Edward Burtynsky
Edward Burtynsky is known as one of Canada's most respected photographers. His remarkable photographic depictions of global industrial landscapes are included in the collections of 15 major museums around the world, including the National Gallery of Canada, the Bibliotèque Nationale in Paris, the Museum of Modern Art and the Guggenheim Museum in New York.
Born in 1955 of Ukrainian heritage at St. Catharines, Ontario, Burtynsky is a graduate of Ryerson University (Bachelor of Applied Arts in Photography) and Niagara College (Graphic Art). He links his early exposure to the sites and images of the General Motors plant in his hometown to the development of his photographic work.
His imagery explores the intricate link between industry and nature, combining the raw elements of mining, quarrying, manufacturing, shipping, oil production and recycling into eloquent, highly expressive visions that find beauty and humanity in the most unlikely of places.
In 1985, Burtynsky also founded Toronto Image Works, a darkroom rental facility, custom photo laboratory, digital imaging and new media computer-training centre catering to all levels of Toronto's art community. Mr. Burtynsky also sits on the board of directors for Toronto's international photography festival, Contact.
photo by Jim Panou
His exhibitions include "Manufactured Landscapes" at the National Gallery of Canada (2003) and "Before the Flood" (2003), which were showcased in San Francisco, Toronto, Montreal and London in 2004, and the Brooklyn Museum of Art in 2005. Burtynsky's visually compelling works have recently been exhibited in solo and group exhibitions across Canada, in the United States, Europe and Asia.
An active lecturer on photographic art, Mr. Burtynsky's speaking engagements include the National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa, the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., George Eastman House in Rochester, NY, The Canadian Center for Architecture in Montreal, the Art Gallery of Ontario, the TED conference, Idea City, and Ryerson University in Toronto.
His images have appeared various periodicals, among them: Art in America, Art News, The Smithsonian, Harper's Magazine, Flash Art, Blind Spot, Art Forum, Saturday Night, Canadian Art, Playboy, National Geographic Society and the New York Times.
Burtynsky's distinctions include the TED Prize, The Outreach award at the Rencontres d'Arles, The Flying Elephant Fellowship, Applied Arts Magazine book award(s), and the Roloff Beny Book award. In 2006 he was awarded the title of Officer of the Order of Canada and given an honorary degree; Doctor of Laws, from Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
Burtynsky is represented by Nicholas Metivier Gallery in Toronto, Paul Kuhn Gallery in Calgary, Art 45 in Montreal, Charles Cowles Gallery in New York, Robert Koch Gallery in San Francisco, Flowers East in London, Galeria Toni Tapies in Barcelona and Galerie Stefan Röpke in Köln. His prints are housed in public, corporate and private collections worldwide.