About
Ryan Koopmans (BA, MFA) is a lens-based artist with dual Canadian & Dutch heritage.
His focus lies in the built environment, its relationship with nature and the societies that evolve within it.
Born in Amsterdam in 1986, he was raised on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. He completed his undergraduate studies at UBC in Vancouver and earned his Master of Fine Arts in Photography, Video & Related Media from The School of Visual Arts in New York City in 2012.
Koopmans' interdisciplinary undergraduate background in Geography, Art History, and Psychology laid the foundation for his fascination with architecture and the communities shaped by it.
While initially considering architecture graduate school, he discovered his profound connection with photography as a means to explore his curiosities and convey his visual and conceptual interests.
His primary artistic focus centres on capturing surreal structures within megacities and urban landscapes. He skillfully employs geometry, repetition, and vibrant colours to convey what he calls 'the poetry of form in intriguing settings.'
His work essentially documents the intersections where the natural and manmade worlds merge.
Growing up on the vast and rugged West Coast of Canada has influenced his preference for a distant perspective, allowing him to often embrace a grand sense of scale in his artwork.
Throughout his career, the relationship between nature and the built environment has remained a central theme.
Whether he's delving into modern cities transformed by urban expansion or exploring the decaying interiors of forgotten towns, the interplay between the natural world and architectural landscapes remains the heart of his artistry.
He spends most of his year traveling the globe, pursuing both personal and commissioned projects. Koopmans is highly sought after as both an art photographer and a commercial image creator for brands and editorial clients.
His lens-based artwork is frequently displayed in international exhibitions, and his work graces some of the world's foremost private art collections.
SIREN Forever is his portfolio of commercial photography.
The Wild Within is his long-form digital art project.
Koopmans' portfolio displayed on the Standard Vision screen in Downtown Los Angeles, USA.
Awards & Select Exhibitions
Education
2023 - Miami, USA - Christie's at Art Basel Miami Beach
2023 - Dubai UAE - Christie's Art Auction House and Exhibition
2023 - Los Angeles, USA - Outliers Exhibition
Foundry Gallery by PROOF
2023 - Mumbai, India - Architectural Digest Design Show
BENNFT Gallery
2023 - Seoul, South Korea - Billboard Exhibition
Art Innovation Gallery during Frieze Art Fair
2023 - Seoul, South Korea - Beyond Seoul Exhibition
Trippy Labs with Korea Blockchain Week
2023 - Stockholm, Sweden - Way Gallery
Epicenter Stockholm
2023 - Boston, USA - Pellas Gallery at Boston Blockchain Week
2023 - Tokyo, Japan - Reach For The Future Exhibition
2023 - Cannes, France - Jane Goodall Institute Auction
Cannes Film Festival
2023 - NYC, USA - SuperRare Event
South Street Seaport
2023 - NYC, USA - Unfold x SHILLR exhibition
2023 - NYC, USA - Transient Labs Outliers
Oculus World Trade Center
2023 - NYC, USA - Crypt Gallery x Dream Downtown
2023 - Paris, France - Natively Digital
Sotheby's France
2023 - Boston, USA - Steve Aoki Hiroquest Tour
Lobkowitz Palace, Prague Castle
NF Castle Exhibition
Prague, Czech Republic, November 14, 2022
The Wild Within
0x Society Gallery
Montreal, Canada, October 6 - November 6, 2022
Venice Art Biennale
Singularity, Group Show - Decentral Art Pavilion
Venice, Italy, April 20 - June 20, 2022
Miami Art Week - The Temporal Gallery
The Wild Within - Artworks projected throughout city
Miami, USA, November 30 - Dec 5, 2021
Côte 2 Coast
0x Society Group Exhibition
Montreal, Canada, August 25 - October 21, 2021
Aerial Photos Of The Year 2020
First Place - Fine Art Other category
Aerial Photography Awards
Aerial Photos Of The Year 2020
3rd Place - Man-Made category
Aerial Photography Awards
Photoville - The Fence 2020
Sanatorium
Regional Showcase: Western Canada
Calgary, Alberta: Spring 2021
VANTAGE
Hardback Book: 256 pages
Book Launch: Taverna Brillo, Stockholm, Sweden
Publisher: Black Dog Press - January 6, 2020
Architectural Photography Awards 2018
World Architecture Festival: Amsterdam
Amsterdam, Netherlands: November 28-30, 2018
Edition III India Architecture Dialogue 2018
Exhibition: Moments In Architecture
Amity University, Gurugram, India: September 1-30, 2018
Edition II India Architecture Dialogue 2018
Exhibition: Moments In Architecture
Red Architects, Mumbai, India: July 31 - August 13, 2018
Solo Exhibition
Sanatorium: Images from Tskaltubo
Galerie Konstart, Stockholm, Sweden: June 20, 2018
Four Freedoms Park
Capture Your Freedom – Group Exhibition
Roosevelt Island, NYC, USA: June 15 - onwards 2018
Architectural Photography Awards 2017
Building Images: Winners Showcase
Sto Werkstatt, London, UK: February 8 - April 27, 2018
Magenta Foundation
Flash Forward 2018 Top 100
The Magenta Foundation, Toronto, Canada: 2018
India Architecture Dialogue 2018
Exhibition: Moments In Architecture
Qutb Complex, Delhi, India: February 9-28, 2018
ARCAID Image Awards 2017
World Architecture Festival: Arena Berlin
Berlin, Germany: November 15-17, 2017
Solo Public Exhibition
Standard Vision Labs
4 Story Screen - Downtown LA
Los Angeles, USA: August 13-21, 2017
PHI Contemporary Photography Festival
Traveling Without Moving
BASE Milano
Milan, Italy: June 2-4, 2017
The Syngenta Photography Award
Exploring Global Challenges
Grow / Conserve Group Exhibition
Somerset House
London UK: March 9 – 28, 2017
Unearth X Paradise Now
Canon NL Presents: Ryan Koopmans & Luca Marziale
De Merkenwinkel Gallery
Amsterdam: September 26 - October 2, 2016
PDN’s 30 – 2016
Named as one of 30 new and emerging photographers to watch by Photo District News
Tokyo International Foto Awards
Paradise Now: Honorable Mention
Tokyo, Japan: 2016
ARCAID Image Awards 2015
Winners Showcase: Building Images
Sto Werkstatt
London UK: February 5 – March 25, 2016
ARCAID Image Awards 2015
World Architecture Festival: Nominations
Singapore: November 4-6, 2015
World Press Photo 2015
‘Storytelling After Dark’ Workshop
First Place Award - Judged by Magdalena Herrera and Ziv Koren
Amsterdam: April 24 – 25, 2015
Green River Project
Photo Show
Group Exhibition
Hillside, New York: November 14, 2015
Andrew Krepps Gallery
Darren Bader: photographs i like
Group Exhibition
NYC: May 15 – June 21, 2014
Filter Photo Festival
Mapping: borders, bodies, memories
Group Exhibition
David Weinberg Gallery
Chicago: September 19 – October 6, 2013
Modern Nature Gallery
Paradise Now: Solo Exhibition
Los Angeles: April 27 – July 27, 2013
UNICEF
Next Generation 3rd Annual Photo Benefit
R 20th Century Gallery
New York City: May 30, 2012
The Horticultural Society of New York
Photography Competition – Staff Pick Winner
Project Gallery at The HORT
NYC: August 16-31, 2012
New York Photo Festival Invitational
Powerhouse Arena
New York City: May 16 – May 20, 2012
NY Photo Awards 2012 – Student Winner
Powerhouse Arena
New York City: April 2012
SVA MFA Thesis Exhibition
Paradise Now: hardcover artist book
110 x 74 cm archival inkjet prints
Visual Arts Gallery
New York City: June 2012
Milan Design Week
Semifinalist in “AuthentiCity” Contest
Salone del Mobile
Milan, Italy: April 14 – 19, 2010
MFA Photography, Video & Related Media
The School of Visual Arts - New York City, USA
2009-2012
Bachelor of Arts (BA) Interdisciplinary Studies
University of British Columbia - Vancouver, Canada
2004-2009
Traditional Technique: Drawing
Emily Carr University of Art & Design - Vancouver, Canada
2008
Lectures Held
Panel Discussion: The Future of Art
Metaversal x Lumen Prize, Paris, France
February 24, 2024
Presentation: The Wild Within
Ox Society Gallery, Montreal, Canada
October 6, 2022
Presentation: The Wild Within
OtherLands NFT Festival, Stockholm, Sweden
March 8, 2022
Presentation: Sanatorium by Ryan Koopmans
Exposure Festival X The Photoville FENCE
February 7, 2021
Public Lecture & Panel: Shooting On Assignment
The School of Visual Arts - New York City, USA
September 26, 2017
Presentation of Portfolio
Kazakhstan Fashion Institute - Astana, Kazakhstan
June 3, 2014
Behind The Scenes with Ryan Koopmans
The Ritz-Carlton Hotel - Almaty, Kazakhstan
May 13, 2014
Truth & Photojournalism
Olympic Stadium - Kyiv, Ukraine
March 19, 2014
Shooting New York Fashion Week
Olympic Stadium - Kyiv, Ukraine
October 17, 2013
Podcasts & Audio Interviews
The Future of Art w/ Roger Dickerman: Ryan Koopmans - Architecture, Nature & Long Term Vantage Point
PROMPT3D hosted by SHILLR: Conversation with Ryan Koopmans
NorCal and Shill Season 1 Episode 92: The Wild Within
Botto Talks: From Curation to Collab: Ryan Koopmans & Alice Wexell
Scrapbook - Episode 4: A Conversation with Ryan Koopmans