Canadian Art &
the Environment

“The environment has never been a neutral backdrop; it has always been an active force shaping artistic vision, cultural identity, and ethical responsibility. Across generations, artists have returned to the land as a site of knowledge, contestation, and care. Their works reveal how ecological awareness has evolved alongside Canada’s social, political, and cultural histories.”

– Norman Vorano

The art created from conflict is exceptional in its diversity, and Brandon has assembled an arsenal of conflict-related cultural media, including posters, sketches, photographs, films, and sculptures. This comprehensive study showcases a stunning range of creators, such as A.Y. Jackson, Alex Colville, and Rebecca Belmore, and ventures far beyond the familiar narratives of Western battle painting by including Indigenous war art practices, passed down through generations in what we now call Canada. Ultimately, it provides new insights into our country’s deep and often disturbing relationship with combat.

Banner Image: (top left) Edward Burtynsky, Nickel Tailings #34, Sudbury, Ontario, 1995-1996. (top right) Sara Angelucci, August 23, Bottle Gentian, Queen Anne’s Lace, 2022. (bottom left) Jin-me Yoon, Living Time 1 (left panel detail), 2019 diptych. Collection of the artist. Courtesy of the artist. © Jin-me Yoon. (bottom right) Lawren S. Harris, Mount Lefroy, 1930.