Aries Cheung
Toronto based visual artist

Bio + CV

Brief Bio

Aries Cheung studied design and illustration at the Hong Kong Polytechnics University, and graduated in Visual Arts at York University. He has worked as a graphic designer and art director for advertising for many years.

Cheung is now an independent, practicing visual artist and teacher. His interests include painting, drawing, digital imaging and photo-based, mixed media work. He has exhibited at galleries locally and abroad. He has been on the jury and programming committees for artist-run galleries in Toronto. He has received Ontario Arts Council Artist’s Grant and has been a Toronto Arts Council Artist’s Grant Jury Member.

Cheung’s works often deal with racial identity and sexuality, employing portraits, figures, or the human body as the ground for contention. He often uses personal issues as reference points to explore politics that affect his communities.

Curriculum Vitae

Related Education:

  • Visual Arts Honour Program BFA, York University, Toronto
  • Teacher of English as a Second Language Certificate, Canadian Cooperative for Language and Cultural Studies, Toronto
  • Contemporary Drawing and Painting, Toronto School of Art, Toronto
  • Higher Certificate in Illustration, Design and Communications, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong
    Higher Diploma in Graphic Design, First Institute of Art and Design, Hong Kong

Visual Arts Experiences:

  • Exhibited, drawings paintings, installations and digital art at galleries locally and abroad.
  • Jury and Programming for art exhibitions for artist-run galleries.
  • Experience as a professional visual artist, graphic designer, illustrator, and teacher.
  • Trained in the visual arts, specialized in drawing, painting, digital imaging, & installation.
  • Knowledge in art history, including critical issues in contemporary art.
  • Visual Art Grant Jury Member, Toronto Arts Council.

Teaching Experiences:

  • Teaching art, design and digital imaging up to college level.
  • Designed and delivered workshops in art, crafts, theatre, dance & mime for public and high schools.

Other Arts Training & Practices:

  • Acted and performed in various video, film and theatre productions.
  • Trained in modern dance, Chinese classical and other cultural dances. Performed for various Canadian dance companies
  • Stage design, sound & lighting for dance, theatre and film production.

Selected Exhibitions:

    2006 June: Go Figure, Propeller Centre for the Visual Arts, Toronto, Ontario
    2003 September: Open Juried Exhibition – group show, Cambridge Galleries, Cambridge, Ontario
    2003 March: Ingredients – group show, Gallery 61, Toronto
    2002 May: Suspended Moments – group show, MAI (Montreal, arts interculturels), Montreal
    2002 October: Masks – group show, Hart House, University of Toronto, Toronto
    2000 August: Fresh Paint – group show, Meg Gallery, Toronto
    2000 July: Genderless Generation – group show, Church Street Public School, Toronto
    2000 July: Pride & Equity – group show, Red Spot Cafe, Toronto
    2000 May: ArtEquity – group show, Pope Joan Club, Toronto
    1999 New Paintings – O'Connor Gallery, Toronto
    1998 Private Parts – group show, The Red Spot Club, Toronto
    1998 Salon Degenerate – group show, Zen-Mix 2000 Visual Art Collective, Toronto
    1997 Transience – group show, Asian Heritage Month Festival

Employment History:

  • 2005 – Teacher, Centre for Creative Communications at the Centennial College, Toronto
  • 1990 – Present, Independent Visual Artist, Teacher, Arts Event Organizer, Workshop Facilitator,
        Arts Programmer, Creative Communication Consultant, Graphic/Web Designer, and Illustrator, Toronto
  • 1994 – 96 Accessibility Project Coordinator & Education Coordinator,
        Ontario Ministry of Health, Toronto Public Health, Asian Community AIDS Services, Toronto
  • 1989 – 90 Graphic Designer, Triad Graphics Communication Co. Ltd., Toronto
  • 1985 – 89 Art Director, J. Walter Thompson Advertising Ltd., Hong Kong
  • 1983 – 85 Graphic Designer, Fast East Ketchum Advertising Ltd., Hong Kong

Grants & Awards:

  • 1995 Honour of Dean Award, York University, Toronto
  • 2004 Ontario Arts Council Visual Artist Grant, Toronto

Bibliography:

  • Susan Walker, "Faceless Eroticism at Pride Show", Globe and Mail, 2006, Toronto
  • Gary Michael Dault, "Fresh Paint at the Meg Gallery", Globe and Mail, 2000, Toronto
  • Deirdre Hanna, "Painted Word", Now Magazine, 2000, Toronto
  • Florence Chan, Arts News, CFMT TV, 2000, Toronto
  • "Salon Degenerate", Art Review, Lola Magazine, 1998, Toronto
  • Jimm Tran, "Interviews", CelebrAsian, Winter 1998, Toronto
  • "Zen-Mix 2000 Exhibition", Arts News, Shaw Cable TV, 1998, Toronto
  • "Blood, Flesh and Hope", Sing Tao Daily, July 1994, Toronto,
  • Glenn Sumi, "Blood and Bare Bones Fill in the GAAP", X'tra, August 1994, Toronto
  • "Transformation of Space", Entertainment, City TV, 1994, Toronto
  • Lee Pui Ming, "My Love Will Never Die", Monkey Tale, CKLN Radio, 1993, Toronto

Publications:

  "Love and Scandal" group exhibition, Shotgun Reviews, Lola Magazine, Issue 14, Winter 2002/03

Related Community Development:

  • Programming Committee, Board Member, Jury Committee, A Space Gallery.
  • Jury Committee, Exhibition Assistance Grant, Canada Arts Council through A Space Gallery.
  • Art Poster Development, Mayworks Festival of Workers and the Arts.
  • Jury Committee, Youth Poster Design Contest, Hong Fook Mental Health Association.
  • Jury Committee, Student Poster Contest, High Wire Fashion Show, Ryerson University.
  • Planning Committee, Counter Impressions: Art Auction Fundraiser, Chinese Canadian National Council.
  • Programming Committee, Asian Heritage Month Festival.
  • Facilitator, Spheres of Solidarity: Public School Students’ Quilt, Mayworks Festival of Workers and the Arts.
  • Collective Member, Zen-Mix 2000 Visual Arts Collective.