Olivier has been drawing since childhood. He grew up in Europe, lived in Asia and worked in Africa. Among other artistic ventures, he explored analog photography in his dark room in Beijing, China, and learned the rudiments of Chinese calligraphy.

For twenty years, Olivier published cartoons and illustrations in Doctors Without Borders print publications. Olivier settled in Canada in 2004. His works have been selected for a number of juried shows, such as Figureworks in Ottawa and several Maisons de la culture in Montreal. He holds solo and collective exhibitions in various galleries and venues each year. His work can be found in public and private collections in Canada, in the U.S. and in Europe.

ARTIST’S STATEMENT

My favourite means of expression are graphite, charcoal and ink for drawing, and gouache or watercolour for painting. I have a purely aesthetic pursuit: an expressive gaze, an appealing light, an interesting composition. I seek to create an atmosphere and connection between my subject matter. The tools and medium I choose are an assortment of paper, cardstock, canvas or geographic maps of various origins.

As can be seen in my artwork, my sources of inspiration are quite diverse, drawing from different cultures around the world that I am familiar with. There is a certain air of nostalgia, as I draw some of my inspiration from early to mid-20th century non copyrighted photographs. I continue to explore mediums and create original compositions, attempting to spark an emotion - using mostly traditional materials and techniques.