“As a Aboriginal man from the Little Red River Cree Nation, I gather much inspiration from the stories passed on by elders within my community, stories that have evolved and changed, some documented, some not, but the essence of these characters are passed on through the years. As an artist, I am inspired by the essence of some of these characters and then, in keeping with the tradition of my indigenous roots, create new stories filled with wonder and morals, and bring them to life through my chosen medium, canvas and stone with written word.
I am a contemporary Aboriginal artist in pursuit of becoming my true authentic self (in this ever-evolving culture), I am aware that much of my craft comes from an innate ability that I have been born with, and believe this to be a blessing and a responsibility, both of which I take very seriously. I am continuously using my gift to create new stories inspired from traditional characters with my stone and canvas. I seek inspiration from the past as I create a bold and colorful future.
While keeping with the tradition of my indigenous roots, I create new stories filled with wonder and morals, bringing them to life through my chosen medium: canvas, stone, and with the written word.”
Jason Carter is one of Canada’s most exciting and accomplished contemporary Aboriginal visual artists, celebrated for both his paintings and his carvings. He had a solo show at Alberta House on Alberta Day at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics. His work has been acquired into dozens of private collections (The Government of Alberta, The City Of Edmonton, AFA, Rogers Media, Syncrude, The Shaw Art Collection, The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo to name a few) as well, he has had several exciting public shows, including the Royal Alberta Museum, Art Gallery of Alberta, The Art Gallery of Calgary and the Indian and Northern Affairs Public Art Display in Ottawa, Ontario.
Jason has been commissioned by the Art Gallery of Alberta, The Canada Council for the Arts, The Alberta Foundation of the Arts, The Edmonton Arts Council, The Works International Visual Arts Society, The Society of Manufacturing Engineers of Canada, Winter Light Festival, Syncrude Canada, The Government of Canada and most recently, The Edmonton International Airport to create a 100ft x 7ft permanent installation for the new EIA which opened Summer 2012, with an expected viewing of over 1 million people per year. He is currently working with The Wood Buffalo Regional Municipality again, building and installing a 12-ft sculpture, and with The City of Calgary on a giant installation to be announced late 2015.
He created permanent murals for the Amiskwaskahegan (Beaver Hills Park) in Edmonton and was one of three artists part of the LRT/SOUTH Extension beautification project. He was recently celebrated as ‘Emerging Artist of the Year’ at the Mayor’s Evening of the Arts in Edmonton as well as Avenue Magazines Top 40 Under 40. Jason illustrated his first Children’s book April 2011, “WHO IS BOO: The Terrific Tales of One Trickster Rabbit” inspired by his first carving of a rabbit which he called ‘Nanabozho’ (inspired by the Ojibwe trickster character). Since then, ‘WHO IS BOO 2: The Continued Adventures’ has been published as WHO IS BOO 3 is expected to be released in 2015.
He recently completed an 18-painting series for the Art Gallery of Alberta part of the T-REX Program called ‘Urban Animals’ which will tour Alberta for 3 years, and published his next children’s book of the same name, ‘Urban Animals’, as well, opened the ‘World Of Boo’ in the BMO World of Creativity Children’s Gallery at the Art Gallery of Alberta through May 2015.
Jason Carter is currently represented by The Bearclaw Gallery in Edmonton, Rouge Gallery in Saskatoon and The Town Square Gallery in Oakville Ontario and in 2012, opened his own gallery, The Carter-Ryan Gallery in Canmore Alberta. Jason is a member of the Little Red River Cree Nation and he paints and/or carves seven days a week.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2025
The Living Land: The Magical World of Jason Carter, Towne Square Gallery, Oakville, ON
Stone & Canvas: The Inner Landscape, Canmore Gallery, Canmore, AB
2024
Colour and Pop!, The Bearclaw Gallery, Edmonton, AB
2022
Opening Exhibition, Miller Art Gallery, Edmonton, AB
2021
The Constant Moon, The Bearclaw Gallery, Edmonton, AB
2018
The Wild Party, Towne Square Gallery, Oakville, ON
2013
The Rise, The Bearclaw Gallery, Edmonton, AB
2012
To Dream the Bear, The Carter-Ryan Gallery & Live Art Venue, Canmore, AB
2011
Who is Boo, The Royal Alberta Museum, Edmonton, AB
2011
The Year of the Rabbit, Catalyst Theatre, Edmonton, AB
2010
Through Stone and Canvas, The Bearclaw Gallery, Calgary, AB
2009
Nanabozho: The Tail of Giving, Catalyst Theatre, Edmonton, AB
2008
Nanabozho: The Trickster Rabbit, Sun and Moon Gallery, Edmonton, AB
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
2014
The World of Boo, Art Gallery of Alberta, Edmonton, AB
2013
The Human Form, The Carter-Ryan Gallery & Live Art, Canmore, AB
2013
Who is Boo: The Terrific Tales of One Trickster Rabbit, The Art Gallery of Calgary, Calgary, AB
2013
Indigenous Alberta Animals, Edmonton Exhibition, Northlands, AB
2012
Touring Exhibit Program, Art Gallery of Alberta, Edmonton, AB
2010
Group Exhibition, Alberta House, Vancouver 2010 Olympics, BC
2009
Nanabozho: The Tail of Giving, Catalyst Theatre, Edmonton, AB
2009
Capital EX, Edmonton, AB
SELECT PUBLIC COMMISSIONS
2021
Winter Solstice sculpture display at Churchill Square, Edmonton, AB
2019
Museum of Aboriginal Peoples’ Art & Artifacts. 30 ft x 2.5 ft painting panel commissioned by the Alberta Foundation for the Arts and on permanent loan to the Museum in Lac La Biche.
2018
Canada Goose Inc. Five, five foot polar bear sculptures for the launch of Polar Bear International day in conjunction with a new custom Pantone blue colour. Produced for each location, Tokyo, London, Toronto, Manhattan, and Chicago.
2017
The Moose Hotel, Banff Caribou Properties, Created 175 original works for each room, and four large scale paintings for the common areas.
2017
Canada Goose Inc. Three to five stone polar bear sculptures for the launch of each Canada Goose location, Tokyo, London, Toronto, Manhattan, and Chicago.
2017
Travel Alberta. Commemorative art piece for Rendezvous 2017. Delegates to receive image from a painting showcasing our province to over 2000 participants from around the world.
2017
Canada 150 Medallion. Design. Canada 150 in 150 is a celebration of citizens whose stories have made Canada the country that it is. Designed medallion representing arts/technology/community.
2016
The Calgary International Airport, The Calgary Airport Authority and Jason Carter have worked closely over the past years on over 100 square meters of original artwork which was installed at The Calgary International Airport in the summer of 2016. The YYC expansion is set to open on October 29th 2016.
2015
Aboriginal Interpretive Trail located in Fort McMurray, Alberta, ‘The Red Warrior’ is a large scale (12’) sculpture made out of hard coated EPS foam with a galvanized steel frame and cherry red industrial coating. In collaboration with Heavy Industries in Calgary Alberta. Installed in the Summer of 2015.
2012
The Edmonton International Airport, ‘Old Man Mountain and Great Mother Bear’ A 100’ x 7’ mural installation above Security Check-In at the United States Departures with an expected viewer-ship of over eight million people per year for the new EIA annex which opened September 2012.
2012
Edmonton Arts Council, The south light rail transit(LRT) beautification project, Jason created five colourful murals that run along the 111 Street LRT Line in the community of Lendrum.
2012
The Works International Visual Arts Society, Amiskwaskahegan Park (AKA Beaver Hills Park) , Edmonton Alberta, ‘Seven Northern Beavers’ metal sculptural flags posted to honor the history of the park and its indigenous roots.
2010
The Winter Light Festival (Edmonton) Designed and provided paintings for three billboards to promote the winter festival in Edmonton, Alberta, from 2010 to 2012.
COLLECTIONS
Jason Carter’s work has been acquired by dozens of private collectors, Mayor Stephen Mandel, AFA, Alice Major, and Rogers Media to name a few.
SELECTED PRESS
“Artist Returns From Olympics" by Heather Andrews Miller, Around Town vol.28 no.14 (April 2010)
"Local Sculptor Featured in Olympic Show" by Joelle Tomek, The Edmonton Examiner (December 2009)
"Carving Out a Life From Stone and Canvas" by Janice Ryan, Edmonton Journal (2009)
"Artist's Career Path a Rocky Road" by Joelle Tomek, The Edmonton Examiner (November 2008)
"Rascally Rabbit Inspiration for Artist's Inaugural Exhibition of Paintings and Sculpture" by Gilbert A. Bouchard, Edmonton Journal (October 2008)
