Yoakim Bélanger Canadian, b. 1977

Yoakim Bélanger, a multimedia artist based in Montreal, directs his artistic focus toward the human form. Fascinated by the universality of movements, expressions, and plasticity, Bélanger employs various mediums, including painting, drawing, photography, and video, to elevate the physical appearance of humanity and celebrate its strength, passion, and grace. In his paintings, Bélanger employs a unique process involving removal, sanding, and alterations on metal plates, resulting in vibrant and textured brushwork that harmoniously merges the realms of abstract and figurative, order and chaos, shade and light. Through this meticulous technique, the artist accomplishes his ultimate goal of portraying both the body and soul in his work.

Bélanger's choice of oxidized steel and aluminum as raw materials allows him to explore the untouched remnants of time, unaffected by human contact. Within these traces lie an array of textures and patterns that may appear arbitrary and meaningless to others but hold a primitive blueprint for the artist. With his brush, Bélanger begins to manifest an image so intertwined with the medium upon which it is painted that it becomes inseparable from its essence. The result is a captivating juxtaposition of the intangible human spirit with the solidity of metal.

Born in 1977, Yoakim Bélanger's artistic journey has been punctuated by numerous solo and group exhibitions across Canada. In 2016, he gained critical and popular acclaim for his exhibition in London. He has also participated in international fairs held in Miami, New York, Hamburg, and Toronto. Bélanger's artwork graces the collections of numerous private and public institutions in Europe, the United States, and Canada. Alongside his visual artistry, Bélanger holds a degree in graphic design and has garnered praise for his directorial efforts in two acclaimed short films, "If I Can Fly" and "Ces femmes qui marchent," showcased at international film festivals. Represented by galleries in Canada and the UK, Yoakim Bélanger continues to captivate audiences with his profound exploration of the human form.