Frank Johnston, born in 1888 in Toronto, carved his path in the Canadian art world with a unique style and dedication to his craft. Studying at the Ontario College of Art under William Cruikshank and G.A. Reid, Johnston honed his skills early. In 1911, he joined Grip Ltd., a renowned commercial art firm in Toronto, which served as a fertile ground for the future of Canadian art. The firm employed five of the seven artists who would later form the iconic Group of Seven: Johnston, J.E.H. MacDonald, Frederick Varley, Arthur Lismer, and Franklin Carmichael.

Johnston distinguished himself by maintaining a strong individualistic approach, a trait evident throughout his career. From 1912 to 1915, he furthered his artistic education in the United States, studying at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art and working at Carleton Studios in New York. His return to Toronto in 1915 marked a pivotal moment in his career.

In 1918, Johnston was commissioned to document the Royal Flying Corps at their training camps in Ontario for the Canadian War Memorials during World War I. That fall, he embarked on the first boxcar expedition up the Algoma Central Railway with fellow Group members Lawren Harris and MacDonald, a journey that inspired some of his most memorable works. He participated in two more sketching trips to Algoma in 1919 and 1920.

The Group of Seven's inaugural exhibition at The Art Gallery of Toronto (now the Art Gallery of Ontario) in 1920 was a landmark event in Canadian art. Johnston stood out by exhibiting and selling more paintings than any other member at this show. Later that year, he held an independent exhibition at The Fine Art Galleries, T. Eaton Co. Ltd. in Toronto.

In 1921, Johnston moved to Manitoba to become Principal of the Winnipeg School of Art. This move signaled his gradual departure from the Group of Seven and a shift towards a more realistic style. He returned to Toronto in 1924 to teach at the Ontario College of Art, officially resigning from the Group of Seven. He explained his departure as a choice to pursue his own artistic direction, changing his first name to Franz during this period.

Johnston was a master of both oil and tempera, and his work resonated with the public, earning him substantial financial success in a time when many Canadian artists struggled. In the 1930s and 1940s, he developed larger narrative paintings alongside intimate landscapes, depicting the pastoral countryside of Ontario, northern Quebec, and the Northwest Territories. Frank Johnston continued to paint until his death on July 9, 1949, in Toronto.

Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO), Toronto – The AGO houses an extensive collection of works by the Group of Seven, including pieces by Frank Johnston. McMichael Canadian Art Collection, Kleinburg, Ontario – This gallery is dedicated to the art of Canada and features many works by members of the Group of Seven.  Winnipeg Art Gallery, Winnipeg, Manitoba – Given Johnston’s tenure as Principal of the Winnipeg School of Art, the Winnipeg Art Gallery is an excellent place to explore his work and influence. National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa – The National Gallery has a significant collection of Canadian art, including pieces by Frank Johnston and his contemporaries.Tom Thomson Art Gallery, Owen Sound, Ontario – This gallery often features works by members of the Group of Seven and their peers.