Page 334 - YGARTUA : The Work Of A Genius
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ARTIST BIOGRAPHY Lucas, Mexico (1971, 1999, 2000), Crete and Corfu, Greece (1972),
Gran Canarias, Canary Islands (1973), Scottsdale, Arizona (1976),
Paul Ygartua is a Canadian painter, muralist, and draughtsman who New Orleans, Louisiana (1978), Jerusalem, Israel (1980), Honolulu,
was born in 1945 in Bebington, a suburb of Liverpool, England. Since Hawaii (1981, 1982), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (1984), San Juan, Puerto
1966 has lived in Vancouver, Canada. He also has bases in France Rico (1985), Quebec City, Canada (1994), Montreal, Canada (2001),
and Spain which he visits annually. He has created some of the most and Sydney, Australia (2002). His paintings have been exhibited at
recognizable images in Canada and some of the largest murals the Vancouver Art Gallery (Spectrum ’68), with the Federation of
in the world. Except Antarctica his works have been exhibited on Canadian Artists (1979, 1981, 1987), at Expo 86, Vancouver, Canada
every continent, in locations from the Vancouver Art Galleries to (1986), the New York Art Expo (1987), the Salon d’Automne at the
the Grand Palais, Paris, France or to the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Grand Palais, Paris, France (1990, 1992, 1994, 1995), the Canadian
Museum. Thousands of his paintings are in private, corporate, and Heritage Art Society (1991), the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum
museum collections. (1991, 1992, 1997), Sala de Cultura, Bilbao, Spain (2003) and at the
Firenze Biennale, Italy (2005).
His primary mediums are acrylics on canvas and fresco, although
he has also worked in oil, graphite, pen and ink, pastel, poster, The locations of some of his largest murals include Waikiki, Hawaii
lithograph, and mixed mediums. His subjects include landscapes, (Rodeo Club, 7x25 ft–1981), Chemainus, B.C. (Native Heritage, 25x50
seascapes, cityscapes, figures, portraits, still life, nudes, social ft–1983 and The Hermit, 8x16 ft –2008), Vancouver, B.C. (EXPO ’86
commentary, cultural anthropology, native Indians, and as an at the United Nations Pavilion “A World United”, 30x100 ft–1986);
abstractionist, shape, color, line, and texture. His styles include Cannes, France (“La Croisette”, 5 Panels –1995), Oshawa, Ontario
realism, expressionism, fauvism, abstract, expressionism, neo- (“Oshawa Generals”, 15x35 ft–1997), Whistler, B.C. (“Totem Village”,
expressionism, surrealism and abstract surrealism. His most famous 15x25 ft–2000), Surrey, B.C. (International Beachcomber “Record
works are his “Heritage Series” depicting North American Indians Breakers”, 30x300 ft–2000); Ely, Nevada (“United by Our Children”,
and other ethnic and cultural groups from around the world. 30x110 ft–2001); and Gorliz, Spain (“Gorliz Gehituz”, 30x92 ft–2010).
He studied at the Laird School of Art, Birkenhead (1961–1962) and Ygartua’s most recent mural “Bella Bella – United in History” was
is a graduate of the Liverpool School of Art and Design (1963–1965) commissioned by Shearwater Marine Group to commemorate
with a degree in Industrial Design (NDD), Goldsmith and Silversmith the history of Bella Bella, B.C. The 22x120 ft–2013 fresco depicts
graduate of The City and Guilds of London Institute (1965). seventeen important individuals that made a significant contribution
to the history of Bella Bella since its founding by the Hudson’s Bay
Paul turned to painting full time within a few years of arriving in Company, as a trading post in 1833. The mural was entirely created
Canada (1966) and has been a full-time painter and muralist since by Ygartua on the side of a World War II airplane hangar on Denny
then, his only occupation and source of income since 1968 has Island, in 20 days.
been as a painter of fine art which is highly unusual in Canada, and In addition to the thousands of works in private and corporate
he has been doing so successfully for over 50 years. In addition collections, Ygartua’s works are also in the collections of the Carleton
to his most frequent work locations in Vancouver, Paris (France), University Art Gallery, Ottawa; Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, B.C.,
Bilbao and Barcelona (Spain), he also worked for extended periods and the University of Lethbridge Art Gallery, Lethbridge, Alberta.
on projects in Berlin, Germany (1968) Acapulco and Cabo San (Biographical notes by Michael Silverbrooke)
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