PRIDE Art Exhibition - 1188 W Granville, Vancouver, BC

PRIDE Art Show for Vancouver Pride

Now on view at the GWL Realty Advisors building, 1188 West Georgia Street, curated by Hello Art

The PRIDE Art Show brings together a compelling collection of abstract works by pan-Canadian artist Olivier Salvas. As a retrospective of his Pride-inspired series Flamboyant, The Enchanted Garden, and Disco Nap, this exhibition tells a story of resilience, identity, and the ongoing need for spaces that allow queer individuals to thrive.

Flamboyant is a celebration of self. These works are loud, colourful, and bold—created to make a statement. They proclaim that queer people are not only present but proud, vibrant, and unapologetically themselves. The paintings in this series use rich colour and dynamic movement to embody confidence, defiance, and joy.

The Enchanted Garden takes a more metaphorical approach. Through lush textures and organic forms, the series explores the idea that people grow and flourish based on the environments they are placed in. A garden must be nurtured to thrive, and so must queer individuals. These works speak to the importance of creating inclusive, loving spaces where difference is welcomed and cared for.

In contrast, Disco Nap is a quiet but powerful protest. Using mostly white tones—rare in Salvas’s work—the pieces convey a sense of absence. This absence represents what is lost when safe spaces for queer youth disappear. The white abstracts highlight the urgency of protection, advocacy, and the preservation of spaces where people can be themselves without fear. While the colour is muted, the message is clear: silence can be as loud as a scream, and stillness can carry protest.

Together, these three bodies of work form a narrative about the queer experience through the lens of resilience. They explore what it means to be visible, to be nurtured, and to demand safety and dignity. Through colour, texture, story, and absence, the exhibition invites reflection on the power of art to connect, transform, and heal.

Olivier Salvas is a pan-Canadian abstract artist whose work is rooted in storytelling, identity, and advocacy. Originally from Montreal and now living in Vancouver, his practice blends bold visual language with a deep commitment to social justice. With exhibitions across Canada and work featured in both community and national art spaces, Salvas uses abstraction to open dialogue and build bridges across difference. His art is both personal and universal—an invitation to reflect, feel, and take action.