About
Chantell Kwok is a Toronto-based artist and designer specializing in realistic portraiture. With her interest in the ephemeral, paranormal and supernatural, she has transpired these inspirations into her main thesis topic. Through her experience with thyroid cancer, she wishes to define this idea of the in-between in one’s life, often felt by individuals with near death experiences through her art practice. By combining both primarily, her traditional artistic approach and secondarily, her detail oriented design skillset she wishes to intertwine the best of both worlds to bring forth an aesthetic vision to her research question. Creating multiple perspectives for the world to understand the humane process of experiencing individual liminal spaces, and how each and everyone can process these emotions differently.
After acquiring her degree in Bachelor of Design, majoring in the areas of architectural studies at Ontario College of Art and Design (OCADU), Kwok has been focusing on balancing her life through working as a Toronto base interior designer and following her passions for art during her down time. Interior design has had a significant impact on the livelihood of Kwok and she believes that there will be one day where both of these paths, her passion for art and her career as a designer will intertwine.
She finally decided to make her return to Ontario College of Art and Design (OCADU) once again, and this time to focus on polishing her skillsets in her path of choice, drawing and painting. Currently striving to obtain her Bachelor in Fine Arts, she has made herself stand out in her classroom practices by demonstrating both skills in digital, analogue and hybrid creations of work.
Through her academic integrity, she has received the First generation and the Project 31: New Futures BIPOC bursary. She has participated in the 2015 Annual GRADEX 101 demonstrating her architectural excellence through conceptual, detail-oriented and research-based body of work around modular design. She is currently working tirelessly on building a body of work surrounding her area of focus with life and death and this idea of the in between for the future 2023 Annual GRADEX 108 this coming year.
CV
EXHIBITIONS
2023 GRADEX 108, Ontario College of Art and Design (OCADU), Toronto
Research investigation diving into the topic of life and death. Through conducting specific conversation-based research with colleagues who have been in near death experiences, she has been focusing on creating a series of realistic portraiture combined with themes from their personal experiences
2022 IN THE FLESH, Ontario College of Art and Design (OCADU), Toronto
Work surrounding experimentation with digital platforms. This piece was inspired by some little details that I have come across while doing research on my thesis. I used these little details to put together an interesting digital patterned work to show case what the possibilities are
2015 GRADEX 101, Ontario College of Art and Design (OCADU), Toronto
Presenting solutions for compact living for the future. Exploring the growing population in dense areas of cities. Designing an interior modular system within a high rise building that complies with all aspects of living such as amenities, social and physical necessities of families within city living.
GRANTS AND AWARDS
received the First generation and the Project 31: New Futures BIPOC bursary
participated in the 2015 Annual GRADEX 101 demonstrating her architectural excellence through conceptual, detail-oriented and research-based body of work around modular design.
Grants and Awards
Project 31: New Futures Bursary for BIPOC Faculty of Art Students Bursary 2022
First Generations Bursary 2013
Private Collections
Private Collection, Beijing, China
Private Collection, Beijing, China
Private Collection, Hong Kong, China
Private Collection, Hong Kong, China
Teaching experience
Drawing Instructor, Diana Art Studio 2017