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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

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