Philip Aziz is an internationally acclaimed Canadian artist (painter, sculptor and designer of jewelled metal works, alter pieces, chalices and crosses) in Canada's book of Who's Who of Greek Orthodox-Lebanese descent.

Aziz's works hang in public galleries, universities and churches in Rome, Paris, New York, Washington, Detroit, Miami, Sydney, Ottawa and Montreal. Private collectors such as the Bronfmans, Duponts, Fords, Vanderbilts, Eatons, Thomsons, Iveys and Blackburns have purchased his art. Aziz has painted commissioned portraits of Ontario Premier John Robarts, Governor-General George and Madame Vanier, photographer Yousuf Karsh and opera star Rise Stevens.

Aziz was born in St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada, on April 15, 1923, before moving to London, Ontario, at an early age.

He grew up in Old South London at 239 Tecumseh Avenue and attended H.B. Beal Secondary School, enrolled in its fledgling arts program. Aziz graduated from Yale University with a Master's Degree in Fine Arts in the 1940s after which he travelled the world, living alternately in New York City and London, Ontario, where he resides today in his designated heritage home, studio and gallery at 150 Philip Aziz Avenue (the street was named in honour of Aziz during London's 150th anniversary as an incorporated city in 2005).

In the 1950s, Aziz lectured at the University of Western Ontario, teaching art history, helping to expand the collection at UWO's McIntosh Gallery.

Aziz has sold paintings to collectors all over the world and has two paintings hanging in the Vatican. He first became internationally recognized for his outstanding work in egg tempera.

In the early 1970s, Aziz successfully fought for the retention and refurbishment of the historic old Court House and Gaol at the Forks of the Thames River in London, Ontario, and also developed a plan for the redevelopment of the river forks, which attacted support and attention from such luminaries as Ontario's Premier John P. Robarts, London South MPP John White, author Pierre Berton and TV and radio station owner/ newspaper publisher Walter J. Blackburn.

While Aziz's forks redevelopment plan lost by one vote at London City Council in the 1970s, many of Aziz's ideas are finally being implemented in 2005 with the completion of the multi-staged, multi-million-dollar Forks of the Thames Project.

Aziz's efforts in the 1970s advocating for the preservation of London, Ontario's built and cultural heritage energized the local heritage community and in part, prompted the Ontario provincial government of the day under Progressive Conservative Premier Bill Davis to enact the Ontario Heritage Act in the mid-1970s.

Aziz is currently establishing the non-profit Philip Aziz Foundation of Art in London, Ontario, to expand his spacious gallery built in 1967 as his Canadian Centennial project, in order to exhibit the work of other artists, as well as his own.

From Wikipedia: Philip Aziz