Jean-Christian Knaff | GALERIA AZUR

< Jean-Christian Knaff

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BIOGRAPHY

Jean-Christian Knaff pursued his studies in English literature and linguistics at Université Stendhal in Grenoble, France, earning a B.A. in English and American literature, followed by an M.A. in English linguistics and Education.
A self-taught illustrator and painter, he established his studio in Montreal in 1982, gained Canadian citizenship, and taught Communication Art at the University of Quebec in Montreal. In 1984, he relocated to London, UK, where he taught 4th Year Illustration at Kingston University.
In 1995, he took on the role of Chair of Illustration at Axe Sud School of Design in Marseilles, France.
Publications and Design work.
New Scientist, Radio Times, Sunday Times, The Independent, Time Out, Creative Review, The Observer in London, Die Zeit, Playboy Germany, Stern, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, IBM Calendar, Apple, in Germany, Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, Vogue, Le Book, Le Nouvel Observateur, L’ Evénement du Jeudi, VSD, Elle in Paris, GQ, Life, Quality Review, The New York Times Book Review, Campus Life, Penthouse, in the States, Via Rail, Chatelaine and Saturday Night in Toronto, The Hong Kong Times, Art Puzzles for Heye Design, Munich, Pan books, Penguin, Picador, The Flair/Creative Match in London, ‘Le Vieux Port’ series of posters for the city of Montreal, published in Graphis Press, Zurich, Knopf New York.
Advertising.
GTI, Rotterdam, Apple, Germany, IBM, Germany, Deutsch Telekom, French Telecom, BBC 2, London, Gordon Gin London, Coca Cola, Toronto, Swatch, Zurich where his work is now part of the Swatch Foundation, Ritzenhoff, Zurich Poster for MacIntosh.
Annuals/selected.
European Illustration, American Illustration, Graphis, Novum, Le Book, Creative Quaterly, 3×3 Magazine, AOI London.
Animations.
The Wild, Wild Circus Company, Nelvana/Corus, Manhattan, BBC 2 Xmas animation, UK Pernod Advertising animation.
Children’s Book Publishers.
Faber and Faber, London, Middelhauve Verlag, Munich, Editions Parutions, Paris, Knopf, New York, Editions Bouton d’Or, Canada, La Courte Echelle, Montreal.
Events.
Design and Art direction for Carnaval d’Avignon, La Massalia, Marseilles, Winter City, Toronto, Nuit Blanche OCADU Toronto 2009, Nuit Blanche Toronto, 2014, 2015. 2016.
Awards.
Runner up for Mother Goose award (UK), runner up for best British Animation (Bristol), Unicef prize in Annecy, France, Gold award (New York International Animation Film Festival). Best Design Teaching Award, OCADU Toronto, nominee for Nicktoon International Animation Film Festival for The Wild, Wild, Circus Company (Nelvana/Corus).
He currently resides and works in Valencia and Toronto, where he serves as an associate professor at OCAD University. (Ontario College of Art and Design)
As a multidisciplinary artist, his paintings have been exhibited in numerous international galleries.

CV

BA ENGLISH LITERATURE UNIVERSITÉ STENDHAL GRENOBLE, FRANCE
MA TEACHING AND ENGLISH LINGUISTICS UNIVERSITÉ STENDHAL, FRANCE
SELF-TAUGHT ARTIST

Professional experience

2024/2025
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, ONTARION COLLEGE OF ART AND DESIGN, TORONTO
(OCADU UNIVERSITY)

2023/2024
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, OCADU

2022/2023
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, OCADU
SABBATICAL LEAVE. THE INFLUENCE OF MOORISH ART ON MEDIEVAL SPAIN
PRESENTATION OF 10 PAINTINGS

2021/2022
CHAIR, FIRST YEAR ART AND DESIGN AND ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR AT OCADU

2020/2021
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, OCADU

2019/2020
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, OCADU

2018/2019
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, OCADU

2017/2018
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, OCADU
COORDINATOR OF THE OCAD UNIVERSITY FLORENCE PROGRAM

2016/2017
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, OCADU

2015/2016
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, OCADU

2014/2015
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, OCADU

2013/2014
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, OCADU

2012/2013
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, OCADU

2011/2012
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR. ON SABBATICAL LEAVE. DRIVING THROUGH EUROPE, TURKEY AND INDIA TO PRODUCE AN ARTIST BOOK AS WELL AS AN EXHIBITION. IN INDIA.
LECTURE AT ART DEPARTMENT, MARMARA UNIVERSITY, ISTANBUL

2010/2011
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, OCADU
COORDINATOR OF THE OCAD UNIVERSITY FLORENCE PROGRAM

LECTURE AT SAVANNAH COLLEGE OF ART, SAVANNAH, GA, USA

2009/2010
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, OCADU

2007/2008
CHAIR, FIRST YEAR ART AND DESIGN AND ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR AT OCADU
TEACHES 1ST YEAR ILLUSTRATION AND ILLUSTRATION THESIS (4th Year)

2006/2007
CHAIR, FIRST YEAR ART AND DESIGN AND ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR AT OCADU
TEACHES 1ST YEAR ILLUSTRATION AND ILLUSTRATION THESIS (4th Year)

2005/2006
CHAIR, FIRST YEAR ARTAND DESIGN AND ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR AT OCADU TEACHES 1ST YEAR AND 4TH YEAR ILLUSTRATION

2004/2005
CHAIR, FIRST YEAR ART AND DESIGN AND ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR AT OCADU
TEACHES 1ST YEAR AND 4TH YEAR ILLUSTRATION

2003/2004
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR. TEACHES ILLUSTRATION (4TH YEAR) AT THE ONTARIO COLLEGE OF ART AND DESIGN, (OCAD UNIVERSITY) TORONTO CANADA

2001/2003
TEACHES ADVANCED, DRAWING AND PAINTING/DRAWING ILLUSTRATION AT OCAD UNIVERSIY, TORONTO, CANADA AND FORMATION ILLUSTRATION AT
SHERIDAN COLLEGE IN OAKVILLE, CANADA

1995/1999
TEACHES CONCEPT ILLUSTRATION AT ECOLE D’ARTS GRAPHIQUES, AXE SUD, MARSEILLE, FRANCE

1986/1989
TEACHES COMMUNICATION ART AT THE SCHOOL OF DESIGN, UNIVERSITY OF KINGSTON, UK

1982/1984
TEACHES ILLUSTRATION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF QUEBEC IN MONTREAL

1982
CREATION OF PLUM ART STUDIO, MONTREAL, CANADA

2009/2010
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, OCADU

2007/2008
CHAIR, FIRST YEAR DESIGN AND ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR AT OCADU
TEACHES 1ST YEAR ILLUSTRATION AND ILLUSTRATION THESIS (4th Year)

2006/2007
CHAIR, FIRST YEAR DESIGN AND ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR AT OCADU
TEACHES 1ST YEAR ILLUSTRATION AND ILLUSTRATION THESIS (4th Year)

2005/2006
CHAIR, FIRST YEAR DESIGN AND ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR AT OCADU TEACHES 1ST YEAR AND 4TH YEAR ILLUSTRATION

2004/2005
CHAIR, FIRST YEAR DESIGN AND ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR AT OCADU TEACHES 1ST YEAR AND 4TH YEAR ILLUSTRATION

2003/2004
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR. TEACHES ILLUSTRATION (4TH YEAR) AT THE ONTARIO COLLEGE OF ART AND DESIGN, (OCAD UNIVERSITY) TORONTO CANADA

2001/2003
TEACHES ADVANCED, DRAWING AND PAINTING/DRAWING ILLUSTRATION AT OCAD UNIVERSIY, TORONTO, CANADA AND FORMATION ILLUSTRATION AT
SHERIDAN COLLEGE IN OAKVILLE, CANADA

1995/1999
TEACHES CONCEPT ILLUSTRATION AT ECOLE D’ARTS GRAPHIQUES, AXE SUD, MARSEILLE, FRANCE

1986/1989
TEACHES COMMUNICATION ART AT THE SCHOOL OF DESIGN, UNIVERSITY OF KINGSTON, UK

1982/1984
TEACHES ILLUSTRATION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF QUEBEC IN MONTREAL

1982
CREATION OF PLUM ART STUDIO, MONTREAL, CANADA

Publications and Design work:

RITZENHOFF, GERMANY
ART PUZZLE FOR HEYE DESIGN, MUNICH, GERMANY PHONE CARDS FOR FRANCE TELECOM
PHONE CARDS FOR DEUTSCH TELEKOM
RADIO TIMES, LONDON, UK
THE NEW SCIENTIST, LONDON, UK PICADOR, LONDON, UK
GORDON GIN ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN, LONDON, UK PERNOD ADVERTISING ANIMATION, LONDON, UK
BBC 2 XMAS ANIMATION, LONDON, UK PENGUIN, LONDON, UK,
THE SUNDAY TIMES, LONDON, UK FABER AND FABER, LONDON, UK
THE FLAIR/CREATIVE MATCH, LONDON, UK OBSERVER, LONDON, UK
ANNUAL REPORT FOR GTI, ROTTERDAM, NETHERLANDS IBM CALENDAR HAMBURG, GERMANY
STERN MAGAZINE, HAMBURG, GERMANY THE BOOK, PARIS, FRANCE
MARIE CLAIRE, PARIS, FRANCE
L’EVENEMENT DU JEUDI, PARIS, FRANCE VSD, PARIS, FRANCE,
LE NOUVEL OBSERVATEUR, PARIS, FRANCE CHATELAINE, MONTREAL, CANADA
VIA RAIL, MONTREAL, CANADA THE TIMES, HONG KONG
IMAGE FOR THE SWATCH GALLERY, ZURICH POSTER FOR MACINTOSH GERMANY
DIE ZEIT, HAMBURG
FRANKFURTERALLGEMENE ZEITUNG
PLAYBOY GERMANY
CAMPUS LIFE MAGAZINE USA
GQ MAGAZINE, NEW YORK, USA KNOPF, NEW YORK, USA
PENTHOUSE, USA
THE QUALITY REVIEW, MILWAUKEE, USA EUROPEAN ILLUSTRATION
AMERICAN ILLUSTRATION
CREATIVE QUATERLY, NEW YORK 3X3 MAGAZINE, NEW YORk
RADIO TIMES, LONDON, UK
THE NEW SCIENTIST, LONDON, UK PICADOR, LONDON, UK
GORDON GIN ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN, LONDON, UK PERNOD ADVERTISING ANIMATION, LONDON, UK
BBC 2 XMAS ANIMATION, LONDON, UK PENGUIN, LONDON, UK,
THE SUNDAY TIMES, LONDON, UK FABER AND FABER, LONDON, UK
THE FLAIR/CREATIVE MATCH, LONDON, UK OBSERVER, LONDON, UK
ANNUAL REPORT FOR GTI, ROTTERDAM, NETHERLANDS IBM CALENDAR HAMBURG, GERMANY
STERN MAGAZINE, HAMBURG, GERMANY THE BOOK, PARIS, FRANCE
MARIE CLAIRE, PARIS, FRANCE
L’EVENEMENT DU JEUDI, PARIS, FRANCE VSD, PARIS, FRANCE,
LE NOUVEL OBSERVATEUR, PARIS, FRANCE CHATELAINE, MONTREAL, CANADA
VIA RAIL, MONTREAL, CANADA THE TIMES, HONG KONG
IMAGE FOR THE SWATCH GALLERY, ZURICH POSTER FOR MACINTOSH GERMANY
DIE ZEIT, HAMBURG
FRANKFURTERALLGEMENE ZEITUNG
PLAYBOY GERMANY
CAMPUS LIFE MAGAZINE USA
GQ MAGAZINE, NEW YORK, USA KNOPF, NEW YORK, USA
PENTHOUSE, USA
THE QUALITY REVIEW, MILWAUKEE, USA EUROPEAN ILLUSTRATION
AMERICAN ILLUSTRATION
CREATIVE QUATERLY, NEW YORK 3X3 MAGAZINE, NEW YORK
Exhibitions:

2026
ART MUNCHEN Munich, Germany
ART BODENSEE, Bodensee, Austria
2025
ART 2025 PLAN DE LA TOUR, FRANCE
GALLERIE DOUSDEBES ST. EMILION, FRANCE
GALERIE ALAUX, VALENCIA, SPAIN
SELECTED ARTIST MEETING, KNOKKE, BELGIUM
2024
VALENCIA DESIGN FAIR
2023
PARIS DESIGN FAIR
VALENCIA DESIGN FAIR
2022
VALENCIA DESIGN FAIR
2020
BOTTE GALLERY, TORONTO
2019
ART FAIR, TORONTO

2018
INTERIOR DESIGN SHOW TORONTO TORONTO DESIGN WEEK OFF

2016
EXHIBITION AT CHARLOTTE HALE GALLERY, TORONTO
TORONTO DESIGN WEEK OFF
NUIT BLANCHE TORONTO ‘HOME/HOUSE’

2015
SOLO EXHIBITION AT CFA GALLERY, YORKVILLE, TORONTO SOLO EXHIBITION AT IMAGE FOUNDRY GALLERY, TORONTO IINTERIOR DESIGN SHOW TORONTO
NUIT BLANCHE TORONTO ‘FRAGILE’

2014
GROUP EXHIBITON AT CFA GALLERY, YORKVILLE, TORONTO PARTICIPATION AT TORONTO INTERIOR DESIGN SHOW

2012
SERIES OF PAINTINGS IN RAJASTHAN, INDIA, PART OF MY SABBATICAL BODY OF WORK

2009
CURATOR AND DESIGNER (WITH HIS PARTNER CLAUDE MICELI) OF NUIT BLANCHE, TORONTO

2008
BLUNDSTONE/SKETCH COMPETITION STEAMWHISTLE GALLERY, TORONTO

2007
BLUNDSTONE/SKETCH COMPETITION STEAMWHISTLE GALLERY, TORONTO

2006
BLUNDSTONE/SKETCH COMPETITION STEAMWHISTLE GALLERY, TORONTO

2005
BLUNDSTONE/SKETCH COMPETITION STEAMWHISTLE GALLERY, TORONTO

2004
GALERIE MIRABEAU, AIX EN PROVENCE, FRANCE

2003
GALERIE LE VIEUX MOULIN, L’ISLE SUR LA SORGUE, FRANCE

2002
JOHN STEINBERG AND ASSOCIATES, TORONTO

1995
GALERIE LE CARGO, MARSEILLE, FRANCE

1995
LES XVIIIèmes RENCONTRES DE CHATEAU-ARNOUX, FRANCE

1995
GALERIE DES TANNERIES, NERAC, FRANCE

1995
GALERIE CUPILLARD, GRENOBLE, FRANCE

1995
GALERIE CUPILLARD, St TROPEZ, FRANCE

1994
EXHIBITION FOR RWANDA, BEAUMONT DE PERTUIS, FRANCE

1994
LES XVIIèmes RENCONTRES DE CHATEAU-ARNOUX, France (GRAND PRIZE)

1993
SWATCH GALLERY, ZURICH, GERMANY

1992
GALERIE LES QUATRE MAINS, MANOSQUE, FRANCE

1991
KUNST FUR KOMMERZ, HUBAUER GALLERY, HAMBURG, GERMANY

1990
CREATIVE REVIEW AWARDS 1ST PRIZE, LONDON

1990
HAMILTON GALLERY, LONDON

1990
VAN GOGH ITINARY EXHIBITION, AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND

1989
CENTRE CULTUREL JACQUES PREVERT, CHERBOURG, FRANCE

1988
THE AOI GALLERY, LONDON

1984
ART DIRECTORS’ CLUB, GOLD MEDAL, TORONTO

1983

2020
BOTTE GALLERY, TORONTO
2019
ART FAIR, TORONTO