Olivier Salvas is an artist, educator, media personality and curator specializing in arts education and social justice. Originally from Montreal, QC, Olivier moved to Vancouver, British Columbia shortly after completing his bachelor's degree in teaching French as a second language from the University of Montreal & McGill University. While undertaking his graduate studies in media studies and curriculum at the University of British Columbia, Olivier merged his two passions as an artist and an educator, and began creating research-based artistic work pedagogic. Olivier uses abstract painting, photography and various media to highlight social causes and foster conversations about identity and art education. Olivier's areas of research and creation are inspired by graffiti, street art and urban culture. When Olivier begins an art collection based on his discoveries, he thinks of a subject in the world that resonates with him. Then he creates a story with that event, and he creates a main character. He asks, “What would this character do, think, or say?” ". Subsequently, Olivier partners with a photographer to create a visual story, which inspires him for the direction he wants to take artistically with his message.
Olivier was chosen an ambassador for the the Canadian Culture Days 2019, representing British-Columbia. In 2019, Olivier had his first solo exhibition called “Rebel with a Cause” that was showcased over a three month period in Vancouver at Le Centre Culturel.
In 2021, Olivier released his new collection "Flamboyant", a series of brightly colored abstract paintings, acting as statement pieces for self-acceptance and positivity. One of the paintings from "Flamboyant", "Sometimes I paint just for fun" won first prize at the Federation of Canadian Artists' "Pride in Arts" exhibition in June 2021. Olivier collaborated with the Biennale of Vancouver as an educator for the Big Project Ideas in Schools since 2015 and in 2020 he joined We Are Ocean Vanncouver, a project commissioned by the Vancouver Biennale and organized by ARTPORT_making waves acting as artist-educator alongside by Indigenous artist Cease Wyss. This project is part of the global WE ARE OCEAN project contributing to the preparatory phase of the UNESCO Ocean Decade for Sustainable Development (2021-2030).
Olivier's art and fashion project in collaboration with Charlie's Charmed ARTFASHION was launched with a piece at the Winnipeg Fine Arts Gallery in March 2022 and is now featured in numerous events and galleries across the Canada. The ARTFASHION SHOP opened in October 2022 at the Pacific Arts Market in Vancouver.
Since 2022, Olivier has been acting as a curator for the British-Columbia Housing Central Conference, planning exhibitions featuring over 25 Canadian artists. Olivier also has been working as a workshop facilitator for Outsiders Arts Festival, presented by Community Arts Vancouver, supporting emerging artists taking part in the festival.
You can find Olivier as a radio columnist on Radio-Canada and as a journalist on the OutlookTV show on OutTV, reporting on 2SLGBTQ+ artists and causes across Canada.
EXHIBITIONS
2023
October 2023 - January 2024 - DISCO NAP - Solo Show - Vancouver, BC
2021
October 2021 - Outsiders Arts Festival - Vancouver, BC
June 2021 - Queer Arts Festival Vancouver,BC
June 2021 - Pride & Arts, Federation Gallery, Vancouver
June 2021-September 2021 Montreal Pride Society - Outdoor Exhibition
June - September 2021 - Workshop facilitator- Community Arts Vancouver
January. - September 2021 - We Are Ocean with Cease Wyss - Vancouver Biennale / Artport_making Waves
2020
July - December 2020 - We Are Ocean with Cease Wyss - Vancouver Biennale / Artport_making Waves
October 2020 - Outsiders Arts Festival - Vancouver, BC - Virtual
June 2020 - Queer Arts Festival Vancouver, BC - Virtual
April 2020 - There’s An Elephant in the Room show - Virtual
2019
November 2019 - UNITY collection launch + candle collaboration with You+Me Candles
September - November 2019 Rebel with a Cause - Solo Show - Le Centre Culturel Vancouver, BC
September 2019 - Rebel with a cause workshops
June - September 2019- BC Culture ambassador
March 2019 - Group Exhibition Galerie Patrick Mikhail, Montreal
July - September 2023 - The Flamboyance Salon - Solo Show - Vancouver, BC
November 2023 - Welcome to my House - BCNPHA Exhibition - Vancouver, BC
October 2023 - Solo Show - ART Vancouver - Art at Bentall Vancouver, BC
November - December 2023: Anonymous Art Show, North Vancouver Arts
December 2023: Ten Squared 2023 - Federation Gallery, Vancouver
November 2023: ArtSpeaks - Federation Gallery, Vancouver
September 2023: Abstracted 2023. - Federation Gallery, Vancouver
February 2023: Shape & Form – Federation Gallery, Vancouver
January - March 2023 - The Enchanted Garden 2.0 - Solo Show - Vancouver, BC
January 2023- August 2023 - Permanent artist at Galerie Lenoir Montreal-Paris
2022
December 2022 - Ten Squared Show, Federation Gallery, Vancouver
November 2022 - Together - BCNPHA Exhibition - Vancouver, BC
October 2022 - Outsiders Arts Festival - Vancouver, BC
October 2022 - Call Me Mother TV Show - Outtv - Designer for Justin Abit (Artfashion)
July 2022 - Pride & Arts, Federation Gallery, Vancouver
July 2022 - FLAMBOYANT. - One Month solo Residency at Federation Gallery
July 2022 - December 2022 - The Enchanted Garden - Solo Show - Vancouver, BC
June 2022 - September 2022 Montreal Pride Festival Outdoor Exhibition , Montreal
June - September 2022 - Workshop facilitator- Community Arts Vancouver, BC
May 2022 - Spotlight, Federation Gallery, Vancouver
April 2022 - Opening - Artfashion Boutique
April 2022 - We Are Ocean at Venice Biennale
March 2022 - Bloom, Winnipeg Art Gallery
March 2022 - April 2022 - CORE - Show with Meg J - Vancouver, BC
February 2022 - Small Exhibition, Federation Gallery, Vancouver
January 2022 Winter Solstice, The Gallery George, Vancouver
January 2022 - Polarity - Show with Min Xu - Vancouver BC
January 2022- December 2022: Permanent Show - The Hallway, Victoria BC
January 2022- June 2022 - Show Me Your Colours - Lost Lagoon Gallery
January 2022- December 2022 - Permanent artist at Galerie Lenoir Montreal-Paris
PRESS MEMBERSHIPS
Active Member - Federation of Canadian Artists
Member of Arts BC
Member of CARFAC.