Page 128 - The 60.Venice Biennial & MoMA issue of WOA Contemporary Art magazine

CREATIVE LABORATORY ANGELS OF MERCY, 2021 ACRYLIC ON PANEL 42.X47 IN. | 106.8X182.8 CM.
CANAL GRANDE, 2021 ACRYLIC ON CANVAS 48X72 IN. | 121X182 CM.

HIDDEN EXPRESSIONS, 2012 ACRYLIC ON CANVAS 48X60 IN. | 121X152 CM

CARNEVALE DI VENEZIA, 2021 ACRYLIC ON CANVAS 48X84 IN. | 121X213 CM.

CANAL GRANDE, 2021 ACRYLIC ON CANVAS 48X72 IN. | 121X182 CM.

PAUL YGARTUA
Lives and works in Vancouver, Canada
https://www.ygartua.com | https://www.ygartuaoriginals.com | https://www.wall90.com

Unique Artist: In the vast tapestry of artists, Paul Ygartua
stands as a singular thread, a testament to unwavering
dedication. His journey began at 23, and since then, he
has navigated the canvas with an unyielding focus on fine
art. No detours, no side gigs, just the brush, the palette,
and boundless imagination.
For nearly six decades, Ygartua’s art has been the
lifeblood of his family. His wife, Joanne, shares this
artistic odyssey. Together, they’ve woven a remarkable
lifestyle, one funded solely by Paul’s creations. Their
passports bear stamps from every continent except Africa
and Antarctica. England, France, Spain, they’ve wandered,
their footsteps echoing across cultural landscapes. But
it’s not just travel. Ygartua’s art has unlocked doors: an
Everest expedition for his daughter, advanced university
educations for both children, Canada and beyond. And
here’s the twist, their household hums with regular help.
Housework? Not for Paul and Joanne. Their canvas is
the kitchen, where gourmet cooking replaces mundane
chores.
How does he achieve this? Picture Peter Paul Rubens,
an echo of confidence and talent. Ygartua mirrors
this legacy. His brush dances across vast murals, the
world’s largest, for corporations and public spaces.
Easel commissions, private collectors seek his strokes.
Thousands of original pieces emerge from his studio,
each a testament to his boundless creativity.
Now, let’s zoom out. Sarah Newmeyer, once of the
Museum of Modern Art, mused in 1955: Few U.S. artists
live solely off their art. Fast-forward, populations
doubled, yet her assertion holds. Canada, one-tenth the
size, perhaps harbors six such artists. But longevity?
Ygartua’s 55-year career defies norms.
By the yardstick of professionalism and self-sustenance,
Paul Ygartua reigns, the most successful living Canadian
artist.

128 WORLD of ART