Returning to his roots for his upcoming solo show Romance of Canada, artist and illustrator Ryan Heshka presents a  series of illustrations playfully exploring Canadian culture and stereotypes with a fifties style sci-fi twist. 

Exhibiting in Milan’s Antonio Colombo Contemporary Art gallery from March 26th to May 23rd, Heshka invites viewers to glimpse his childhood: forced by Winnipeg’s harsh winter weather to spend a large amount of time indoors, young Heshka took solace in B movies and the fantasy worlds found between the pages of pulp magazines and comic books, all remaining strong influences on his work to this day.  

Featuring the artist’s trademark sultry pin-up style models as standard, each image in Romance of Canada references a specific city, place, or aspect of Canadian life from the well-known to the down-right obscure; audiences can look forward to seeing affectionate ice-hockey, maple leaf and ‘sorry’ references recurring. 

Self-taught as an artist, Heshka’s formal training lies in interior design, a profession he pursued alongside animation prior to making art and illustration his main occupation; he currently lives and works in Vancouver.

Romance of Canada   |  Antonio Colombo Contemporary Art