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Brandon Gabriel is a member of the Kwantlen First Nation. He was born and raised in the village of Skʷəylets commonly known as unceded Fort Langley BC. He carries the ancestral name, "Kweləxwelsten".
Brandon has been a professional artist since he was 15 years old. He is a wood carver, painter, mixed media sculptor, graphic designer, First Nations historian, and an educator.
He was trained at Kwantlen Polytechnic University in Cultural Anthropology and Visual Arts. He then went on to finish his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Arts at Emily Carr University of Art and Design. He then underwent further studies at the Justice Institute of British Columbia in Indigenous Governence, and also taught university level visual art and First Nations Art History.
Brandon co-founded the studio Octopus Spirit Enterprises in the summer of 2018 with his wife and business partner, Lütsel'ké Dené First Nation Artist and scholar Melinda Bige. She is also Chair and instructor of the Indigenous Studies Department at Kwantlen Polytechnic University.
They also co-founded Octopus Spirit Arts and Cultural Society in 2020. A non-profit organization aimed at promoting trauma and wellness programming using water and land based cultural activities.
Brandon Gabriel is well-known for his in-depth insights into Indigenous history and visual cultures. He continues to be an inspiration in the realm of public art installation and art across Canada.
Brandon's works have been collected and exhibited in international museums, private collections, art galleries, and in public art installations in the United States, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, and across Canada. His works have also been shown on television and on
film as both backdrops and production design. Brandon's public art commissions are far and wide, and have reached the public sphere and have received wide acclaim.
See Artist Statement
