John Michael Anthony Koerner was a Czechoslovakian-born artist in British Columbia, Canada.
Background
He was born in Moravia, the son of Theodor Koerner, part of a family involved in the lumber industry. Although his ultimate goal was to become an artist, on his father"s advice, he studied law at Charles University in Prague and at the Sorbonne.
Career
Koerner was exposed to art at an early age in Paris and Italy. However, it became necessary for the family to leave again and, the following year, they arrived in Vancouver, British Columbia. He worked in the family lumber business for twelve years before returning to his first love, art
He also taught at the Vancouver School of Art and the University of British Columbia.
His work also appears in the collections of the Tate in London, of Clare Hall at Cambridge University and of the Hirshhorn Museum in Washington, District of Columbia. His work was influenced by German philosopher Bo Yin Ra. Following his 100th birthday, Koerner had a show at the Burnaby Art Gallery and the exhibition John Koerner: The Hidden Side of Nature at the Penticton Art Gallery.
He died at home in Vancouver at the age of 100.