Gerren

Coast Salish / Nuu-chah-nulth Nations

Gerren was born on July 27, 1983 in Maple Ridge near Vancouver, British Columbia. He was raised in both the Coast Salish and Nuu-chah-nulth traditions of art and taught by his father and prominent artist, Tom Patterson.

Gerren grew up among a variety of talented artists and was accustomed to visiting the carving workshops of Tony Hunt Jr., Stan Hunt, and Jay Brabant. As he worked alongside father,  he also paid careful attention to the individual styles and techniques of these great carvers. The influence these carvers had on Gerren and the skills he learned from them can be seen in his wood carvings and graphics.

Gerren sets himself apart from the traditional art of his ancestors by fusing contemporary colours and composition with traditional form lines and symbols. The modern influences derive predominantly from the North American Pop Art movement including the work of Andy Warhol.

After graduating from the Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts in Vancouver, Gerren moved north where he is currently pursuing an undergraduate degree in Business at the University of the Fraser Valley and hopes to open his own restaurant one day. He currently resides in Mission where he will continue to explore his artistic talents in both the visual and culinary arts.