Biography

Originally from the Magdalen Islands, Guy-Olivier Deveau began his journey into sand sculpting through the local Sandcastle competition, learning the basics of the craft from regional artists. It was when he moved to Quebec City to study philosophy at Université Laval that he met sculptor Michel Lepire, who provided him with his first opportunities in the professional sculpting circuit. Guy-Olivier expanded his repertoire to include ice and snow, and in 2008, he competed in the World Championship of Sand Sculpture in British Columbia, where he placed 4th.

This event catapulted him onto the international stage, where he became known for a style that blends figurative and abstract elements. He has created numerous bold sculptures that are both technically challenging and thematically dark or unusual. Since then, he has garnered accolades around the globe.

Notably, he has won awards at events such as "Parksville Canadian Open" (Canada), "Port Aransas Sandfest" (USA), "Sand Castle Day" (USA), "Hampton Beach Sand Sculpture Classic" (USA), and "Fulong Golden Sand" (Taiwan). He secured 1st place during the second season of the television show "Race Against the Tide" with his teammate Fred Dobbs.

He has also participated in prestigious exhibitions such as the "Tottori Sand Museum" (Japan), "Ice Magic Paris" (France), "Copenhagen Sand Sculpture Festival" (Denmark), and the "Nederlands IJsbeelden Festival" (Netherlands).

In 2023, he became the artistic director of the Hôtel de Glace (Ice Hotel) in Quebec City. Since then, he has been responsible for developing themes, designing artistic plans for the establishment, and leading the team of artists.