In their third collaboration, ‘Meet the Cantors’ showcases the resilient partnership of artists Sophie Vallance Cantor and Douglas Cantor. Their story is one of persistent creativity, unwavering conviction, and mutual support in overcoming challenges. With a ‘watch us’ attitude, they defy expectations, crafting unconventional works that celebrate the triumph of creativity over adversity. Vallance Cantor and Cantor both explore and revisit immigration as another recurring topic. Titles describe Cantor’s personal circumstances as an immigrant, their experience navigating the immigration system, and the influence it has had on their lives together. Sophie is the muse in Douglas’s work and life. Complementary to this, in her paintings, Douglas is playfully and sarcastically portrayed as ‘El Diablo’ (The Devil), a not-so-funny inside joke about how he is perceived as an immigrant in the Western world, a narrative that is quickly turned on its head as El Diablo is depicted in the paintings as protective, calm, and in control. This is Vallance Cantor’s reflection on her partner’s reality, the abuse, suspicion, and constraint he faces from both individuals and structures, as well as the commitment that keeps them together.
