Of Bark & Bane by Dustin Coulson
Dustin Coulson
Of Bark & Bane
Site #5
The Westin Edmonton
(10135 100 St NW, Edmonton)
Of Bark & Bane explores the tension between nature and industry through sculptural works that juxtapose organic birch bark with industrial materials like glass, brass, and concrete. Through this contrast, the exhibition reflects on resilience, fragility, and humanity’s evolving relationship with the natural world in an era of environmental uncertainty.
ARTIST STATEMENT
“Core to the ethos of my work is our innate desire to control, impose structure, and dominate our surroundings. ”
As a mixed-media sculpture artist, my practice is centered on themes of balance, tension, duality, and environmental impact. The pieces I create are designed to explore the ever-evolving relationship humanity shares with the natural world.
Core to the ethos of my work is our innate desire to control, impose structure, and dominate our surroundings. To bring life to these ideas, I employ organic objects and standardized building products to act as symbols of nature and man: the two characters paramount to the dialogue informing my artistic direction.
By juxtaposing natural and man-made materials, I aim to evoke a sense of wonder and reflection—inviting an appreciation for the fundamental elements that shape our world. Through my work, I strive to tell a story that explores both the human experience and the impact we have on the environments we inhabit.
From an aesthetic standpoint my art is abstract, minimalist, and true to the material, borrowing heavily from the rules that govern my life as a Brand Designer and Creative Director. Whether it be Gestalt Principles, or the systematic approach I use when creating brand identities, my education as a designer has been pivotal to my growth as an artist.
For myself, the development of environmentally inspired and found-object sculptures began simply as a means of exploring the materials that I love while capturing concepts and ideas that move me as a person. Now, my work is my passion. It is my primary means of expressing the way I feel about the beauty and turmoil of the here and now.
Out of respect for the conservation of the lands that contribute to my work, each piece I create has been crafted using natural objects and materials ethically harvested, both locally and from across Canada.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Dustin is a mixed-media sculpture artist living in Edmonton. His practice draws inspiration from the intricate connection between humanity and the natural world. Through the creation of captivating, abstract works, Dustin explores what it means to exist in an industrialized, connected world that’s become increasingly disconnected from its natural origins.
From a young age, Dustin’s pockets have been filled with the treasures of nature—objects that intrigue and inspire him. In the past, most of these curiosities rarely made it further than his parents’ washer, and eventually the garbage, while his latest collections form the foundations of his artistic expression.
Today, Dustin splits his time between his role as the Co-founder and Creative Director of a boutique branding and marketing studio—Sitch Agency—and developing his career as an artist. Shifting his focus from the world of design and marketing, Dustin explores relationships between natural and man-made materials in his work and how they can speak to the ongoing climate crisis.