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He first became internationally recognized for his work in the exacting, painstaking technique of Egg Tempera on gesso panel, a method used by the great masters of the Renaissance . 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 Bronfman s, Dupont s, Ford s, Vanderbilt s, Eaton s, Thomson s, Iveys and Blackburns have purchased his art. Aziz has painted commissioned portraits of Ontario's Progressive Conservative Premier , the Honourable John Robarts , Governor-General George and Madame Vanier, noted Canadian photographer Yousuf Karsh and mezzo-soprano opera star Rise Stevens. In the 1960s, Aziz was commissioned by John Christopher Cody, London's seventh Catholic Bishop , to transform the former Sacred Heart Chapel in London's St. Peter's Basilica into Christ the King Chapel and design the interior of the Lady Chapel. EARLY YEARS Aziz was born in St. Thomas, Ontario , Canada , 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 Bachelor and Master Of Fine Arts ( 1947 and 1949 , respectively) 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 Art 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 ). From 1947 to 1949, Aziz was an art instructor at Yale University and a lecturer at various colleges and museums throughout Canada and the United States ; in 1972 and 1976 , Aziz was the Artist In Residence and Lecturer at the Aspen Institute for Humanistic Studies in Aspen, Colorado ; from 1950 to 1955 , Aziz lectured at the University Of Western Ontario , teaching Art and 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 's Collection of Papacy and Art for which he received a gold medal. In 1968, due to his interest in Politics and human affairs, Aziz was invited to both Republican and Democratic National Conventions with a side trip to Texas where then-Governor Smith made him an honorary Admiral in the Texas Navy . 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 attracted support and attention from such luminaries as Ontario 's Premier John Robarts, then-London South MPP John White, author Pierre Berton and TV and radio station owner/ newspaper publisher Walter J. Blackburn. FORKS-OF-THE-THAMES PROJECT 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 government of the day under Progressive Conservative Premier, the Honourable Bill Davis to enact the '' Ontario Heritage Act '' in the mid-1970s. PHILIP AZIZ FOUNDATION OF ART 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. On October 20 , 2005 , the '' London Free Press '' published two special sections called ''150 People Who Define London''. Mr. Aziz was included in this lineup of notable Londoners at No. 30. REFERENCES
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