Paul Robles is a distinguished Canadian visual artist who was born in the Philippines in 1969.  Based now in Winnipeg, Manitoba, he has established himself as a renowned contemporary artist recognized for his intricate and delicate cut paper works.  Robles pursued his academic training at the University of Manitoba, where he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) and was awarded a Gold Medal for Studio Art between 1993 and 1996.

His artistic journey is marked by a diverse educational background.  He also completed a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of Winnipeg in 1992.  Robles is particularly known for his innovative artistic series that often comment on contemporary political landscapes, such as his notable work “My Beautiful War.” His artistic style uniquely blends cultural influences from his Philippine origins with his Canadian artistic training, creating visually compelling and conceptually rich artworks.

Throughout his career, Robles has gained significant recognition in the art world with his works have been featured in multiple exhibitions.  As a multifaceted artist, Robles continues to contribute to the Canadian contemporary art scene through his distinctive cut paper works and thought-provoking artistic expressions.

My artist practice could be an anachronism, but it plays a double game.  It might be frail and delicate, materially lightweight, yet it is full of images of oppression, trauma and delinquency. 

Playing with ideas of paper cuts, popular in the 18th century as “women’s art”, and an early form of portraiture arts and craft, I re-employ the practice as a narrative device to present a range of ideas that deal with identity, ghosts, conflict and stereotypes.

Paper-based art has had a resurgence in popularity over the past few years.  These works are highly unique cut-paper collages of intricate detail that reproduce symbols and images from contemporary culture.  The confrontational nature of the subject matter provides an interesting contrast to the works delicately cut, Asian-influenced form and tradition. 

Throughout my career, I’ve considered myself indebted to both Western and Eastern sources of imagery and storytelling.  My new work has dealt with the permissive Asian style, hybrid with a sense of individualism as understood in the West.  Considering both similarities and differences, I hope that the work will be able to resonate and create dialogues among viewers, presenting the prettiness that belies the seriousness of cultural references.