1933-2001 – Born in Pilot Mound, Manitoba, John K. Esler studied at the University of Manitoba’s School of Art, where he graduated in 1960 and completed a Bachelor of Education in 1962. After traveling in Europe, he began teaching at the Alberta College of Art and Design in 1964 and later joined the University of Calgary in 1968, where he remained until his retirement in the 1980s. A central figure in Calgary’s arts community, Esler played a major role in expanding printmaking programs at both institutions. In collaboration with artist Ken Webb, he co-founded Trojan Press, a vital resource for local printmakers. His work was exhibited widely across Canada and internationally, and he is represented in numerous public and private collections. Esler’s contributions to the arts were recognized with several prestigious awards, including the C.W. Jefferys Award from the Canadian Society of Graphic Arts and the G.A. Reid Memorial Award from the Canadian Painter-Etchers and Engravers.
