| Nathaniel Milljour | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Field | Painting, drawing, sculpture |
| Movement | |
Nathaniel Milljour is a self-taught Canadian artist, painter and sculptor. He splits his time between Alberta, and British Columbia, Canada.
In 2007, he established a small studio gallery in downtown Calgary under the name 'Adore Designs Studio and Gallery'. In 2008 the physical store was closed and a new company emerged online under the name 'Studio Noire' presumably due to Milljour's move to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
His fine art has been sold in galleries across Canada and the United States.
His artwork has featured on promotional materials and album artwork for musicians internationally. His gig artwork is growing in demand and he focuses primarily on music industry clients. In his short time working in this genre of music "gig" art, he has created promotional work for such varied genres as seasoned metal bands Exodus of San Francisco, and Kreator of Germany, as well as gothic icon and musician Voltaire of New York, and many others.
His artwork has been featured on subculture gig posters for nightclubs and events across Canada and the US. He was one of the exhibited artists for the 'DECADEnce, a decade of gothic artwork' show in Vancouver.
Milljour is also a contributor to charities and events, and was one of a hundred Canadian artists chosen to paint helmets in honor of Canadian soldiers abroad. The helmets were auctioned in November 2009 by the 'True Patriot Love Foundation', established by retired General Rick Hillier, to support Canadian military families in need. His work was entitled "We Stand on Guard for Thee". He was chosen again in 2010, this time sculpting a small scale model of the famous Canadian Pacific Railway memorial from the Vancouver Waterfront Station for the auction.
In early 2009, Milljour donated a full scale painting to Vancouver's 'Red Galleria', "Paint Vancouver Red" charity auction to benefit the Vancouver Children's Hospital. In late 2009, Milljour's painting "The Caterpillar" was featured in the Calgary Public Library foundation Literary Awards charity auction“.
Milljour is often featured in charities and auctions contributing to the community. These range from benefits for animal foundations to raising money for the awareness of human trafficking.
Artwork subject matter ranges from traditional architecture, to figures of emotion, depth and color. Often categorized into Lowbrow, he mainly uses Chiaroscuro, to create vivid Figurative images with somewhat of a Gothic, Erotic, and often Fetish flair.
Although usually focusing on his fine art in acrylic and oil paint, his newer works are becoming more and more digital, often using hand sketches digitally touched up.
His artwork was chosen in 2008 by Calgary Transit for their urban renewal program, "Art in Motion" where local artists works were chosen to help decorate unsightly utility boxes in downtown Calgary. His pieces, "Calgary in Green" and "Monoliths, both dark and foreboding surreal cityscapes of Calgary were chosen, and can be seen in both Eau Claire and on Center Street. In the summer of 2010, he was again commissioned by Calgary Transit for mural paintings on 16th Avenue North. Large scale pieces of his artwork can be seen on 16th Avenue and center street as well as decorating the walkway from 16th Avenue to SAIT Polytechnic.
His gig poster artwork is usually a staple in downtown Vancouver, predominantly on the heavily postered Granville Street.
"This story, coupled with Nathaniel Milljour's haunting artwork, stands as an excellent allegory on how dangerous it can be to devalue our basic sense of shared humanity."