The Canadian Fine Arts Gallery is proud to host Ménage à trois, new paintings by Jean-Christian Knaff, and Big Brains, Tiny Worlds, new sculptures by Claude Micéli, from October 1-11, 2015. Big Brains, Tiny Worlds is the interaction and behaviour of individuals trapped into a micro society, a restrained space, may it be a sphere or a flat land. Knaff’s paintings reflect a two-sided mirror where naive meets surreal in a crumbling staircase.

Bio: Claude Micéli

Born in Algiers, Claude studied ceramics and sculpture at Concordia University, in Montreal, after working as an illustrator for a few years. She moved to London, UK, in 1984, where she focused on her 3D achievements, using color as a sculptural element.

In 1990, she moved to Provence, where she dedicated herself to larger sculptures, exhibitions and winning awards. She got involved in major design projects for the French Pavillion at Hannover World Fair (2000) and the World Cup, Marseilles (1998). In 1999, she was given the artistic direction of major European events (Avignon Carnival and La Massalia), featuring her own designs. In Toronto, where she is now based, her creations have found their way into TV set design, (Corus Entertainment), 3D animation production (Spin Entertainment) and Alliance Atlantis.

She created ‘THE TANK’, a CGI animation, produced in India. She has designed Ritzenhoff’s new Champagne and Aqua glass line in Germany.

Claude has been teaching Design and Art at OCAD University in Toronto for 6 years.

In 2009 , she was curator and exhibiting artist along with JC Knaff for ‘’Nuit Blanche’’ at OCAD ( Moon-¬een on McCaul).

She has been exhibiting in France, England, Canada and the USA. She was part of a group show at Waterloo Clay and Glass Gallery in October 2011.

After traveling in Europe, Turkey and India for two years to work on different projects (film, sculptures, rug and furniture designs), she is now back in Toronto pursuing her design and artistic projects. Her last work "Big Brains –Tiny worlds" is a reflection on micro societies and their limitations.

Bio: Jean-Christian Knaff

Jean-Christian Knaff first studied linguistics at the Université Stendhal, in Grenoble, France, where he achieved an M.A in English linguistics and Education.

As an illustrator, his works have been published in such magazines as GQ, Life, New Scientist, Die Zeit, Cosmopolitan, Stern, Marie Claire, Vogue, and annuals like American Illustration, Novum, Graphis, European Illustration, Creative Quaterly and 3X3 Magazine in New York.

He art directed and designed International events in Marseilles, Avignon, France and Toronto with his partner Claude Micéli.

He teaches Illustration at OCAD University where he is an Associate Professor. His animation, The Wild, Wild Circus Company was nominated for the Nicktoons Animation Festival in the US and is currently aired on the YTV network in Canada.

He won the UNICEF award at Annecy International Animation Film Festival in 1997 and a gold medal at the New York International Animation Film Festival in 1998 for the animation made after his book ‘Manhattan.

He curated and designed with Claude Miceli the 2009 Nuit Blanche ‘Moon-in on McCaul’ at OCAD University. He is now totally involved in his painting work. Each image is a story and each story leads to the next one.