Canadian visual arts icon John Will, whose career as a painter, printmaker, performer and educator spanned more than six decades, has died, leaving behind a remarkable legacy that shaped generations of artists across Canada.

A familiar figure in Alberta's arts community, Will was instantly recognizable by his shaggy grey beard, trademark gold "J" on one of his front teeth and his unmistakable sense of humour. Friends and colleagues say he continued sketching and creating art until just days before his passing.

His largest retrospective exhibition, "John Will: Born in the U.F.O. (Some Truth, More Lies, All Legend)," is currently on display at the Art Gallery of Alberta in Edmonton through August 9, celebrating a lifetime of artistic innovation and storytelling.

Will taught at the University of Calgary for more than 25 years, where he mentored countless emerging artists and helped establish the institution as a respected centre for printmaking and visual arts education. His works are included in major public collections across North America, including the Vancouver Art Gallery, the Art Gallery of Ontario and the Art Institute of Chicago.

Those who knew him remember Will not only for his artistic talent but also for his playful personality and gift for storytelling. Friends described him as someone who constantly challenged expectations, entertained audiences and inspired creative thinking through both his art and everyday interactions.

Gallery owner Shannon Norberg recalled that Will often blurred the line between art and performance, once introducing himself under a different identity during one of his own exhibition installations before revealing who he really was at the opening event.

Art critic Nancy Tousley, a longtime friend, remembered Will as an endlessly curious observer of human nature with a sharp wit and an infectious sense of humour. She said his ability to connect with people and inspire conversation made him a unique figure within Canada's artistic community.

Curator Peter White, who organized a major retrospective of Will's work in the late 1980s, described him as an extraordinary artist whose personality was inseparable from his creative work. According to White, Will possessed a rare ability to transform everyday experiences into thought-provoking art.

Born in Waterloo, Iowa, in 1939, Will earned a Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Iowa before moving to Calgary in 1971 to teach printmaking. He also taught at Emily Carr School of Art in Vancouver and the Nova Scotia School of Art and Design, helping shape Canada's contemporary visual arts landscape.

John Will passed away peacefully surrounded by family, sketchbooks and drawing materials. He is survived by his siblings in the United States and was predeceased by his wife, painter and ceramic artist Mary Shannon Will, who died in 2021.