Keer Tanchak sources her imagery from historical sources that she translates into delicate, brushy, feminine portraits. Primarily taking inspiration from 18th century French Rococo painting, Tanchak has found a similar romanticism in more modern depictions of  current-day film icons and fashion models. While Tanchak works on paper and canvas, she also uniquely paints on slices of hand-cut aluminum that are reminiscent of Ex Voto, or retablo, paintings, a traditional folk art that was popularized in 19th century Mexico. These paintings, which lived outside chapels and were nailed casually to the wall in clusters, were a vehicle to quickly distribute images of idols to the masses. In addition to the democratization of this material, the artist cites the powerful and heartbreaking urgency of a painting that lives so precariously inspires her practice.

Keer Tanchak (b. 1977, North Vancouver, BC) received her MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (2003) and her BFA with distinction from Concordia University in Montreal (2000). Recent solo exhibitions include JDJ, New York, NY (2023); The Old Jail Art Center, Albany, TX (2023); 12.26, Dallas, TX (2022 and 2021); Best Western, Santa Fe, NM (2022), Conduit Gallery, Dallas, TX (2019), among others. In 2017, Tanchak was the subject of her first solo institutional show at Dallas Contemporary entitled Soft Orbit, curated by Lilia Kudelia. She was the recipient of the Illinois Arts Council (2009) and the Brucebo Residency in Visby, Sweden (2003). Her work resides in notable collections such as the Dallas Museum of Art and The Warehouse, Dallas, TX. Tanchak currently lives and works in Dallas, TX.