Artists Biography

Harvey Nichol

ᜁᜐ᜔ᜉᜒᜇᜒᜆᜓ ᜐᜈ᜔ᜆᜓᜐ᜔

A Multidisciplinary Artist and a Cultural Activist, Harvey pursued a Bachelor in Fine Arts at Alberta University of the Arts, Majoring in Sculpture, (2020-2023).

Born in Tondo, Metro Manila, Philippines, an urban slum district along the coast of Manila Bay. He was raised by his single mother, Joy. As a child, his mother would take him to the National Museum of Fine Arts, where he would see the gigantic 1884 painting of 'Spoliarium' by Juan Luna.

When Harvey's mother passed away at the age of 29, he was left behind with his 10-year-old self and his 2-year-old brother. They were subsequently separated, and He was brought to his paternal grandparents, where he continued his education until his father petitioned for him to go to Canada.

In late 2013, early 2014, Harvey immigrated to Canada, where his father had been living with his new family for years. Due to their lack of prior relationship, him and his father clashed and Harvey decided to run away when he turned 16.

Finding himself on the streets, Harvey eventually sought refuge at a local at-risk youth shelter. It was there that he discovered an after-school program called 'Refreshed,' where he learned about the four elements of hip-hop.

He began expressing himself through graffiti, which led to his arrest and charges of vandalism. However, this setback did not deter him, and he continued tagging while drawing inspiration from local artists who became his mentors. He immersed himself in various forms of artistic expression. After completing high school, Harvey found himself in the midst of an emerging art community in downtown Calgary, where he embarked on his career as a self-taught outsider artist.

As he delved deeper into art, his interest in various art movements, such as Neo-Expressionism, Art Nouveau, Street Art, and Social Realism, became more apparent. His passion for comic books, futurism, folklore, and mythology also left a significant impact on him. He began combining these different genres to create his own style, which he coined 'Social-Folk Expressionism.'

In 2019, He held his first solo exhibition titled '11 Years Ago,' followed by his second solo exhibition in 2020, titled 'Spontaneous Combustion,' which took place just one week before the Covid-19 pandemic. With the world in lockdown and events like the Black Lives Matter protests and the Anti-Terror Bill demonstration in full swing, Harvey felt compelled to reconnect with his roots and express himself through different mediums. This led him to embark on the creation of a graphic novel, later named 'AKLAS,' for which he formed a team of collaborators from the diaspora to explore current and future social-political issues in the Philippines.

Inspired by his love for Philippine history, He conducted research on "The Illustrado" and the Propaganda Movement of the 19th century, as well as the subsequent Philippine revolution led by another Tondo compatriot, Andres Bonifacio. He was also influenced by Dr. Jose Rizal, who wrote a similar novel titled "Noli Me Tangere," and Juan Luna, the painter of the famous "Spoliarium" that he had seen as a child.

He made the decision to pursue post-secondary education at Alberta University Of The Arts, where he enrolled in a rigorous training program with a major in sculpture. However, as someone who identifies as an outsider artist, he found that the school environment has been out of touch with what the real needs of a modern 21st Century artist and ultimately chose to drop out in 2023.

In September of the same year, Harvey released his debut “Filipino-Futurist” graphic novel titled, Aklas Comics. An anthology series that dives into the world of Mega Manila, set in 2048. Aklas Universe is an alternate timeline offering a narrative that delves into future societal issues, human resilience, and the quest for identity. 

Harvey's work serves as a visual autoethnography, exploring the intersections of personal narrative with broader cultural, political, and social contexts.

His commitment to pushing the boundaries of traditional artistry has led him to engage in diverse projects, exhibitions, and residencies. His creative collaborations extend across local and international brands, including partnerships with the City of Calgary, Brookfield Properties, Neo Financial, Esker Foundation, BUMP Festival, and Herschel Supply. 

Despite being an independent artist with no gallery representation, Harvey’s artwork is sought after worldwide, with collectors spanning regions from America to Australia. 

Notably, one of his sculptures was recently acquired by the 14th Vice President of the Philippines, Leni Robredo, to be exhibited in the Museo ng Pag-Asa (Museum of Hope) in the Philippines.

He has been featured in various magazines and news outlets, both in Canada and throughout Asia, including Avenue Magazine's Best Dressed 2020, Telus Storyhive, OMNI News, CBC Calgary, Fabefo Singapore, and triART Philippines. He has collaborated with local and international brands such as LISE LAB, YYC Bump, Neo Financial, and Herschel Supply.

He was also a part of TREX SW, a travelling exhibition titled "Urban Soul" from 2020 to 2023. He has been featured in group exhibitions such as "Ornament and Crime," curated by Noor Bhangu at Stride Gallery. His most recent solo exhibition, titled "The Cultural Politics of Longing & Belonging," took place at Nvrlnd. Additionally, he participated in a four-month-long residency at Arts Commons' Lightbox Studio, where he continues to work on his graphic novel, "AKLAS."

Harvey Nichol is self-represented and takes private clients on a limited basis. Inquire about his availability at harveynichol.hs@gmail.com or check out his studio in Downtown Calgary.

(by appointment only)