Jason van Bruggen is a film Director and Photographer based in Canada, with global artistic representation. His time is balanced between commercial projects, awareness campaigns and long term photographic art projects and exhibitions. Known for a visually arresting treatment of landscapes, and the ability to elicit emotion and range from actors and real people, his work is full of beauty, found light, substance and a clear appreciation for the natural world. His immersive storytelling expresses a profound interest in the cultural truths of our time and the geography of wild spaces. Jason’s advertising work possesses unexpected authenticity, and shares truthful stories of everyday heroes the world over.
His photographic art is focused on depicting environmental tensions, including those in the Far North, in a manner that is simultaneously authentic and narrative. Jason seeks to build new interpretations of the areas that have traditionally been the territory of clichéd notions of exploration, adventure or tragedy. Favouring travel that brings him in direct contact with the frontier and those who inhabit it, his images capture the vulnerability of the ecosystems and the people who live within them, illuminating a tension between the strength and fragility of the planet.
In addition to numerous international editorial and commercial publications, Jason’s work as a visual artist has been profiled by Outside Magazine, National Geographic, Flyfish journal and by numerous brands including Patagonia, Best Made Co and Arc'teryx. His work been featured and awarded in PDN, SHOOTS, Applied Arts, Communication Arts and various international award shows. It has aired on networks around the world including the BBC, CBC and SRF. Jason's photography has been on display at Allan Gardens, the AGO (Art Gallery of Ontario), Don Valley Brickworks and other iconic cultural and historic landmarks in Toronto. Jason was a featured artist at the Scotiabank CONTACT Photo Festival in 2017, the featured artist at DeLawei in Drachten, Netherlands in 2019 and has two solo exhibitions in 2020. Jason has a Masters Degree in History from Queen's University and is a Fellow International of the Explorers Club. He has travelled and worked in over 100 countries, including some of the most remote and austere locations on the planet.