Harvey Nichol Santos
About
Harvey Nichol (ᜁᜐ᜔ᜉᜒᜇᜒᜆᜓ ᜐᜈ᜔ᜆᜓᜐ᜔) was born and raised in the slums of Tondo District, Metro Manila before immigrating to Canada as a youth. He attended Alberta University of the Arts and pursued BFA in Sculpture during the 2020 pandemic. Harvey's artistic journey is a tapestry woven from various influences, blending neo-expressionism, Filipino social realism, street, and folk art into what he coined "Social-Folk Expressionism." Spanning mediums from mural painting to life size sculpture to streetwear design, Harvey's art is a reflection of his life's odyssey as an immigrant, navigating homelessness, and the foster care system. Drawing from personal experiences and melding them with folklore, mythology, and socio-political commentary, in September of 2023, Harvey released his debut “Filipino-Futurist” graphic novel titled, Aklas Comics -- an anthology series that dives into the world of Mega Manila, set in 2048.
Harvey has found a creative flow to experiment and push the boundaries of his craft. He continually seeks innovative intersections between artistry and entrepreneurship. Driven by a deep belief in the power of art and creativity.
His work has gained recognition through features in notable magazines and news outlets across Canada and Asia, such as Avenue Magazine, Telus StoryHive, OMNI TV, CBC Calgary, FabeFo Singapore and triART Philippines. He has worked with the City of Calgary, Brookfield Properties, Neo Financial, and Esker Foundation, and collaborated with local and international brands like LISE LABORATORY, Neo Financial, Herschel Supply.
Harvey is a TRANSITWORKS 2023 artist.