Born into the wealthy Harris family (of the Massey-Harris farm machinery company), Lawren was able to study art in Berlin and absorb the rich European art culture. Returning to Canada at 19, Harris quickly established himself as both an exciting new artist and the supporter of his fellow Canadian artists. Lawren became a founding member of the influential Arts and Letters Club in Toronto. He also purchased the now-famous studio on Severn Street to share with his friends and outfitted a railcar as a studio/living space that they used to tour Northern Ontario.