LOGO

Alongside his rise to prominence in the Canadian art world, Benjamin’s life was marked by the long-term effects of childhood instability, racism, and severe alcoholism.

Chee Chee’s father died when he was only two months old, and he lost contact with his mother, which led to a childhood lacking direction. He began drinking at age 11, and he mentioned stealing and getting into trouble as a teenager.  At age 12, he was sent to a “training school” or reformatory institution, which he described as a negative experience.  He later found and was reunited with his mother.

Throughout his artistic career, Chee Chee grappled with a severe, long-term problem with alcoholism. Reports indicate his life was deeply tied to the broader, painful experiences of Indigenous peoples in Canada, including the impact of marginalization.

As he was achieving international recognition for his work, Benjamin Chee Chee committed suicide in an Ottawa jail on March 14, 1977, after being arrested during an incident at a restaurant.

Chee Chee is remembered for his elegant, minimalist paintings of birds and animals, his art celebrated for its unique, modern, and non-symbolic style.