Biography & CV
Posted by Omen514
Biography
The majority of the art world’s curators and collectors continue to view graffiti as a form of vandalism and “lower art”. This is where Omen wants to set things straight. Since the late 90′s, Omen has been redefining the boundaries of graffiti with his singular style of painting, both on and off the streets. Using spray cans as his primary medium, he has been leading the aerosol movement towards a truce with the established art world.
No other medium has met with such resistance in its quest to be accepted as a valid form of expression. At no other time in history has there been a movement rallying around a medium. Acrylics, tempera, oil paints – none of these have brought artists together like aerosol. “Aerosol is a medium like any other; valid and there as a vehicle to express oneself, whether that be through realism, expressionism, cubism, or whatever the artist chooses,” he says. “As long as aerosol and graffiti are used to pigeon-hole and keep legitimate artists down, I will keep blowing your minds.”
-omen 2008
SHOWS
2011
By What Authority, Hot Yoga on 20th, Curator: Kris Moffat, Saskatoon, Canada.
SOS Racisme, Palais d’Iéna, Curator: Karim Touré, Paris, France.
I am not afraid, Patrick John Mills Contemporary fine art Gallery, Curator: Patrick Mills, Ottawa, Canada.
2010
Omen,Velvet speakeasy, Curator: Alex Brosseau & Yves Laroche Gallery, Montreal, Canada. (solo)
Manifesto Festival: “Made you look”, Airship37 Gallery, Curator: Ashley McKenzie-Barnes, Toronto, Canada.
B-sides & Horrors, Alibi Boutique, Curator: Omen, Montreal, Canada. (solo)
Papier 10: Contemporary Art Fair of Works on Paper, curator:L’Association des galeries d’art contemporain, Montreal,Canada
2009
Word up!, Show & Tell Gallery, Curator: Simon Cole, Toronto, Canada.
Heart Show, Katacombs, Curator: Nat Jean, Montreal, Canada.
EN MASSE, Galarie Pangee, Curator: Margot Ross, Montreal, Canada.
2008
The Sexy Show, Headquarters, Curator: James Curr, Montréal, Canada.
Us & Them Art Show, Well & Good Gallery, Curator: Devon Ostrom, Toronto, Canada.
So Løw, Yves LaRoche Gallery, Curator: Ximena Becerra, Montréal, Canada. (solo)
2007
Sweet Calaveras, Galerie D’art Yves Laroche, Curator: Ximena Becerra, Montréal, Canada.
2006
OMEN Panel, Mays Lane Gallery, Curator: Tugi Balog, Sydney, Australia. (solo)
OMEN, AMPM Gallery, Curator: Andy Dabski, Taipei, Taiwan. (solo)
Inside Out, Kopshop Gallery, Curator: Frederick Hryszyn, Montreal, Canada. (solo)
2005
Arts Corridor project , Juming Museum, Curator: Samantha Chou, Jinshan, Taiwan.
4Crew, The Wall, Curator: Jimi Moe, Taipei, Taiwan.
Street Art, AMPM Gallery, Curator: Andy Dabski, Taipei, Taiwan.
Foreign Exchange, Cluny Art Bar, Curator: Kiki Dranias, Montreal, Canada. (solo)
The natural low show, Sunset room, Curator: Harley Smart, Victoria, Canada. (catalogue)
2004
Youth in Asia,River Bar, Curator: Andy Dabski, Taiwan
2003
Asianite Urban Art Exhibition, Saloon, Curator: Andy Dabski, Taipei, Taiwan.
2002
Jazzed up!, Blizzarts, Montréal, Canada. (solo)
BIBLIOGRAPHY & APPEARANCES
2011
Well & Good, “a face\a name – people doing well and good”, Transmitter Studios Inc, e-book, 2011, 137-139.
College Saint-Augustin, live painting & workshops, Quebec city, Canada.
Anna Wacławek, ” Graffiti and Street art”, W. W. Norton & Company, Inc. (unreleased yet)
Galaxy 6 Star wars cards, Custom cards, Topps Corporation, NY, USA.
2010
Mont Tremblant 24 hours, live painting, Tremblant, Canada, December 10, Parc Mt Tremblant
Osheaga Music festival, live painting, Montreal, Canada, July31-August 1, Parc Jean-Drapeau.
Nuit Blanche, live painting, Montreal, Canada, February 28, Eaton Center.
Toronto International Art Fair, Toronto, Canada, October 29th – November 1st, Toronto Convention Center
2009
Tracey Lindeman, “Get your heart-on,”Mirror, Canada, February 5, 2009, 41.
2008
P.A. Sévigny, Interview, 940AM, Montreal, Canada, 17h-19h, March 24, 2008.
La Société des arts technologiques [SAT], Presentation, Montreal, Canada, May 3, 2008
Festival International Montréal en Arts, Featured artist, Montreal, Canada, July 5-6, 2008
Schmap Guides, Featured artist, Web based, July 15, 2008
Shawn Thompson & Roxane Hudon, Interview, CISM 89.3 FM, Montreal,Canada, July 30, 2008
Simons, Live artist preformance & t-shirt design, Simons locations, Canada, August 30, 2008
Ginella Díaz,Interview, Radio Canada Internacional, Montreal, Canada, September 1, 2008
Orion Curiel, Interview, CKUT 90.3, Montreal, Canada, October 24, 2008
Jamie O’meara, “An inconvenient art,” Hour, Canada, October 30, 2008, 6.
Christine Redfern, “Making aerosol respectable,” The Gazette, Canada, November 1, 2008,
E8.
2007
Joshua Knelman, “Graffiti goes six-figure legit,” Globe & Mail, Canada, 2007, R1+R7.
Le Devoir, Cover Photograph, Canada, September 9, 2007, cover.
2006
KEA, “omen,” XFUNS (Taiwan), no.1, 84-87.
Ling Tze Ling, “Graffiti is art,” Liberty Times (Taiwan), February 7, 2006, A11.
Matthew Woodley, “Inside aerosol,” Mirror, December 7, 2006, 65.
Harley Smart, “Natural Low – limited edition showbook,” catalogue, 2006,
2005
Rupert Bottenberg, “Chronicle of a graff foretold,” Mirror, Canada, June 2, 2005, 15.
Justin Huang, Graffiti- Middle Taiwan, Taiwan:National Taiwan University, 2005.
Craig David, “Street art- Secret artists of Taiwan’s Walls,” BANG! (Taiwan), No.72, 154.
2004
Rui-Qun Ma, “Fund raising for the mayor candidate,” China Times (Taiwan), November 2, 2004, C4.
2002
Rupert Bottenberg, “‘Trane spotting,” Mirror, Canada, July 4, 2002, cover / 14-15.
Nicolas Bérubé, “vingt-quatre heures dans la vie de Omen,” La Presse, Canada,July 25, 2002, B7.
The Chronicle, Cover photograph, Canada, August 14, 2002, cover.
2000
Marc Montanchez, “Graffiti artist blasts ‘dangerous’ image,” the Link, Canada, November 14, 2000, cover / 13.
1999
Under pressure, Photo spread, Under Pressure Magazine, No.1, 1999, 15.
Craig Silverman, “State of the Art” – Cover feature, Hour, Canada, Vol.7 No.10, March, 10-11.
Denis Fourny, “Un graffiti pour Grafika,” Grafika, Canada, No.51, September, 11-12.
COLLECTIONS
Cirque de Soleil
Yves Laroche Gallery
Lotto-Quebec
Colart Collective
Juming Museum, Taiwan
Red Bull
33 MAG
Bruxe
AWARDS
“Best of Montreal 2010″, Best Graffiti artist #1, Montreal Mirror, May 13, 2010.
“Best of Montreal 2009″, Best Graffiti crew/artist #1, Montreal Mirror, May 14, 2009.
“Best of Montreal 2008″, Best Graffiti crew #2, Montreal Mirror, May 31, 2008.
“Best of Montreal 2007″, Best Graffiti crew #2, Montreal Mirror, May 31, 2007.
“Best of Montreal 2006″, Best Graffiti crew #7, Montreal Mirror, May 11, 2006.
“Best of Montreal 2004″, Best Graffiti crew #7, Montreal Mirror, May 6, 2004.
“Best of Montreal 2002″, Best Graffiti #1, Montreal Mirror, May 9, 2002.
“Best of Montreal 2001″, Best Graffiti #1, Montreal Mirror, May 3, 2001.
“Best of Montreal 2000″, Best Graffiti #1, Montreal Mirror, May 11, 2000.
{note: 2003 & 2005 did not have this category}
