Biography

Michael Sydoryk is a self-taught painter from Cochrane, Alberta, known for bold, large-scale acrylic portrayals of North American wildlife and culture. His style, developed in 2014, combines proportionate, realistic elements with abstract, energetic brushwork, built to create an emotional, personal encounter between viewer and subject rather than a straightforward visual study. He began painting in 2009 as a release from university coursework and quickly became consumed by the pursuit, continuing to paint alongside his studies in the years that followed. Alongside his art, he has partnered with conservation efforts supporting endangered species, more recently focusing closer to home with the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society.

Sydoryk has been a feature at the Calgary Stampede's Western Art Show since 2016, exhibiting for nine consecutive years,and his work has shown in galleries across Western North America, including locations in Montana and the American Southwest.