An artist, a scientist, a philanthropist, an educator, a senator -- the University of Manitoba is recognizing an eclectic group of Canadians in bestowing honorary degrees at the 2008 spring convocation.

Ivan Eyre One of Canada's most respected and influential artists, 1957 alumnus Ivan Eyre has spent more than 50 years creating a body of work immediately recognizable by its distinctive iconography and complex juxtapositions of land, figure and light, U of M officials said.

Eyre's work has been recognized and celebrated in more than 65 solo and 250 group exhibitions around the world, including exhibits at the National Gallery in Ottawa, the 49th Parallel Gallery in New York City, the Frankfurter Kunstkabinett in Frankfurt, Germany, the Canadian Cultural Centre in Paris, and Canada House in London, England.

When the Pavilion Gallery opened in Assiniboine Park in 1988, the entire third floor was dedicated as the Ivan Eyre Gallery, which houses more than 200 paintings, 5,000 drawings and 16 sculptures.

Eyre was honoured Tuesday morning.