Yvan Genest, an internationally renowned artist, held his first exhibition in 1976 at the “Galeria La Chamade” in Rennes, France, after having devoted more than 30 years to painting.

Eight years later, his reputation followed him to Montreal, where he exhibited his works at the “Galerie Au Coin des Artistes.” During the 1990s, his work was presented in Vallarta, placing the artist on the pedestal of the Mexican art scene.

Today, Yvan Genest’s paintings reflect his vision of the image of the soul. “I am a fashion designer for the mind; I dress the soul,” he says.

His many experiences are reflected in his paintings. Faces hold particular importance in Genest’s works: whether devils, kings, or cardinals, it is there that the expressions of the human soul appear and take shape. In Mexico, he is especially inspired by the freedom he finds in local craftsmanship and the colorful life spread throughout the country.

Yvan is an interesting man, modest and easygoing. When you talk with him, you discover that painting is not simply something he likes to do; it is his way of being. His way of communicating.

“For me, what matters is simplicity, not complexity. I walk down the street, past a door or a dog; something will inspire me and I paint it,” he says.

Yvan has an incredible sense of color. His paintings are luminous and joyful. They are all infused with a feeling of freedom and pleasure.

Even if you don’t understand them, you want to take in all the paintings and feel compelled to buy one.

In Paris, a writer described Yvan’s work as “…a spicy, very warm taste that lingers in your mind, your heart, and your soul, even after tasting the first exciting flavor.”