BIOGRAPHY

Mike Fantuz is a Canadian artist known for his large scale oil paintings that capture the urban landscape in the American Realism style. With inherited palette knives and a bold, thick application of paint, he delves into the aerial perspective, drawing inspiration from his extensive experience in the aviation industry as an air traffic controller and pilot.

It all began when his uncle gifted him the palette knives of his late grandfather, Gastone Fantuz, thus igniting his passion for art. Gastone Fantuz was a highly talented artist, having attended the Banff School of Art, and went on to be a draftsperson for the A.V.Roe where he worked on projects such as the Avro Arrow. Tragically, his life was cut short, but his legacy lived on through his art tools passed down to Mike.

Born in Guelph, Ontario and raised in Calgary, Mike was always captivated by the world from above. Fueled by his desire to fly, he pursued a career as a pilot, flying skydivers in northern British Columbia before relocating to Newfoundland as an air-traffic controller. This unique perspective on the world, combined with the tools passed down to him by his grandfather, set the stage for the striking, large-scale oil paintings that he is now known for.

Mike continues to work in his downtown Vancouver art studio, carrying on the art tradition in his family. His work has been exhibited in Canada, the USA, and the UK and is part of both private and public collections. He is represented by the Christina Parker Gallery in St. John's, Newfoundland.