Yunus Chkirate
Artist Statement
I am a self-taught multidisciplinary artist born in Montreal. Over the last fourteen years, I have used my exploration of different mediums to translate my emotions into artworks.
My mantra is that the work should never only be about aesthetics. It needs to capture an emotion, a story, a lesson. By keeping true to that notion, I assure myself to create from a place of substance and meaning. Although I tend to paint as my primary medium, I love to use photography, video, performance, and dance to connect with the viewer.
I am the descendant of Moroccan and Italian parents. From a young age, I used my creativity and imagination to explore. I originally pursued my studies in social sciences and fashion marketing. The combination of these two disciplines heightened my sense of socio-cultural understanding and creativity. While working in the fashion industry, I learned more about color and visual aesthetics. This allowed me to test my love for creating and harbored a strong business sense in me. With this as a foundation, I was able to explore my own artistic pursuits.
My first solo exhibition in March 2011 left a strong impression on the Montreal art scene and gave me an immense sense of validation. I had found my calling. I continued my pursuit of the arts by participating in solo and group exhibitions and commissioned and public works. While growing and continuing to challenge myself, I have also made it a mission to work with several charities and organizations.
I am currently pursuing new projects and ideas in the U.S. and am dedicated to pushing my craft to the next level.
CV
Arts and cultural training and learning
2003-Present Self Taught. Numerous skills developed from painting to sculpting and mixed media, Montreal, QC
2008-Present YouTube. Tutorials on visual art skills, Online
2011 Robert Laliberté. Basic photography skills, Montreal, QC
2010-Present Kat Coric. Technical painting skills, event planning, client relations, and public relations
2018 Mixed Media course. Dawson College, Montreal, QC
Artistic and cultural work presented to the public
Aug 2024 BEAUTY IN PROGRESS, group exhibition, selected artworks, 2358 MRKT Gallery, San Francisco, CA,
July 2024 WOODMAN SHIMKO Gallery (current), group exhibition, selected artworks, Provincetown, MA
June 2024 2358 MRKT Gallery, group exhibition, San Francisco, CA,
Oct-Nov 2023 OPEN STUDIOS, 1890 Bryant Studios, group exhibition and artist residency, San Francisco, CA
Sept 13, 2023 LAMBORGHINI THROUGH THE EYES OF THE WORLD, special paid commissioned portrait of Ferrucio Lamborghini, presentation and event, Montreal, QC
Oct 5-9, 2022 JOURNAL, solo exhibition and live performance, in collaboration with Lightemotion and Kat Coric, Lachine, QC.
Sept 21, 2022 ARTISTES UNIS, group exhibition, Galerie LeRoyer, Montreal, QC
Dec 2020 POP YUNUS, solo exhibition, Hochelaga, QC
Oct-Dec, 2020 LES COURS EN ART, group exhibition, Montreal, QC
Aug 2019 Exposition INCLUSION, curator and artist, in association with Pride Montreal, Montreal, QC.
Apr 4-7, 2019 ART EXPO NYC, Lincoln Micheal Galleries, Art Fair, NYC, US
June 2018 NUANCES ITALY, group exhibition, ROCCART Gallery, Florence, Italy.
Nov 15, 2017 PIGMENTS, group exhibition, Deserres, Montreal, QC
Oct 2017 ELEVATION, solo exhibition and live performance, in collaboration with HAPPENING, Deserres and Leigh Alderson, Espace Lafontaine, Montreal, QC
Aug 2017 ESPACES DES ARTS, group exhibition, curated by Pride Montreal, Montreal, QC.
Aug 29, 2016 ROMEO's GIN, collaborative event and exhibition of works, Pandore, Montreal, QC.
Sept 2015 CYCLES, group exhibition, Empty Spaces Project Gallery, Putnam, CT, US.
Oct-Nov, 2014 Le TRIAD, solo exhibition and launch of preview gallery ' Le TRIAD', Montreal, QC
Feb-Mar 2014 MODERNIZED Australia, solo exhibition, Depot II Gallery, Sydney, Australia
Oct 7, 2013 THE LOVER AND THE BEAST, solo exhibition, live performance, Société Des Arts Technologiques (SAT), Montreal, QC
Nov 29, 2012 TRANSITIONS, solo exhibition, live performance, Montreal, Espace Griffintown
Nov - Mar 2012 BARRIERS THROUGH LOVE, solo exhibition, gallery launch with Delano Galerie Boutique, Montreal, QC
March 2011 REVENGE THROUGH EXPRESSION, premier solo exhibition, Old Montreal, QC
Artists and community collaboration activities
May-Aug 2019 EXPOSITION INCLUSION, Curator and artist, Pride Montreal, Montreal, QC.
Dec 2018 PARTE RÉZO, commissioned mural and exhibition benefiting RÉZO, Montreal QC.
Nov 2018 Geneviève Leclerc, collaborative artwork for artist's album cover, Montreal, QC.
Jan 2016 MY LOVE TEE, designer and organizer, Maison Plein Coeur, Montreal, QC
April 2013 THE VOLTS, curator and artist, online gallery and event, Montreal, QC..
Volunteer experience
2022 Artistes Unis, group exhibition, benefiting Fondation MMS, Galerie LeRoyer, Montreal, QC
2017 - Present RÉZO, donor and active mascot for the organization, Montreal, QC
2017 La Grande Démesure, auction benefiting Interligne, musée Grévin, Montreal
2015-2017 Board Member, conseil d'adminstration Maison Plein Coeur, Montreal, QC
2015 YES Montreal, donor, group exhibition benefiting YES Montreal, Montreal, QC
2013 Donations to Maison Plein Coeur, Montreal, QC
2011-2012 ART SIDA, donor, Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal, Montreal, QC
Residencies
Oct-Nov 2023 1890 Bryant Studios, Canadian artist in residence and exhibition, San Francisco, CA
Jan-Mar 2014 Sydney Mardi Gras, Canadian artist in residence and solo exhibition, Sydney, Australia
Artist talks, presentations and articles
March 2022 Mental Health Much, Podcast, invited speaker, Toronto, ON. Link: https://goodpods.com/podcasts/mental-health-much-181468/s2-e29-escapism-anxiety-and-seeking-validation-19304326
Nov 2019 HSBC, guest Speaker and exhibition of small works, HSBC, Montreal, QC
Awards and community recognition
Sept 2015 Espoirs du Cinéma Québécois, chosen artist to create artworks and awards of Geneviève Bujold and Roy Dupuis, Montreal, QC.
Oct 2013 Gala-Arc-en-Ciel, chosen artist to present artwork to Mariela Castro, Montreal, QC
Commissioned Works 2020 - 2024
2024 Sculpture commission (upcoming), San Francisco, CA
2023 Lamborghini, commissioned painting, selected submission, Canada and Italy
2023 Portrait of a Male Embrace, commissioned painting, Toronto, ON
2023 Mixed Media commission, Paris, France
2022 Portrait of Michel, commissioned portrait, Montreal, QC
2022 Commissioned Sculpture, Palm Springs, CA
2021 Portrait of Stephane, commissioned portrait, Montreal, QC
2021 Portrait of Grace, commissioned portrait, Montreal, QC
2021 Commissioned Sculpture for Hochelaga Clinic, Montreal, QC
2020 Portrait of YOTE, commissioned portrait, Valleyfield, QC
2020 Commissioned Sculpture, Vermont, USA
Media coverage
July 22, 2024 NSLS, Corey Andrew, A Journey in the Global Art Scene: https://www.nsls.org/blog/a-journey-in-the-global-art-scene
June 16, 2024 Instinct Magazine, Corey Andrew, Yunus Chkirate’s Art Shines in San Francisco and Provincetown https://instinctmagazine.com/yunus-chkirates-art-shines-in-san-francisco-and-provincetown/
Sept 15, 2023 AutoMedia, Luc Gagné, Inauguration de Lamborghini Montréal : une histoire familiale longue de quatre décennie qui se poursuit https://www.automedia.ca/inauguration-de-lamborghini-montreal-une-histoire-familiale-longue-de-quatre-decennie-qui-se-poursuit/
Oct 5, 2022 Best Kept Montreal: Jackie Jet, Don’t Miss Yunus Chkirate’s Latest Show: Journal with a living portrait! https://bestkeptmontreal.com/yunus-chkirates-premieres-a-living-portrait/
August, 2022 Fugues: Yves Lafontaine, Au-delà du syndrome de l’imposteur, l’expo Journal de Yunus Chkirate https://www.fugues.com/2022/09/03/au-dela-du-syndrome-de-limposteur-lexpo-journal-de-yunus-chkirate/
May 31, 2018 La Presse, Éric Clément, DANS L’ATELIER DE YUNUS CHKIRATE AVANT SON EXPOSITION EN ITALIE https://plus.lapresse.ca/screens/a1230293-372f-423d-a6be-a6f7b21f12fe__7C___0.html
Sept 2017 CIBL 101.5 " Tranquillement pas vite " Radio https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=10154897951096723
Oct 2014 BTV. Breakfast Television, Alexandre Despatie : Triad Interview, https://vimeo.com/110153257
Oct 2014 Gazette: Richard Brunette, The triumphant Montreal homecoming of portrait painter Yunus Chkirate https://montrealgazette.com/entertainment/arts/the-triumphant-montreal-homecoming-of-portrait-painter-yunus-chkirate
Oct 2013 La Presse, Éric Clément, Yunus Chkirate : la peinture du sentiment https://www.lapresse.ca/arts/arts-visuels/201310/07/01-4697219-yunus-chkirate-la-peinture-du-sentiment.php
Oct 2013 CBC Montreal, Kristin Falco, Lover and the Beast Interview https://vimeo.com/212834406