Critically appropriating from the tradition of portraiture, Travis McEwen works through the medium of painting to investigate the emotional, psychological, and social experiences of being othered in relation to Western conceptions and limitations of gender and sexuality. The result is a radiant heterotopia, a colourful community of fragile yet resilient individuals whose experiences of isolation and separation paradoxically provide for the possibility of commonality, even community.

Travis McEwen was born in Red Deer Alberta and is currently based in Montreal while working on his MFA at Concordia University. Previously based in Edmonton, he completed a BFA and Diploma of Fine Arts at the University of Alberta and Grant MacEwan College respectively.

Primarily working within the medium of painting his practice has been, and continues to be, a portrait focused investigation into the emotional and psychological experiences of being othered as well as themes of queerness, and gender and how different marginalized communities employ strategies such as re-appropriation within the visual arts as forms of world making.

In January of 2015 his work will be included in the 2015 Alberta Biennial of Contemporary Art titled Future Station at the Art Gallery of Alberta. At that time, he will be relocating to Minneapolis, MN to be a Postdoctoral Associate at the University of Minnesota.

McEwen has shown work throughout Canada, including Calgary, Edmonton, Montreal and Sackville, NB.