades.