Joel A Prévost
Owner, Director, “Maitre d’Atelier”
Joël A. Prévost, a distinguished sculptor, was born in 1963 in the picturesque Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec. In 1977, his family relocated to Nanaimo, where Joël embraced the opportunity to learn English. During his teenage years, he found solace and connection through music, which sparked a desire to explore dance at the Kirkwood Dance Academy, Nanaimo.
After completing his studies in Community Development in Nova Scotia, he returned to Nanaimo to contribute to the creative culture. As an autodidactic polymath, Joël honed valuable skills in a small-town setting. The city provided him with a unique opportunity to gain a comprehensive understanding of managing all facets of cultural events. As a facilitator, he seized chances to collaborate with non-profit organizations on the Island and across Canada, strongly emphasizing planning, fundraising, and education.
Prévost transitioned from facilitation to becoming a promoter of music and visual arts and a producer of concerts, music series, and various cultural events. In Nanaimo’s Old City Quarter, he opened and managed the World Beat Cafe, promoting a diverse range of live music. During these years, he began sculpting, honing his craft, and developing a keen interest in the human form. He has over 25 years of experience as a sculptor and art educator.
In 2006, Prévost moved to Montreal, where he founded L’Atelier de Sculpture du Village, a center for learning. For 10 years, he taught sculpture to students from various artistic disciplines, including cinema, circus, 3D animation, video games, and visual arts. His emphasis on sculpting the human figure, and utilizing life models, enabled him to instruct students at all levels effectively.
In 2017, Joël returned to BC, where he established the Vancouver Island Sculpting Studio, bringing decades of expertise in the arts and community development back to Nanaimo. At the VIS Studio, he continues to teach sculpture and refine his artistic expertise while adapting his approach to address contemporary challenges in the arts. He actively supports artists from Vancouver Island, helping them enhance the management of their own practices. His artistic and community engagement remains a focus, fostering a rich and vibrant culture in Canada.