ABOUT — TIKO KERR

SEA OF TRANQUILITY . acrylic, oil and inkjet on canvas . 36 x 26 inches . 2019

ARTIST’S BIO

1953 Born in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
1977 BSc University of Calgary

Tiko Kerr is a seminal Canadian multidisciplinary artist, educator, and social advocate based in Vancouver, British Columbia. Holding a biology degree from the University of Calgary, Kerr translated his early global travels into a prolific career spanning over four decades of continuous gallery exhibitions. His restless artistic practice encompasses painting, mural art, set design, and film art direction. Subverting traditional landscape conventions, Kerr champions collage and fluid abstraction as his fundamental methodologies to map the complex psychological terrain of contemporary Canadian identity.

Beyond his studio, Kerr is an iconic figure in health activism. Diagnosed with HIV in 1985, his landmark 2005 legal battle against the Canadian government secured emergency access to life-saving antiretroviral drugs, establishing crucial medical precedents. Today, he mentors youth and creates therapeutic public art for major healthcare and cultural institutions. His work is held in prestigious permanent collections worldwide.

CURRICULUM VITAE

2025 Motion Pictures, Gibsons Public Art Gallery, Gibsons, BC., CAN
2025. Seeing in Pieces, Monica Reyes Gallery, Mackenzie Heights, and Jacqui Cohen Residence, Vancouver, BC, CAN
2023     Respair, Monica Reyes Gallery, Strathcona, Vancouver, BC, CAN
2022    The Politics of Proximity, Monica Reyes Gallery, Strathcona, Vancouver, BC, CA
2021     Plexus, Monica Reyes Gallery, Strathcona, Vancouver, BC, CAN
2019    Reframed, The Gordon Smith Gallery of Canadian Art, North Vancouver, BC, CAN
2018    Affinities, The Pendulum Gallery, Vancouver, BC, CAN
2016-2018    3 Solo Exhibitions, South Main Gallery, Vancouver, BC, CAN
2008-2010 3 Solo Exhibitions, Winsor Gallery, Vancouver, BC, CAN
1999-2002    3 Solo Exhibitions, Heffel Gallery, Vancouver BC, CAN
1992-1994    3 Solo Exhibitions, Diane Farris Gallery, Vancouver, BC, CAN
1987-1989   3 Solo Exhibitions, Buschlen Mowatt Gallery, Vancouver, BC, CAN
1985 What It Takes to Be a Mountie, Australian Visual Arts Gallery, Sydney, NSW, AU
2026    SPLASH, Arts Umbrella, Vancouver, BC, CAN
                  Abstracted Landscapes, Summer and Grace Gallery, Oakville ON., CAN
                  ART WITH HEART, Casey House, Toronto, ON., CAN
2025    Audain Museum Gala, Audain Museum, Whistler, BC, CAN
                       Art with Heart 20025, Casey House Foundation, Toronto, ON, CAN
2025, 2023 Postcards from the Edge, Visual AIDS, New York, NY, USA
2024    Audain Art Museum Gala Group Show, W Projects, Vancouver, BC, CAN
2022     Monica Reyes Gallery, Strathcona, Vancouver, BC, CAN
2023. Monica Reyes Gallery, Strathcona, Vancouver, BC, CAN
2024 Monica Reyes Gallery, Mackenzie Heights, Vancouver, BC, CAN
2025 Monica Reyes Gallery, Mackenzie Heights, Vancouver, BC, CAN
2023 POP UP 2023: Works on Paper, Trapp Projects, Vancouver, BC, CAN
2023 If becomes when, A Collaboration with poet Otoniya Juliane Otok Bitek, The Pendulum Gallery, Vancouver, BC, CAN
2023 Brilliance Gala, The Gordon Smith Foundation, North Vancouver, BC, CAN
2022/2023 Artists for Water, Swim, Drink, Fish Society, Vancouver, BC, CAN
2021 #Collage Now, Denise Bibro Fine Art, New York. NY, USA
2021/2023 Combine Art Fair, Griffin Art Projects, North Vancouver, BC, CAN
2020 What are you working on? Pendulum Gallery, Vancouver, BC, CAN
2018/2020 Penticton Art Gallery, Penticton, BC, CAN
2002 Perspectives: Meaning, Making & Medium, Surrey Art Gallery, Surrey, BC, CAN
1998-2003 Heffel Gallery, Vancouver, BC, CAN
1987/2001 Artropolis, Vancouver, BC, CAN
1984 The Warehouse Show, Vancouver, BC, CAN
1983 The October Show, Vancouver, BC, CAN
2026 Guest Teacher, Gibson’s School of the Arts, Gibson’s, BC, CAN and Sunderland Secondary School, North Vancouver, BC, CAN
2025 Guest Teacher, Gibson’s School of the Arts, Gibson’s, BC, CAN
2024 Guest Teacher, Denman Island Studio 3 Workshops, Denman Island, BC, CAN
2023 Guest Teacher, Gibson’s School of the Arts, Gibson’s, BC, CAN
2022 Guest Teacher, Gibson’s School of the Arts, Gibson’s, BC, CAN
2022 Director, “Undetectable” (Documentary Film), Snapshot Productions for Telus.com., Calgary, AB
2020 Commissioned Artist, “Oasis,” (Mural) Sunny Hill Health Centre, BC Children’s Hospital, Vancouver, BC, CAN
2019 Guest Teacher, Discovering Paper Collage, The Vancouver Art Gallery, Vancouver, BC, CAN
2018 Set Designer, “Marion Bridge” (Theatrical Production) The Kay Meek Arts Centre, West Vancouver, BC, CAN
2018 Commissioned Artist, “The Gift of the Given” (Mural) 1873 West 4th Ave., 4th Avenue Business Improvement Association, Vancouver, BC, CAN
2015/2017   Guest Artist, Paradise Valley Artists for Kids Summer Camp, Brackendale, BC, CAN and “Form and Collage”, BC Teachers Federation Superconference, Vancouver, BC, CAN
2017-2018   Board Member, Children’s Hospital Art Acquisitions Committee, Children’s Hospital, Vancouver, BC, CAN
2015 Set Designer“The Good Night Bird,” (Theatre production) Kay Meek Theatre, West Vancouver, BC, CAN
2014-2016   Board Member, West End Neighbours , a residential community action group, Vancouver, BC, CAN
2001-2003   Board Member, Artropolis, Vancouver, BC, CAN
2008 Vivaldi's The Four Seasons (Solo Performance) with Ballet British Columbia, Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Vancouver, BC, CAN
2007 GuestResidency, Brodsky Center for Innovative Editions, Rutgers University, Princeton, NJ, USA
1997 Boy Wonder, (Set Designer)with Ballet British Columbia, Touchstone Theatre & Vancouver New Music, Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Vancouver, BC. CAN
1994 Three Visible Poems (Guest Solo Performance) Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Vancouver, BC, and The National Arts Centre, of Canada, Ottawa, ON, CAN
1994-1996   Artist in Residence, West End Community Centre Association, Vancouver, BC, CAN
2021 Plexus, Monica Reyes Gallery, Vancouver, BC
2019 Reframed, The Gordon Smith Gallery of Canadian Art, North Vancouver, BC
2018 Legends of Utopia, South Main Gallery, Vancouver, BCItem description