I had the pleasure of meeting Achilles at my Aströ exhibition at Hachem St-Bruno in September 2023. After examining my work, he humbly handed me his business card.

Later that day, when I visited his website, I realized I had just met an Old Master.

Achilles has since become a mentor to me. He’s one of the most rigorous artists I’ve met so far. He knows his art inside out. His sense of analysis and practice reminds me I have much to learn from him. And obviously, I’m not the only one, as he teaches drawing and painting daily.

For Achilles, the shantytowns and vibrant urban scenes of Africa, Canada, and elsewhere become the terrain for a unique pictorial gesture, teeming with characters, objects, and graffiti—but above all, vibrant colors. Yet, the artist chooses to break with the expected photographic approach, favoring a technique of painting that subtracts light, as if to temper its brilliance.

Refusing to let his oil paint shine, he gives it an ancient patina and a mysterious matte finish, which gives it the appearance of time passed, while still preserving a strong sense of life and history. It is through this secret mastery of the material that he captures the soul of the scenes he paints, immersing them in a timeless beauty, far removed from mere brilliance.

It is with great honor and excitement that I present these masterpieces to you. Take a moment to immerse yourself in every stroke and hue, and should you feel an irresistible pull to experience them up close, they are available for purchase right here: https://mawuartgallery.com/product/a-hard-day/

Discover more about Achilles’s work on his website (in French only): https://www.achilleskwagn.com/copie-de-n-accueil

Location: Montreal area (Canada)