Serge Chriqui

Biography

Serge discovered photography at the age of 11 more out of curiosity than anything else, when he found the family's old 35mm Yashica - what his father termed 'la camera'.

His interest in the medium intensified when his father brought home a new 35mm SLR a few years later. It was adopted as his own right at the onset - to this day that equipment is still in his possession.

Most of his earlier photography revolved around the old Ontario Place Forum in Toronto where Rock musicians of the day would be photographed. By his late teens came the realization that photography was a medium for artistic expression.

He started concentrating on the beauty surrounding us all. He read photography books. He wondered at the mastery of Ansel Adams.

Ultimately, photography became a means for documenting his travels. Serge has had the good fortune of travelling over the years: Canada, the USA, Cuba, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, England, Israel, France, Spain, Portugal, Italy and Greece thus far...

Photography remained a passion even as the complexities of adulthood, family and work took their required demands on his life. His photographic skills were used during his lengthy employ in the wood manufacturing industry while living in Vancouver. A number of his images were published in company brochures and catalogues over the years. He has maintained a personal photographic website, WorldScapes, since 1998.

In late 2003, Serge moved his family back home to Toronto where the better part of a year was spent searching for his next move... it was time to put his 25 year passion for photography to the test!

In late 2004, came the arduous task of editing images and selecting a few dozen for his first offering at the Distillery District's Artisan Market for the summer of 2005. Having been accepted as a vendor, his frist prints were sold on May 21, 2005. The exercise was repeated in 2006 with a refined offering to greater success. Interspersed during this time, were a number of group shows and representation in a few Toronto area galleries.

Not satisfied with the results from the gallery representation, he took his next step further into the art world.

In early 2007, Serge founded Scollard Street Gallery in Yorkville. There was now a permanent home for his work, where it could be shown more professionally and in larger sizes.

Today, the gallery represents over two dozen artists' works in addition to his own and yes, he does photograph at every available opportunity. Please stay tuned....