Canadian painter, photographer and designer based out of Alberta, Lucas Seaward is regarded as one of the Canada's most exploratory nature artists living today. Utilizing one of earths most ancient and misunderstood substances (Oil Sands), Lucas’s work transcend societal perceptions, oscillating between two worlds, a forged subconscious and depictions of reality.
My practice is driven by a desire to create work that extends far beyond the confines of a canvas. I craft visual narratives that invite reflection and discussion. Drawing inspiration from the natural world, I use bitumen, a dense, highly viscous, petroleum-based hydrocarbon, in my artwork. This industrial yet natural medium serves as a deliberate juxtaposition of organic forms, themes, and the human footprint. My work emphasizes the tension between the environment and global development. Recent work explores the dualities of industrial progress and the inherent beauty of wildlife, capturing the complexity of their coexistence. Through metaphor and material, I investigate the relationship between global industrialization and ecological interdependence, seeking to create a visual language that is both critical and poetic.
My mixed-media oil sand panels explore the complex relationship between perception and reality. I work across various mediums, from ink on paper to richly textured oil sands suspended in glass-like resin. My work invites deeper reflection on form, material, and meaning. I'm trying to change society's narrative by recontextualizing oil sands beyond its utilitarian history. My work encourages reflection and invites conversation about art and what makes something beautiful.