The family of Ken Lochhead has donated over $700,000 worth of his work to the University of Regina.

The paintings will be put on display at the newly-renovated College Avenue Campus, where Lochhead spent the first part of his career.

Lochhead’s wife Joanne said it was a way to enhance the experience of the Campus.

“Ken’s legacy has been established because of the Emma Lake workshops, and setting up the school here, so that really wasn’t an issue, it was more just a gift of enrichment.”

Lochhead said he was attached to Regina throughout his career.

“He felt very special, very attached to Regina,” Locchhead said. “I guess his heart was still here, he moved to Winnipeg, then Toronto, then Ottawa, but his heart was still here.”

President and Vice-Chancellor Vianne Timmons said Ken Lochhead was very influential in the Saskatchewan art community.

“He also was a founder of the Mackenzie Art Gallery, so he’s contributed so much to this province,” Timmons said. “He’s part of the ‘Regina five,’ so for many reasons it’s important that we display his art on our campus and honour his legacy.

Lochhead passed away in 2006 due with cancer. He began his career as Director of the School of Art at Regina College in 1950 before moving on to other opportunities in 1964. Lochhead was named to the Order of Canada in 1970.