Olivier Salvas/Ryan & Eddie Mendoza

Olivier Salvas is an artist and educator who specializes in arts

education and the maker movement in a second language setting.

Originally from Montreal, QC, Olivier moved to Vancouver,

British-Columbia shortly after completing his Bachelor of Education in

Teaching French as a Second Language from University of Montreal. As he

embarked in his Graduate Studies in Media Studies and Curriculum at the

University of British-Columbia, Olivier merged his two passions of

artist and educator, and he began to create artistic work based on

educational research. Olivier uses abstract paintings, photography, and

various media to bring light to social causes and to foster

conversations about identity and arts education. Olivier's area of

research and of creation are inspired by graffiti art, street art, and

urban culture. When Olivier begins an artistic collection based on his

findings, he thinks of a topic in the world that resonates with him.

Then, he creates a story with this event, and he creates a main

character. He asks,” What would this character do, think, or say?”.

Subsequently, Olivier pairs up with a photographer to create a visual

story, which inspires him for the direction he wants to take

artistically with his message. In 2021, Olivier has released his new

collection “Flamboyant”, a series of abstract paintings with bold

colors, acting as statement pieces for self-acceptance and positivity.

One of the paintings from “Flamboyant”, “Sometimes I Paint Just For Fun”

has won first prize at the Federation of Canadian Artists’ “Pride in

Arts” Exhibition in June 2021. .Olivier has collaborating with Vancouver

Biennale as an educator for the Big Ideas in Schools project since 2015

and he has joined in 2022 We Are Ocean Vanncouver, a project

commissioned by Vancouver Biennale and curated by ARTPORT_making waves

acting as an artist-educator alongside local indigenous artist Cease

Wyss. This project is part of the global WE ARE OCEAN art project

contributing to the Preparatory Phase of the UNESCO ocean Decade for

Sustainable Development (2021-2030).This project continues to be

showcased internationally and it was recently showed at the Venice

Biennale. As an artist, Olivier currently showcases in Montreal,

Toronto, Vancouver and Victoria, BC. You can catch Olivier as a

columnist on on Radio-Canada (CBC French) and as a reporter the show

OutlookTV on OutTV, reporting on 2SLGBTQ+ artists and causes across

Canada. Olivier’s latest project in collaboration with Charlie’s Charmed

(Eddie & Ryan Mendoza) ARTFASHION has launched with a curated piece

at the Winnipeg Art Gallery in March 2022 and it is now showcased in

many events and galleries across Canada.

Charlie’s Charmed (Ryan & Eddie Mendoza)

[He, Him]

Eddie Mendoza is a 2S Michif from the Treaty No. 1 Territory and the Red

River Settlement in the heart of the Metis Nation Homeland. Ryan

Mendoza is a queer person of color who immigrated to Canada at a young

age and settled in Mississauga ON, now living in Manitoba. Together

married for ten years they have merged their talents and passions into

creating an urban fashion accessory line. Offering a modern twist on

traditional fashionable wearables, they take pride in creating a

genderless line while maintaining all of their conceptual elegance.

Sitting on the Board of directors for Rainbow Resource Centre

(Manitoba’s 2SLGBTQ+ Resource Centre) for seven years has given Eddie an

in-depth look directly into the diversity and needs of the 2SLGBTQ+

communities. It has also been the driving force behind many inclusive

campaigns and specific opportunities to give back and support their

communities inclusively.

They have created a strong, visible and authentic platform that

highlights who they are. It has given them the opportunity to

successfully develop a collective of safe places for 2SLGBTQ+ folks to

shop for their wedding. The Love is Love Collectives is a not for

profit collective that works with businesses and corporations on

becoming more inclusive and to promote a safe environment for the

2SLGBTQ+ community to be their authentic selves. The collective is a

national collective that continues to highlight and assisted community

members’ right across Canada through a vetting process to direct the

community to only the safest places.

Eddie and Ryan have been able to create fashion pieces and deliver on a

national and international scale. They have partnered and created custom

work for the Winnipeg Art Gallery, The Manitoba Legislature,

International Modelling Agencies in addition to nationally recognized

Indigenous Elders and international red carpet looks. Their work can be

found featured in a variety of media outlets such as Global Television,

The Winnipeg Free Press and Out TV.

They have collaborated with numerous local and national fashion

designers, stylist and artist. Most recently collaborating with Olivier

Salvas Artiste (Olivier Salvas), a conceptual / abstract artist from

Vancouver, BC with the ARTFASHION project. A project that encourages

your individuality while becoming a living art installation with their

ready to wear fashion. ARTFASHION had a couture piece curated in March

2022 by the Winnipeg Art Gallery as part of the Art in Bloom Festival.

This project highlights Eddie and Ryan’s ability to manipulate birch

wood shavings into flowers using numerous mediums, textures and colors,

while adhering to the concept of someone’s journey to self-acceptance.