Marvin Kanarek

Canadian artist Marvin Allan Kanarek, son of Holocaust survivors, was born in Havana Cuba. Shortly after his birth, the young family emigrated to Toronto, Canada via New York City. His parents having instilled in him the love of drawing, music and poetry, Marvin was destined to follow the artist's path. Architecture seemed to be a natural choice with it's synthesis of rhythm, colours, texture and proportion. He pursued his studies in Art and Architecture for six years. Already an accomplished musician, Marvin helped finance his studies by playing drums in night clubs and doing portraits on weekends and in his spare time. At the age of nineteen, Marvin was offered his first one man show of his pen and ink drawings at a Toronto gallery. This led to several other shows over the next few years in various Canadian galleries. During this period, he freelanced as designer and senior draughtsman for many prestigious Toronto Architectural firms.
Marvin moved to Los Angeles in 1979 where he continued to pursue his careers as artist, designer and musician. During his thirteen-year stay in Los Angeles, he exhibited his work in galleries in California, New Mexico and Arizona.

In collaboration with Interior Designers, Architects and private clients, he realised dozens of residential and commercial projects throughout California. His talent as a musician led to hundreds of recording sessions and many major tours with artists including The Beach Boys, Bo Diddley, Janis Ian, Burton Cummings and Randy Bachman of the Guess Who, etc.

1992 seemed like a good year for Marvin to change his environment. He moved to Montmartre in Paris, France. Since that time, he has concentrated on expanding his painting catalogue, He has had six successful one man shows in Paris, culminating with his most important showing to date in Aix-en-Provence. Invited by The Musée des Tapisseries in Aix, Marvin joined this prestigious exhibit alongside twelve of the most celebrated Latin American Artists in the world. The show which took place from November 1998 til January 1999, was the most successful in the past ten years in Aix. Since the exhibit, he has been preparing for his next show, slated for either Paris or San Diego in the millenium. He has also been putting the finishing touches on his illustrated book of short stories and an illustrated book of poetry and prose. This year Marvin is also planning to record his first solo album. It will feature his original compositions, singing, drumming and an original cover painting. It is scheduled for release next Spring.Marvin shares his time between Paris, Toronto and Los Angeles.