André Ethier is a Toronto-based painter who has exhibited his work around the world. His paintings- which pair a bold color palette with subject matter that is often contorted and mildly psychedelic- interestingly references a wide spectrum of artists and styles. His portraits (many of which are obviously imagined) utilize an almost Baroque-like composition style that simultaneously borrows the surreal rendering of shapes from mannerists like Giuseppe Arcimboldo. Furthermore, some of Ethier’s paintings feature an almost Vincent van Gogh-like painting technique combined with the existence of imagined creatures that seem like they would be at home in Jim Henson’s The Dark Crystal. It’s a fucking bizarre pastiche style yet it is totally original. Ethier also sops his paint on thick so you really need to see his paintings in the flesh to truly appreciate them. And, because André Ethier is stacked with talent, it’s worth mentioning that he’s an incredible musician who previously fronted The Deadly Snakes then went solo and is now fronting a new band called Cut Flowers. Do yourself a favor and check out both his art and his music.