Curtis Talwst Santiago

Born in 1979 to Trinidadian parents who immigrated to Edmonton, Canada, Santiago grew up immersed in Caribbean-Canadian culture. His early influences included music, dance, and art, shaped by his family and community. In the late 1990s, he began his musical career as the frontman of an a cappella group before moving to Vancouver in 2002, where he was drawn to 70s soul and 90s rap. From 2007 to 2010, he studied under First Nations artist Lawrence Paul Yuxweluptun, whose impact can be seen in the critical themes, bold colors, and expressive forms in Santiago’s work. His search for cultural and personal roots remains central to his artistic practice. Santiago’s practice explores history, memory, and personal identity, often engaging with themes of the diaspora and the retelling of historical narratives. His travels—including residencies in South Africa, Portugal, and Senegal—inform his storytelling, prompting reflections on the relationship between past and present, as well as broader geopolitical dynamics. At its core, his work is an exploration of human relationships and the full range of emotions that accompany them—from the longing for closeness to the experience of alienation. He examines how cultural and social differences function as both a powerful force of connection and a source of conflict. Through his paintings and sculptural works, Santiago seeks to translate these multifaceted experiences into color and space, creating compositions that visualize the tensions, harmonies, moods, and fluidity of existence across time and place.