Education
1999. Master of Fine Arts in Sculpture, University of Alberta
1997. Bachelor of Fine Arts, University of Alberta
Exhibitions
2022. Jazz Influences, Art Gallery of Grande Prairie, Grande Prairie
2021. Artists’ Choice Exhibition, Federation Gallery, Vancouver
Type Faces, Common Sense, Edmonton
2020. N3XTCANADA National Arts Competition, Arts & Letters Club, Toronto
2019. Shapeshifter, Artpoint Gallery, Calgary
Hambidge 2019 Art Auction, The Works, Atlanta, USA
Ruthless Abandon, Common Sense, Edmonton
2018. Hambidge 2018 Art Auction, Atlanta Decorative Arts Center, USA
New Works, Tyrone Guthrie Centre, Annaghmakerrig, Ireland
Hambidge Suite, Common Sense, Edmonton
2017. Text + Image, Bleeding Heart Art Space, Edmonton
Metals/Myth, Common Sense, Edmonton
2016. Sculpture Alley, Common Sense, Edmonton
2015. Brain Storms: UAlberta Creates, Enterprise Square Gallery, Edmonton
2013. Looking Back, Common Sense, Edmonton
ECAS 20th Annual Exhibition, Enterprise Square Gallery, Edmonton
2012. Shady Gardens, Common Sense, Edmonton
Inspired by Travel, Leighton Art Foundation, Calgary
2011. Open Studio Exhibition, Common Sense, Edmonton
ECAS 19th Annual Exhibition, Enterprise Square Gallery, Edmonton
Adaptation and Alteration, Art Gallery of St. Albert, St. Albert
2010. ECAS 18th Annual Exhibition, Enterprise Square Gallery, Edmonton
Sights to See, Common Sense, Edmonton
National Portrait Gallery, Latitude 53, Edmonton
2009. Portrait Helmets, Common Sense, Edmonton
ECAS 17th Annual Exhibition, Peter Robertson Gallery, Edmonton
Wearable Art Awards Exhibition, Port Moody Arts Centre, Port Moody, BC
Wearable Art Awards Performance, City Hall Galleria, Port Moody, BC
Sculpture In Our Time, Common Sense, Edmonton
2008. ECAS 16th Annual Exhibition, Common Sense, Edmonton
Dirty Noisy Smelly, Western Avenue Studios, Lowell, MA, USA
Lambton II: Five Years Later, The Lambton Institute of Advanced Modernism, Edmonton
2007. New Directions, Stollery Gallery, Nina Haggerty Centre for the Arts, Edmonton
ECAS 15th Annual Exhibition, Peter Robertson Gallery, Edmonton
Flat, Art Gallery of Alberta, Edmonton
Free For All, Art Gallery of Alberta, Edmonton
2006. Will and Representation, Sculpture by Invitation: Shaw Conference Centre Plaza, Edmonton
ECAS 14th Annual Exhibition, Planet Ze Gallery, Edmonton
Big Things 4, Royal Alberta Museum, Edmonton
Sculpture on the Plaza, Sculpturesite Gallery, San Francisco, USA
2005. ECAS 13th Annual Exhibition, Great West Saddlery Building, Edmonton
Vernissage, Sculpturesite Gallery, San Francisco, USA
Alberta Centennial Sculpture Exhibition, Royal Alberta Museum, Edmonton
2004. ECAS 12th Annual Exhibition, Great West Saddlery Building, Edmonton
Big Things 3, The Provincial Museum of Alberta, Edmonton
Six Sculptors, Lando Gallery, Edmonton
2003. ECAS 11th Annual Exhibition, Great West Saddlery Building, Edmonton
Domesticity, SNAP Gallery, Edmonton
Big Things 2, The Provincial Museum of Alberta, Edmonton
2002. Desperate Measures, The Works Gallery, Edmonton
North Edmonton Sculpture Workshop, Global Visions Film Festival, Edmonton
Edmonton Sculpture: The Next Generation, Harcourt House Gallery, Edmonton
Big Things, The Provincial Museum of Alberta, Edmonton
Front Room Sculpture, Harcourt House Gallery, Edmonton
2001. ECAS 9th Annual Exhibition, Great West Saddlery Building, Edmonton
Sculpture– The Works: 2001, Art Expo 2001, Edmonton
2000. Recent Works, The Works Visual Arts Festival, Edmonton
1999. Modern Artifacts, Fine Arts Building Gallery, University of Alberta, Edmonton
1997. What’s New, Art Rental and Sales Gallery, Edmonton Art Gallery
Proclamation, Fine Arts Building Gallery, University of Alberta, Edmonton
Awards, Grants, Scholarships, and Residencies
2019 Sawchuck ‘Plume d’Argent’, Edmonton
2018—2019 Creative Director – The Local Cannabist, Edmonton
2018 Artist Residency – Tyrone Guthrie Centre, Annaghmakerrig, Monaghan, Ireland
2018 Travel Grant – Edmonton Arts Council Community Investment Program
2017 Hambidge Fellow – Hambidge Creative Residency Program, Rabun Gap, Georgia
2017 Travel Grant – Edmonton Arts Council Community Investment Program
2016 Art Award – Confederacy of Treaty 6 First Nations
2011 Top Forty Under Forty Award – Avenue Magazine
2009 Wearable Art Awards Headdress Category First Prize – City of Port Moody
2008 Column of the Year Award – Connect2Edmonton
2008 Project Grant – Alberta Foundation for the Arts
2006 Project Grant – Alberta Foundation for the Arts
2005 Travel Grant – Edmonton Arts Council Community Investment Program
2004 Project Grant – Alberta Foundation for the Arts
2004 Award – Edmonton Artists’ Trust Fund
2003 Award – Lee Fund for the Arts
2003 Project Grant – Alberta Foundation for the Arts
2002 Project Grant – Alberta Foundation for the Arts
2000 Helen Collinson Memorial Award – Edmonton Artists’ Trust Fund
1999 Mary Louise Imrie Graduate Student Award – University of Alberta
1998 Melba Sadler Graduate Scholarship in Art and Design – University of Alberta
1997 Award for Excellence in Sculpture – Investors Group
Collections & Commissions
Alberta Foundation for the Arts
All Weather Windows
Brooklyn Art Library
City of Edmonton
City of Red Deer
The Establishment Brewing Company
Northern Metallurgical Laboratories Ltd.
Robert T. Webb Sculpture Garden, Dalton GA
Tyrone Guthrie Centre, Annaghmakerrig, Ireland
University of Alberta Museums
Private collections in Canada and the United States
Gallery Representation
Common Sense, 10546 – 115 Street, Edmonton, AB.
Media References
2023
Tom Murray, “The Year of the Rabbit Produced Some Famous Figures From Edmonton,” Edmonton Journal, January 14.
2022
Jason Herring, “What’s in a flag? The history and future of six of Alberta’s municipal ensigns,” Calgary Herald, January 3.
2021
Bishnupriya Chowdhury, “Dreams and Nightmares – Ryan McCourt,” The Antonym, August 30.
2019
Cory Schachtel, “The Story Behind Ryan McCourt’s “Hot Ganesha” Sculpture”, Avenue Magazine, November.
All about Metal: NEWS, “Ryan McCourt’s Welded Sculptures”, Metalist.dp.ua, August 18.
2017
Caley Ramsay, “Edmonton City Hall to Fly Metis, Treaty 6 Flags”, Global News, March 21
Quinn Ohler, “Edmonton Won’t Be Getting a New Municipal Flag, For Now”, Global News, March 13.
Jeremy Simes, “Edmonton Split on Flag Redesign”, Edmonton Metro, March 13.
Julia Wong, “No Agreement on Value or Design of Edmonton’s Municipal Flag: Survey”, Global News, March 12.
Paula Simons, “Flag on the Play for Debate Over New Edmonton City Symbol”, Edmonton Journal, March 10.
2016
Nola Keeler, “Don Iveson Wants to Raise a New Flag for the City”, CBC News, November 29.
Julia Wong, “Edmonton Mulls New Flag as Residents Wonder Whether Change Would Make a Difference”, Global News, November 13.
Jeremy Simes, “Iveson Proposed Edmonton Debate New Flag, Highlights Reconciliation”, Edmonton Metro, November 10.
Elise Stolte, “Mayor Hoists New Flag Idea Up The Pole To See If It Will Fly With Public”, Edmonton Journal, November 10.
Pamela Leier, “Mayor Draws Attention To City Flag”, CTV News, November 10.
Don Iveson, “A New Flag for Edmonton”, DonIveson.ca, November 9.
Elise Stolte, “Should Edmonton’s City Flag Be Changed?”, Edmonton Journal, September 24.
Elise Stolte, “What Makes A Good Flag: An Expert Critiques Two Proposals to Redesign Edmonton’s Flag”, Edmonton Journal, September 24.
2015
Donna McKinnon, “The Pleasures and Perils of Public Art”, Curious Arts, November 27.
P. Z. Myers, “Reaching For a Reasonable Justification for Censorship”, Pharyngula, April 24.
Emily Q. Hazzard, “Chatter: Who Arted?”, Washington Citypaper, April 2.
2012
Janice Ryan, “Big Spaces For Big Sculptures”, Edmonton Journal, November 4.
2011
David Staples, “Edmonton Artist Blasts Talus Dome (and me)”, Edmonton Journal, November 16.
Kim Collins-Lauber, “Top 40 Under 40”, Avenue Magazine, November.
Janice Ryan, “Two Local Artists Toy With Our Perceptions”, Edmonton Journal, April 22.
Scott Hayes, “ArtWalk Kicks Off New Season”, St. Albert Gazette, April 6.
Ian Kucerak, “Getting To Know You”, Saint City News, March 25.
Ian Kucerak, ”City Officially Launches ArtiCulture Festival”, Saint City News, February 25.
2010
Franklin Einspruch, “The McCourt Hoax”, Journal, August 2.
Robin Schroffel, “In Your Sight Line”, See Magazine, June 17.
2009
Mari Sasano, “Art Of The Helmet”, See Magazine, December 10.
Janice Ryan, “Modern Times’ Many Faces”, Edmonton Journal, September 18.
Andrew Paul, “Studiovisit: Ryan McCourt – Sculptor”, See Magazine, August 20.
Jessica Murdy, “Funnell Succeeds at Port Moody Art Awards”, Agassiz Observer, June 5.
Sarah Payne, “Vote For Your Favourite”, Tri-City News, June 2
Adam Waldron-Blain, “What’s Really Wrong With Edmonton”, Prairie Artsters, May 6.
Mandy Espezel & Jill Stanton, “Does The Public Enjoy Public Art?”, See Magazine, January 22.
2008
David Berry, “No One’s A Critic”, Vue Weekly, December 25.
Amy Fung, “A Different Kind Of ARC”, Vue Weekly, July 10.
2007
Vaidvisa Bala, “Grotesque Ganeshas Protested”, Hinduism Today, October/November/December.
‘Eye on Alberta’, “The Reawakening Of Ganesha”, Alberta Views, November Issue.
Tom Murray, “Multiple Directions Merge In Single Exhibit”, Edmonton Journal, October 5.
Amy Fung, “Censorship At Least Deserves A Debate”, Vue Weekly, October 3.
Glenn Weiss, “The Role of Censorship In Public Art”, Aesthetic Grounds, October 2.
Briefly Noted, “Hindus Protest Statue of Deity”, CARFAC SASK Newsletter, Vol. 1 9, No. 08, October.
Krishna Bagdiya, “Sculptures No Threat”, Edmonton Journal, September 30.
Joe Renaud, “Art’s Message Isn’t Always Pretty”, Edmonton Journal, September 30.
Margaret Wente, “Why Are We So Afraid To Offend?”, The Globe and Mail, September 29.
Bruce Dunbar, “Mandel Oversteps Bounds”, Edmonton Journal, September 23.
Donna McKinnon, “No Place For Censorship”, Edmonton Journal, September 23.
Paula Simons, “Sculptor’s Use Of Revered Hindu Deity Shows No Signs Of Sacrilege”, Edmonton Journal, September 22
Gordon Kent, “Art Called Irreverent”, Windsor Star, September 22.
Indo–Asian News Service, “Nude Ganesh Idols To Be Removed After Hindus Protest”, Times of India, September 21.
CanWest News Service, “Sculptures Offend Hindus”, Vancouver Sun, September 21.
Val Ross, “Edmonton To Remove Statues After Hindu Protest”, The Globe and Mail, September 20.
Joshua B. Good, “Erotic Hindu Statues Censored In Canada, Sculptor Refuses To Cover ‘Naughty Bits’”, Banned Magazine, September 20.
Lyle Cott, “Edmonton Mayor Scraps Sculptures After Hindu Protest”, CBC News, September 20.
Gordon Kent, “Sculptor Unfazed By Criticism”, Edmonton Journal, September 20.
Gordon Kent, “Sculptures Of Hindu God Rile Faithful”, Calgary Herald, September 19.
Frank Landry, “Statues To Come Down”, Edmonton Sun, September 19.
Gordon Kent, “Scrap Sculptures, Mayor Says”, Edmonton Journal, September 19.
ECAS 15th Annual Exhibition (exhibition catalogue), Edmonton Contemporary Artists Society.
Paula Simons, “Diverse Works Delight The Eye With Whimsy, Passion”, Edmonton Journal, June 16.
2006
Agnieszka Matejko, “Where Does Artistic Freedom End And Cultural Appropriation Begin?”, Vue Weekly, Issue 538, December 21.
Bill Mah, “Artists Give Walls Of Shaw Extension Lively Look”, Edmonton Journal, November 18.
Mari Sasano, “The Museum Wants You To Think Big. Really Big”, Edmonton Journal, August 25.
Gilbert Bouchard, “Bianca Khan’s One–Tonne Challenge”, Edmonton Journal, July 23.
2005
Kimberly Hathaway, “Sculpturesite & San Francisco: Celebrating Contemporary Sculpture, Public Art and Public Art Preservation”, Espace Sculpture, Issue 74, Hiver.
Gilbert Bouchard, “Creativity Is In The Small Things”, Edmonton Journal, October 9.
Jamie Windborne, “Gallery Opens With Show Of Forceful Spatial Expression”, The San Francisco Art News Extra, August 13.
Gilbert Bouchard, “War, Peace Among Themes Of Sculpture Exhibition”, Edmonton Journal, July 8.
Mari Sasano, “Sculptors Slaves To Big Things”, Edmonton Journal, July 1.
Jeffrey Sterr, “Sculpting A Career”, Work of Arts, Spring.
2004
Gilbert Bouchard, “Artists’ Group Comes Home To Saddlery Building”, Edmonton Journal, October 8.
Olenka Melnyk, “Big Sculpture, Bigger Worries Burden Artists”, Edmonton Journal, July 12.
Piri Halasz, “Of Bold New Frontiers And Stale Red Herrings”, From The Mayor’s Doorstep, No. 52, March 1.
2002
Mike Berezowsky, “Sculpture Exhibit Gets A Big Response”, Edmonton Examiner, September 11.
Mike Winters, “Fitting Into The Modernist Mould”, See Magazine, Issue 455, August 12.
Erik Floren, “Big Impressions”, The Edmonton Sunday Sun, July 28.
Gilbert Bouchard, “Come To Expect ‘Big Things’”, Edmonton Journal, July 19.
Terry Fenton, “Edmonton Sculpture: The Next Generation”, Harcourt Expressed, Volume 12, Summer.
Gilbert Bouchard, “Shows Explore Layers Of Domesticity, With Sculpture And Silver”, Edmonton Journal, May 24.
2001
Maureen Fenniak, “Abstract Criticism”, Vue Weekly, Issue 309, September 20.
Gilbert Bouchard, “Festival Reflects Big Changes In Space, Time, Philosophy”, Edmonton Journal, July 2.
Gilbert Bouchard, “Pssst… Want To Get Arty With Me?”, Edmonton Journal, June 30.
Gilbert Bouchard, “Celebrating The Sensuality Of Sculpture”, Edmonton Journal, June 26.
Sculpture – The Works: 2001 (exhibition catalogue), The Works Visual Arts Festival.
1999
Phoebe Dey, “Heavy Metal”, Folio, Volume 37, Number 3, October 1.
Danielle Zyp, “Scrap Metal Or Sculpture?”, Vue Weekly, Issue 206, September 16.
Ryan McCourt 
