“A Day in the Life” with Vancouver contemporary artist Russell Wang

Russell Wang (known professionally under the handle as RSLW) is a Taiwanese/Canadian contemporary artist and designer who is currently based in Vancouver, Canada. Working primarily in oil and acrylic paint, he is an artist who conveys contemporary and surreal depictions of otherwise popular or banal characters in a peculiar form.

Inspired by his older brother’s Gundam sketching book at the age of 5, it was then that he discovered his passion for fine arts. Today, many of his iconic portraiture work challenges the notion of orderly physiology, with Japanese Otaku and classic American pop culture having an impact on his work. Wang taps into the world of wacky dreams and the deformations and associations produced oftentimes by the artist’s own subconscious. Having been also influenced by the works of Bacon, Condo, Picasso, and Freud, Wang has laid emphasis on an importance through his work for having shown how reality can be represented as seen from different perspectives simultaneously.

Wang was born in 1992 in Taipei, Taiwan. He and his family immigrated to Vancouver, Canada in 1997.

Russell Wang
Posing with some framed pieces, based off of anime characters as part of my Kintsugi series. Sometimes a brief pause before jumping into a new piece works wonders.
“GUNDZILLA”, Acrylic on Wood Panel, 32 x 44”, 2021
“GUNDZILLA”, Acrylic on Wood Panel, 32 x 44”, 2021
“TENGU”, Acrylic on Canvas, 29 x 41”, 2021
“TENGU”, Acrylic on Canvas, 29 x 41”, 2021
“NO-FACE”, Acrylic on Wood Panel, 32 x 44”, 2021
“NO-FACE”, Acrylic on Wood Panel, 32 x 44”, 2021
“TENGU”, Acrylic on Canvas, 29 x 41”, 2021
“TENGU”, Acrylic on Canvas, 29 x 41”, 2021
Gallery view featuring 4 pieces that are part of the Kintsugi series. Will be adding more to this series.
Gallery view featuring 4 pieces that are part of the Kintsugi series. Will be adding more to this series.
“BATMINTON”, Acrylic on Canvas, 30 x 40”, 2015
“BATMINTON”, Acrylic on Canvas, 30 x 40”, 2015
Gallery view featuring a triptych series featuring portraitures of friends.
Gallery view featuring a triptych series featuring portraitures of friends.

***

Which ‘hood are you in?

Residing and working currently from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

What do you do?

I work as a contemporary painter and artist, since art is the purest form of human expression in my eyes. The second I stop having fun with the process, I will be done with it; and only God knows when that will be.

What are you currently working on?

Currently working on a Japanese-inspired ‘Kintsugi’ series, featuring classic characters from the Otaku world. I am also working towards collaborating with a publisher to release a book based on some of my portrait paintings.

Where can we find your work?

You can find more of my work in the links below.

Website| Instagram