Jason Cantoro

Every now and then I see an image on Pinterest that piques my curiosity and voilà, I discover a new artist. Such was the case with Jason Cantoro.

Jason Cantoro - Octopuss Woman

Octopuss Woman

I’m a visual artist living and working in Montreal, Canada.

I work with original photographs and drawings as well as found images for their iconic value. I bring them together through screen printing.

– Jason Cantoro

Jason Cantoro - Overpass Montreal

Overpass Montreal

Cantoro is a co-founder of Studio CINQUNQUATRE in Montreal. Cinq-un-quatre (514) is the area code for Montreal. Coincidentally, I used to work in the same building their atelier is in, as a graphic artist for a sportswear company. While working in the garment business, I travelled to San Francisco a few times as one of our clients was Levi’s, and as it happens, Cantoro’s work takes elements from San Francisco and Montreal street scenes. There endeth our crossover, but I guess one of the things I like about his work is the familiar street scenes. That and his collage-inspired approach to printmaking. Familiar, yet unfamiliar.

Jason Cantoro - The Sequel ET2

The Sequel (E.T. 2)

Not knowing much about this artist I am pretty much going on the basis of simply liking to look at his work. Since Studio CINQUNQUATRE is practically around the corner from my home, I should pop by some time and check out some of this work in person. If it looks this good on the interwebs I’m guessing it will be stellar IRL (in real life).

More of Jason Cantoro’s work can be seen on his personal website or on the Studio CINQUNQUATRE site.