“Observant, patient and down to earth, somehow Kevin Ledo is still an artist with a boldness hard to miss. His round-the-world schedule has him in demand for painting massive murals from Lebanon to his hometown in Montreal—his nine-story Leonard Cohen portrait is world-record worthy to say the least—while still finding time to enrich his artistic talent on canvas. Diligence and focus has led to a striking series of subjects confined within golden lines in feminine or masculine form. With a color scheme filtering a hint of retro seductiveness, his moody subjects seem to captivate its spectator.” –Stick Together Arts
Biography
Kevin Ledo is a Montreal-based artist who grew up in a mix of urban and ethnic cultures. He was raised by Portuguese parents from the Azores Islands and began his artistic practice in 2005. Since then, his work has given him the opportunity to live and work in places such as Taiwan, Vancouver, Costa Rica, Guatemala, and China. He graduated from Dawson College with a degree in Illustration and Design in 1999.
Ledo is known for his participation in mural festivals and public art initiatives in Canada and around the world, such as AptART in Zarqa and Beirut, One Blue Sky Project in cities across the USA, MURAL in Montreal, PangeaSeed Sea Walls in Toronto, FIAP in Cancún, BUMP in Calgary, The Raw Project in Miami and Denver, and Street Prints in Christchurch and Mount Maunganui.
He has also been featured in several art media outlets, including GQ Magazine, Juxtapoz Magazine, Street Art News, My Modern Met, Artist a Day, Montana Cans blog, and Cool Hunting. His work has been written about and featured on television and in news outlets such as The New York Times, LA Times, The New Yorker, The Guardian, National Geographic, Yahoo! News, Washington Times, The National Post, Toronto Star, La Presse, CBC The National, CBC Arts, CBC Radio1, Global News, CTV News, The Globe and Mail, The Montreal Gazette, Cult MTL, and more.
Artist Statement
As a professional artist, Kevin Ledo is known for his portrait murals that can be found in cities around the world. His artistic practice spans across various genres, including mural art, street art, and fine art. Ledo has consistently explored portraiture and the human form, but has recently delved into abstract art mainly in his studio practice, exploring mark making and color theory.
Inspired by the beauty and diversity of the human experience, Ledo’s art celebrates the unique spirit of each individual and the richness of cultural and ethnic identities. His portraits are bold and iconic, with a focus on composition and delicate color palettes. Through his brushstrokes, he seeks to capture the essence of each subject and convey their personality and emotions.
In his abstract work, Ledo explores the interplay of color, line, texture, and mark-making. Geometric shapes are a recurring motif, adding a sense of movement and depth to the canvas. As a humanist, he believes that art has the power to bring people together and foster understanding and empathy. Through his art, he hopes to inspire others to embrace and celebrate their own cultural heritage and promote inclusivity.
Ledo is grateful for the opportunity to travel the world and share his art with a global audience. His elegant approach to realism can be seen in his compositions, regardless of the medium or setting. He is committed to using his art to celebrate the beauty of diversity and promote understanding and empathy.
Art Dealers
JGContemporary, London, England
Français
Biographie
Kevin Ledo est un artiste montréalais qui a grandi dans un mélange de cultures urbaines et ethniques. Il a été élevé par des parents portugais des îles des Açores et a commencé sa pratique artistique en 2005. Depuis, son travail lui a donné l’occasion de vivre et travailler dans des endroits tels que Taiwan, Vancouver, Costa Rica, Guatemala et Chine. Il a obtenu un diplôme en illustration et design de Dawson College en 1999.
Ledo est connu pour sa participation à des festivals de murales et des initiatives d’art public au Canada et dans le monde, tels que AptART à Zarqa et Beyrouth, One Blue Sky Project aux États-Unis, MURAL à Montréal, PangeaSeed Sea Walls à Toronto, BUMP à Calgary, FIAP à Cancún, The Raw Project à Miami et Denver, et Street Prints à Christchurch et Mount Maunganui.
Il a également été présenté dans plusieurs médias d’art, dont GQ Magazine, Juxtapoz Magazine, Street Art News, My Modern Met, Artist a Day, Montana Cans blog et Cool Hunting. Son travail a été écrit et présenté à la télévision et dans les médias tels que The New York Times, LA Times, The New Yorker, The Guardian, National Geographic, Yahoo! News, Washington Times, The National Post, Toronto Star, La Presse, CBC The National, CBC Arts, CBC Radio1, Global News, CTV News, The Globe and Mail, The Montreal Gazette, Cult MTL, et plus encore.
Démarche artistique
En tant qu’artiste professionnel, Kevin Ledo est connu pour ses murales de portraits qui peuvent être trouvés dans les villes du monde entier. Sa pratique artistique couvre divers genres, y compris l’art mural, l’art de rue et l’art de qualité. Ledo a constamment exploré le portrait et la forme humaine, mais s’est récemment plongé dans l’art abstrait principalement dans sa pratique en studio, en explorant la création de marques et la théorie des couleurs.
Inspiré par la beauté et la diversité de l’expérience humaine, l’art de Ledo célèbre l’esprit unique de chaque individu et la richesse des identités culturelles et ethniques. Ses portraits sont audacieux et iconiques, avec une attention particulière sur la composition et les palettes de couleurs délicates. À travers ses pinceaux, il cherche à capturer l’essence de chaque sujet et à transmettre leur personnalité et leurs émotions.
Dans son travail abstrait, Ledo explore l’interaction de la couleur, la ligne, la texture et la marque. Les formes géométriques et les motifs sont un motif récurrent, ajoutant un sens de mouvement et de profondeur à la toile. En tant qu’humaniste, il croit que l’art a le pouvoir de rassembler les gens et de favoriser la compréhension et l’empathie. Grâce à son art, il espère inspirer les autres à embrasser et célébrer leur propre patrimoine culturel et à promouvoir l’inclusion.
Ledo est reconnaissant de l’opportunité de voyager dans le monde et de partager son art avec un public mondial. Son approche élégante du réalisme peut être vue dans ses compositions, quel que soit le médium ou le cadre. Il s’engage à utiliser son art pour célébrer la beauté de la diversité et promouvoir la compréhension et l’empathie.
