Benjamin Chee Chee
Benjamin Chee Chee
1944 - 1977
Benjamin Chee Chee was an Ojibway artist closely associated with the Woodland school, a First Nations group of artists. He was known for his modern, simplified linear style.

Chee Chee was born in 1944 in Temagami, northern Ontario. His childhood was tumultuous - he lost his father as an infant, and spent stretches separated from his mother while living in foster homes and reform institutions. Upon moving to Montreal in his early twenties, Chee Chee worked odd jobs and began to foster his painting practice. Upon moving to Ottawa in the late 1960s, he was reunited with his mother after a twelve year separation. Chee Chee sold his artwork informally on the street, before holding first his solo show at the Nicolas Art Gallery in 1973.

Over the next few years, Chee Chee refined his style; reducing forms to a few simple and graceful lines, and using colour sparingly, to powerful symbolic effect. Geese and swallows were his favourite subjects, often depicted in only yellow and black. These simplified forms translated well to silkscreens, and Chee Chee began to produce limited editions based on his original acrylics.

Following successful showings in Ottawa, Chee Chee’s work was exhibited in leading galleries across Canada, including the Inukshuk Gallery in Waterloo, the Wah-sa Gallery in Winnipeg, Marion Scott Gallery in Vancouver and Sea Chest Gallery in Halifax. His last show in Vancouver sold out on the first day. Just as Chee Chee was beginning to achieve widespread success, his career was cut short by his death at 33. Chee Chee’s work is included in the McMichael Collection, the Canadian Museum of Civilization, the National Gallery of Canada and in a number of corporate and private collections.

Photo: Ernie Bies
COMMENT ACHETER
OEUVRES DISPONIBLES
Les résultats record de la Maison Heffel
Four Geese in Flight by Benjamin Chee Chee vendu pour $25,000
Benjamin Chee Chee
Four Geese in Flight
28 x 36 in, 71.1 x 91.4 cm
acrylique sur papier
Estimation : 5 000 $ - 7 000 $ CDN
Vendu pour : 25 000 $ CDN (Prime d’achat incluse)
Post-War & Contemporary Art, jeudi, 31 janvier 2019
Black Bird with Red by Benjamin Chee Chee vendu pour $21,250
Benjamin Chee Chee
Black Bird with Red
20 x 28 in, 50.8 x 71.1 cm
acrylique sur papier
Estimation : 3 000 $ - 4 000 $ CDN
Vendu pour : 21 250 $ CDN (Prime d’achat incluse)
Canadian & International Art, jeudi, 28 juin 2018
Flying Geese by Benjamin Chee Chee vendu pour $20,000
Benjamin Chee Chee
Flying Geese
14 x 18 in, 35.6 x 45.7 cm
acrylique sur papier
Estimation : 3 000 $ - 4 000 $ CDN
Vendu pour : 20 000 $ CDN (Prime d’achat incluse)
June 2017 - 3rd Session, jeudi, 29 juin 2017
Two Geese in Flight by Benjamin Chee Chee vendu pour $15,000
Benjamin Chee Chee
Two Geese in Flight
22 1/4 x 30 in, 56.5 x 76.2 cm
acrylique sur papier
Estimation : 4 000 $ - 6 000 $ CDN
Vendu pour : 15 000 $ CDN (Prime d’achat incluse)
First Nations & Inuit Art, jeudi, 28 février 2019
Geese by Benjamin Chee Chee vendu pour $13,750
Benjamin Chee Chee
Geese
30 x 36 in, 76.2 x 91.4 cm
acrylique sur toile
Estimation : 6 000 $ - 8 000 $ CDN
Vendu pour : 13 750 $ CDN (Prime d’achat incluse)
Like Family: The Collection of Dr. Luigi Rossi, jeudi, 27 mars 2025
Seal and Sun by Benjamin Chee Chee vendu pour $12,980
Benjamin Chee Chee
Seal and Sun
17 x 22 3/4 in, 43.2 x 57.8 cm
tempera sur papier
Estimation : 3 000 $ - 4 000 $ CDN
Vendu pour : 12 980 $ CDN (Prime d’achat incluse)
February 2015 - 3rd Session, jeudi, 26 février 2015
Goose with Sun and Blue Sky by Benjamin Chee Chee vendu pour $12,500
Benjamin Chee Chee
Goose with Sun and Blue Sky
18 x 24 in, 45.7 x 61 cm
acrylique sur papier
Estimation : 6 000 $ - 8 000 $ CDN
Vendu pour : 12 500 $ CDN (Prime d’achat incluse)
Post-War & Contemporary Art, jeudi, 26 septembre 2019
Two Geese Taking Off by Benjamin Chee Chee vendu pour $11,875
Benjamin Chee Chee
Two Geese Taking Off
19 x 24 in, 48.3 x 61 cm
acrylique sur papier
Estimation : 6 000 $ - 8 000 $ CDN
Vendu pour : 11 875 $ CDN (Prime d’achat incluse)
First Nations & Inuit Art, jeudi, 25 février 2021
Untitled by Benjamin Chee Chee vendu pour $11,800
Benjamin Chee Chee
Untitled
22 x 29 1/2 in, 55.9 x 74.9 cm
acrylique sur papier
Estimation : 3 000 $ - 5 000 $ CDN
Vendu pour : 11 800 $ CDN (Prime d’achat incluse)
November 2014 - 2nd Session, samedi, 29 novembre 2014
Goose by Benjamin Chee Chee vendu pour $11,700
Benjamin Chee Chee
Goose
22 x 30 in, 55.9 x 76.2 cm
acrylique sur papier
Estimation : 3 000 $ - 5 000 $ CDN
Vendu pour : 11 700 $ CDN (Prime d’achat incluse)
March 2014 - 4th Session, jeudi, 27 mars 2014