Biography
A fourth-generation Chinese-Canadian, Chong’s artistic journey began with honours from Emily Carr – mid 80’s. His evolution from visual communications to digital photography has consistently explored themes of light, from early b/w infrared film to capturing unseen light with HDR technology. His current works reflect a spiritual resonance with natural elements, shaping an illuminating narrative through the spectrum of climate art.
Chong has lived in the lower mainland for over five decades and his 89 Gore Avenue studio and gallery is located at The Edge Building in Railtown, Vancouver, BC since the late 90’s. He exhibits year-round in the open studio event: FirstSaturday.ca (First Saturday of each month), the annual Eastside Culture Crawl, and select fine art galleries, festivals etc. Garrett has been profiled in Vancouver is Awesome, TriCity News and co-featuring on CBC-Vancouver Radio, SFU Radio, Fairchild Media, Stir Magazine and more.
Artist Statement
Eroded Origins: Speak For Me ! (The Flow, The Cut and The Blessing) is a climate art initiative that transforms spectators into advocates. Through interactive installations, workshops, and digital storytelling, the project explores the profound interconnection between humanity and nature, inviting audiences to reimagine their relationship with Gaia.
At the heart of the work is Speak For Me !, a participatory platform inspired by the Art Matters movement. It engages art patrons through reflective prompts such as: If the forest could speak, what would it say? and What is your age? Audiences become co-creators in a living climate narrative, linking personal identity to ecological cycles.
Created while living and working on the unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), Dakelh (Cariboo), and Sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations, this work seeks to foster dialogue, collective responsibility, and environmental care through art.
See contact page to pen your voice – >
Curriculum Vitae
Solo Exhibitions
2024_ Eroded Origins: Liminal Illusions Amidst Climate Transformation, Leonore Peyton Salon, Place des Arts, Coquitlam – Juried
2021 _ Seeing Anew: Earthly Presence, Canadian Pacific Gallery, PoMoArts, Port Moody – Curated
Group Exhibitions
2025 _ Burnaby Blooms Festival, Burnaby – Official Selection
2024 _ Green, The Pendulum Gallery / Eastside Culture Crawl, Vancouver – Juried
2024 _ Through the Stitches, Nuit Blanche 2024, Kelowna – Official Selection
2024 _ Portals: Artist Talk, Threads @Saskatoon Open Door Society – Official Selection
2024 _ 2023 Arts in the Garden, North Van Arts, West Vancouver – Official Selection
2023 _ To Gather Together, ACT Artist Centre, Maple Ridge – Juried
2022 _ Next, The Cultch / Eastside Culture Crawl, Vancouver – Juried
2021 _ Moving Art, NATURAL ANALOG/UES – Nature of Space, Eastside Culture Crawl Film and Video Series, Vancouver – Juried
2019 _ Children Around the World, McGill University, Art Gallery, Montreal – Juried
2019 _ Still[s]… In Sacred Places, Britannia Art Gallery, Vancouver – Curated
2018 _ Spaces, Places and Traces, The Cultch / Eastside Cultural Crawl, Vancouver – Juried
Artist Residency
2023 _ Toni Onley Artists’ Project for Professional and Emerging Artists, Island Mountain Arts, Wells-Barkerville
Press
2024 _ Artist Captures BC’s Clear Cutting, Climate Change, Vancouver is Awesome, Vancouver
2023 _ On the Coast, CBC Radio Interview, Vancouver
2023 _ Speak Up, Listen Up, Act Upon, CJSF Radio Interview, Vancouver
2022 _ 5 Artists Using Technology, Stir Magazine, Vancouver
2022 _ Artist of the Week, TriCity News, Vancouver
2018 – 2021 _ Featured Artist, TriCity News, Vancouver
2018 _ Featured Artist – Eastside Culture Crawl (interview), FairChild TV, Vancouver
Education
1986 _ Emily Carr College of Art and Design, Graphic Design / Photography (Honours), Vancouver