Forever Now

A fourth-generation Chinese-Canadian, Garrett Andrew Chong was born in Armstrong, BC, in the early 60’s. He graduated with honours from ECUAD (Emily Carr University of Art and Design) in the mid 80’s. The emotional intelligence of visual imaging developed into an instinctive form of expression for him at a young age. Recently semi-retired from his brand-design agency, ISI Branding in 2016, Garrett has returned to the art world.

Over the past 35 years, Garrett’s mixed and multimedia artworks have evolved through spiritual influences; specifically, sacred teachings, Samatha meditation and Hatha yoga. Each of these practices has contributed to the re-alignment of his imagery. Chong’s excursions to his ancestral ruins of China inspired him to continue a spiritual path into sacred places and spaces. Garrett has journeyed through the ancient civilizations of South East Asia, Peru and Mexico, the historical environments of the EU, and the natural wonders of America.

He has lived in the lower mainland for over five decades and his 89 Gore Avenue studio is located at The Edge Building in Railtown, Vancouver, BC since the late 90’s. When home; Garrett exhibits year-round in the open studio event: FirstSaturday.ca (First Saturday of each month), the annual Eastside Culture Crawl, and select fine art galleries.

Solo Exhibitions:
Canadian Pacific Gallery, Port Moody Arts Centre, 2021
– Seeing Anew: Earthly Presence
Eastside Culture Crawl @ ISI, 2021/2019/2018
– Seclusion / Solitude \ Serenity, Not two…, Still[s]… In Sacred Places, Vancouver, BC
Chernoff Fine Arts, 1988
– Avenue of Americans, Vancouver, BC

Group Exhibitions:
The Cultch / Eastside Cultural Crawl, 2021 – Juried
– Surfacing, Vancouver, BC
Film Series / Eastside Cultural Crawl, 2021 – Curated
– NATURAL ANALOG/UES, Vancouver, BC
Britannia Art Gallery, 2019 – Curated
– Still[s]… In Sacred Places, Vancouver, BC
The Cultch / Eastside Cultural Crawl, 2018 – Juried
– Spaces, Places & Traces, Vancouver, BC
Emily Carr University of Art & Design, 2005 – Juried
– Alumni Show, Vancouver, BC

Select Publications and Media:
du Maurier Jazz Festival, 1988 – 1993
– Brand Imagery, Vancouver, BC,
Coastal Jazz Society, David Sanborn, 1991
– Brand Imagery, Vancouver, BC
Alcan Lectures on Architecture, 1991
– Brand Imagery, Vancouver, BC

Honours and Awards:
Libby Davies, Community Citation, 2004
– Frog Hollow Neighbourhood House
GDC, Alcan Lectures on Architecture, 1991
– Brand Imagery and Design, Vancouver, BC
Leon and Thea Koerner Foundation, 1986
– Honours Scholarship, Vancouver, BC

Canada Council for the Arts:
– Independent Media Artist
– Artist

Follow #GarrettAndrewChong.art
on Instagram

Purchases: bliss[at]sacredstills.com
Metal Prints, Canvas, Framed

Seeing Anew: Earthly Presence
> Beholding the beauty of the world beyond the news

> Take a Virtual 360˚ Tour of  the 89 Gore Avenue Gallery

Exhibition Statement:
The Seeing Anew: Earthly Presence exhibition (from my solo show at CP Gallery, Port Moody Arts Centre, 2021) contains stories of Light: (relate to the imagery and prose). Working with the multiple interpretations of “Light”, my pieces explore the imagined “Light” of Auras, the “Light” of the Sun as a Life Source and the “Light” which radiates in Spiritual Practice.

> 2022 Eastside Culture Crawl Arts Festival:

November 11 + 13
Preview Weekend by Appointment
Friday: 5pm – 10 pm
Saturday + Sunday: 11am – 6pm

November 17 + 20
Open Studio Festival Weekend
Thursday + Friday: 5pm – 10 pm
Saturday + Sunday: 11am – 6pm

Featured Stills:
911 Memorial, Statan Island, USA > Angkor Wat, Cambodia, Indonesia > Shaolin Temple, Henan, China > Hridaya Yoga + Meditation, Oaxaca, Mexico > Antelope Canyon, Arizona, USA > Almendres Cromlech, Évora, Portugal > Rainbow Mountain, Sacred Valley, Peru > Machu Picchu, Cusco, Peru > Chrysler Building, NYC, USA > Southwestern Mountains & Galiano Island, BC, Canada > Millesgården, Stockholm, Sweden > Krung Thep Maha Nakhon, Thailand…