About the Artist
Residing in Canmore, AB, the mountains stand strong around me, the nearby prairie sky fills with wind and colour above. I couldn’t ask for a better studio. As an artist I reflect on my experiences of the outdoors and strive to show my appreciation the best way I know how: painting. In a time of disconnect from nature, I advocate that art is a tool to help us better understand the natural world. A tool of celebration and connection, the arts act as a call to action. I tell the stories of the natural world that are desperate to be heard. As an Artist Educator, I dedicate my lessons to using art as a tool for personal connection to nature; celebrating the land beneath our feet and allowing people of all ages to better understand the natural world and the ways we can protect it.
Growing up on the edge of the Canadian Rockies, my winters were spent observing the gentle stillness of snow on trees as they creaked in the wind, and chasing adrenaline down mountainsides with skis strapped to my feet. My summers were spent with long winding roads ahead, the winds whispering promises of freedom and adventure; all the while a canoe strapped to the top of our van. That canoe has been the vessel and home of many adventures. It has carried me through lake chains and rivers for weeks on end, the point from which I viewed expansive wilderness. Turned upside down on the rocky beaches of Canada’s waterways, it has served as my painting desk.
My paintings were my love letters to the world around me and they continue to be so. It was through these experiences that I gained a respect and admiration for nature that is prevalent through my work. I try to emulate the feeling of harmony and peace I can only feel when I am outdoors. Nature has always been my playground, my classroom, my greatest teacher and healer.
Libby Amber Pryor (She/Her)
Land Acknowledgement:
I am honoured to live, work, and play on Treaty 7 Territory. As an immigrant from England I am grateful to have been raised in the mountains, plains and watersheds which have shaped me and offered me wonder, hope, and adventure. I am committed to learning about the true history of this land, people and colonization.
In the spirit of reconciliation I acknowledge and honour Chuwapchipchiyan Kudi Bi, also known as Canmore, home of the Îyârhe Nakoda (Stoney Nakoda), comprised of the Bearspaw, Chiniki and Wesley First Nations, as well as the Tsuut’ina First Nation and the Blackfoot Confederacy, comprised of the Siksika, Piikani, Kainai, and the Metis Nation (Region 3).
Through reflection, connection, and action we can work together to answer the TRC’s Calls to Action:
Explore Indigenous territories globally: