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Olicorno is a self-taught contemporary artist from Saguenay, Quebec, Canada. He has been living in Montreal since 2009, where he now works full-time on his main art forms : painting, installation art and performance art.
In 2012 he graduates from HEC Montreal with a Bachelor Degree in Business Administration. The next year, following the success of his first performative painting series "Beauty Is What You See”, he takes the leap in becoming a professional artist. Olicorno has exhibited in various museums and art galleries across Canada and performed at events such as TEDx Montréal. Today, you can see his visual creations in many private residences throughout America, Europe, and Asia. As well as in various public collections including The Senate of Canada (Ottawa), The National Exhibition Center (Saguenay), La Maison Des Artistes Visuels (Winnipeg), The Public Service Alliance of Canada and the University of Montreal. Olicorno is greatly inspired by science, history and philosophy. The study of symbolism and archetypes, shamanism, mythology, philosophy of sciences, body knowledge and anatomy, sensory experimentation, and philosophical questioning are recurring themes in his work. ARTISTIC STATEMENT My fascination with the cosmos began between 2012 and 2015, during a period when I was focused on physical art and performance art. At first, this form of expression was a rebellion — against normality, comfort, and the status quo. One thing led to another, and those early artistic explorations — that rupture with the ordinary — quickly pulled me into a tormented and obsessive quest to understand my place in the Universe. Suddenly, my eyes were dangerously open. Why me? Why life? Why now? Why time? And space? Why, really? You know, the kinds of questions that have fed children, artists, and philosophers for millennia. My thirst for knowledge felt like a powerful life force. A desperate will to hold on to the walls of a world that already seemed on the verge of swallowing me whole. A need to understand one’s place — and legitimacy — in this world. We tell ourselves that if we become learned, if we know everything, we’ll find the answers to the questions that tear at our hearts and keep us awake at night. |
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In search of tools, I turned to quantum physics and astronomy, studying both with hunger. In doing so, I opened two doors — to the infinite, the immeasurable, and the infinitesimal. Two overwhelming vertigos that tossed me like dust across a floor, and that, to my surprise, softened and tempered the weight I placed on my own importance in the world. I began to understand my proportional place — and my limited time — in the grand scheme of things. That was a first step toward detachment, and toward questioning the heavy significance I had once assigned to science alone.
I realized that the Universe is not only a scientist — it is also a poet, a mystic, and it knows how to speak to us in symbols. Around 2016, I began studying symbolism and archetypes. I first immersed myself in Buddhist meditation techniques, following the Vipassana tradition. That path eventually led me to travel to southern Mexico, where I spent time with shamans in the mountains. For a year, I also received teachings from mythology specialist Luc Bigé, who guided me through the symbolic language of the unconscious, mysticism, and the intuitive world.
There are many directions, many threads — and it is through my art that I find a form of synthesis, a way to consolidate these ideas that continue to evolve from one project to the next. In recent years, my series Bones, Kids, and Witnesses of Greatness have been important vehicles and pillars of this exploration into symbolism — one of its key outcomes being the development of my own symbolic vocabulary.
I realized that the Universe is not only a scientist — it is also a poet, a mystic, and it knows how to speak to us in symbols. Around 2016, I began studying symbolism and archetypes. I first immersed myself in Buddhist meditation techniques, following the Vipassana tradition. That path eventually led me to travel to southern Mexico, where I spent time with shamans in the mountains. For a year, I also received teachings from mythology specialist Luc Bigé, who guided me through the symbolic language of the unconscious, mysticism, and the intuitive world.
There are many directions, many threads — and it is through my art that I find a form of synthesis, a way to consolidate these ideas that continue to evolve from one project to the next. In recent years, my series Bones, Kids, and Witnesses of Greatness have been important vehicles and pillars of this exploration into symbolism — one of its key outcomes being the development of my own symbolic vocabulary.
Press
Simard, Roxanne: ''L'artiste Saguenéen Olivier Corneau exposera à New York'', Ici.Radio-Canada.ca, September 23, 2018
Brisson, Annie-Claude: “Olicorno au CNE, à l'aveugle, à la loupe”, Journal Le Quotidien, Saguenay, Mai 2018
Geneviève Lapalme: “Calendrier Culturel, les incontournables,” Ici.Radio-Canada.ca, Manitoba, September, 2016
Journal Métro, ''Olicorno Bones,'' Journal Métro, Montréal, Québec, September 9, 2016
Journal 24h, ''Olicorno Travaux Récents,'' Journal 24h, Montréal, Québec, September 1, 2016
Olivier Gagnon, ''Performer sa vie,'' Magazine Fugues, Montréal, Québec June 21, 2016
Audrey-Anne Maltais, ''Privation sensorielle, Olicorno peint à l'aveugle,'' Journal Le Courrier du Saguenay, June 6, 2016
Éric Clément et Mario Cloutier, ''La virée des galeries,'' Journal La Presse, Montréal, May 10, 2015
La Presse, ''Step Inside The Process» Le performance art vu par Olicorno,'' Journal La Presse, October 15, 2015
Kelli Sturkenboom, ''Rack Galerie brings Emerging Artists and Exclusive Events to St-Henri,'' The Main Mtl, Montréal, November 11, 2014
Vanessa Guimond ''Socio-financement, la voie de l'avenir,'' Le Journal de Montréal, Montréal, November 10, 2014
Justine Lalande Church, ''Quand l'ambition de l'artiste multidisciplinaire Olicorno ne veut pas se taire,'' Bible Urbaine, October 17, 2014
Éric Santerre, ''Entrevue avec l'artiste Olicorno,'' Magazine Men of Interest, Montréal, July 7, 2014
Pierre-Luc Desbiens, ''De Saguenay à Montréal à pieds,'' Le Journal de Québec, Québec, September 29, 2013
Laura Lévesque, ''Une quête interactive et artistique,'' Journal Le Quotidien, Saguenay, September 21, 2013
En Vedette: "Voici où sera affichée la plus récente oeuvre d'Oli de Survivor Québec," noovo moi, june 23, 2025
TV and Radio
Benoit Mcginnis, "Retour vers la culture, season 4, episode 6", October 20, 2024: ici.tou.tv/retour-vers-la-culture?lectureauto=1
NVL, Noovo.tv, Septembre 2018
Julie Larouche, ''Olicorno at the National Exhibition Center,'' Le téléjournal, ICI Radio-Canada, Saguenay, Qc, April 15, 2018
Denis Fortier, “Olicorno at the National Exhibition Center,” Médium Large, Ici Radio-Canada Première, Montréal, Qc, May 22, 2018
Rachel Lagacé, “Nuit Blanche Winnipeg (interview),” CTV Morning Live, CTV Winnipeg, Winnipeg, Manitoba, October 1, 2016
Geneviève Lapalme: “Beauty is what you see (interview)” Ici.Radio-Canada.ca, Manitoba, September 23, 2016
Renaud Doucet, “Olicorno à la Maison des artistes visuels francophones (interview),” Envol 91.1 FM, Winnipeg, Manitoba, September 22, 2016
Yves Parents, ''Olicorno,'' Émission 2 pour 1 de passion, Bell télé Fibe, Montréal, Qc, November 20, 2014
Linda Bergeron, ''Jonquière-Montréal à pieds'' ICI Radio-Canada, Saguenay, Québec, September 21, 2013
Collections
Institut National, Montréal
Senate of Canada, Ottawa
La Maison Des Artistes Visuels Francophones de Winnipeg
Galerie Angers, Montréal
Artothèque, Montreal
Alliance de la Fonction Publique, Montreal
Centre National d’Exposition, Saguenay
Touché! phd, Montreal
Substance Stratégies, Montreal
Mont-Tremblant
HEC Montréal, Montreal
Private Collections (150+, Canada, USA, Spain, France, China)
Bibliography
2017 Contemporary Performance Almanac 2017, by Caden Manson & Jenna Nelson, NYC, USA
2016 Olicorno 2013-2016, by Heather Lynn & Olicorno, Montréal, Canada
2016 Contemporary Performance Almanac 2016, by Caden Manson & Jenna Nelson, NYC, USA
Simard, Roxanne: ''L'artiste Saguenéen Olivier Corneau exposera à New York'', Ici.Radio-Canada.ca, September 23, 2018
Brisson, Annie-Claude: “Olicorno au CNE, à l'aveugle, à la loupe”, Journal Le Quotidien, Saguenay, Mai 2018
Geneviève Lapalme: “Calendrier Culturel, les incontournables,” Ici.Radio-Canada.ca, Manitoba, September, 2016
Journal Métro, ''Olicorno Bones,'' Journal Métro, Montréal, Québec, September 9, 2016
Journal 24h, ''Olicorno Travaux Récents,'' Journal 24h, Montréal, Québec, September 1, 2016
Olivier Gagnon, ''Performer sa vie,'' Magazine Fugues, Montréal, Québec June 21, 2016
Audrey-Anne Maltais, ''Privation sensorielle, Olicorno peint à l'aveugle,'' Journal Le Courrier du Saguenay, June 6, 2016
Éric Clément et Mario Cloutier, ''La virée des galeries,'' Journal La Presse, Montréal, May 10, 2015
La Presse, ''Step Inside The Process» Le performance art vu par Olicorno,'' Journal La Presse, October 15, 2015
Kelli Sturkenboom, ''Rack Galerie brings Emerging Artists and Exclusive Events to St-Henri,'' The Main Mtl, Montréal, November 11, 2014
Vanessa Guimond ''Socio-financement, la voie de l'avenir,'' Le Journal de Montréal, Montréal, November 10, 2014
Justine Lalande Church, ''Quand l'ambition de l'artiste multidisciplinaire Olicorno ne veut pas se taire,'' Bible Urbaine, October 17, 2014
Éric Santerre, ''Entrevue avec l'artiste Olicorno,'' Magazine Men of Interest, Montréal, July 7, 2014
Pierre-Luc Desbiens, ''De Saguenay à Montréal à pieds,'' Le Journal de Québec, Québec, September 29, 2013
Laura Lévesque, ''Une quête interactive et artistique,'' Journal Le Quotidien, Saguenay, September 21, 2013
En Vedette: "Voici où sera affichée la plus récente oeuvre d'Oli de Survivor Québec," noovo moi, june 23, 2025
TV and Radio
Benoit Mcginnis, "Retour vers la culture, season 4, episode 6", October 20, 2024: ici.tou.tv/retour-vers-la-culture?lectureauto=1
NVL, Noovo.tv, Septembre 2018
Julie Larouche, ''Olicorno at the National Exhibition Center,'' Le téléjournal, ICI Radio-Canada, Saguenay, Qc, April 15, 2018
Denis Fortier, “Olicorno at the National Exhibition Center,” Médium Large, Ici Radio-Canada Première, Montréal, Qc, May 22, 2018
Rachel Lagacé, “Nuit Blanche Winnipeg (interview),” CTV Morning Live, CTV Winnipeg, Winnipeg, Manitoba, October 1, 2016
Geneviève Lapalme: “Beauty is what you see (interview)” Ici.Radio-Canada.ca, Manitoba, September 23, 2016
Renaud Doucet, “Olicorno à la Maison des artistes visuels francophones (interview),” Envol 91.1 FM, Winnipeg, Manitoba, September 22, 2016
Yves Parents, ''Olicorno,'' Émission 2 pour 1 de passion, Bell télé Fibe, Montréal, Qc, November 20, 2014
Linda Bergeron, ''Jonquière-Montréal à pieds'' ICI Radio-Canada, Saguenay, Québec, September 21, 2013
Collections
Institut National, Montréal
Senate of Canada, Ottawa
La Maison Des Artistes Visuels Francophones de Winnipeg
Galerie Angers, Montréal
Artothèque, Montreal
Alliance de la Fonction Publique, Montreal
Centre National d’Exposition, Saguenay
Touché! phd, Montreal
Substance Stratégies, Montreal
Mont-Tremblant
HEC Montréal, Montreal
Private Collections (150+, Canada, USA, Spain, France, China)
Bibliography
2017 Contemporary Performance Almanac 2017, by Caden Manson & Jenna Nelson, NYC, USA
2016 Olicorno 2013-2016, by Heather Lynn & Olicorno, Montréal, Canada
2016 Contemporary Performance Almanac 2016, by Caden Manson & Jenna Nelson, NYC, USA