THE WILD WITHIN
During that portfolio-making process, I realized that the camera actually enabled me and opened doors to a kind of lifestyle, which I figured being an architect and going through the actual architecture training would not allow.
Looking at one of Ryan Koopmans’ photos is like stepping into a surreal landscape in another world.
“An artist bringing new life to abandoned architectural spaces” is how this Dutch-Canadian photographer describes himself and his art, but that simply doesn’t do it justice.
Ryan’s spent the past 15 years working as a professional photographer, shooting architecture, city building, and how humans have left their mark on the planet. With a particular interest in architecture stemming from his studies in architecture, his passion for the camera was stronger than that for the pencil and paper.
“During that portfolio-making process, I realized that the camera actually enabled me and opened doors to a kind of lifestyle, which I figured being an architect and going through the actual architecture training would not allow.”
He became utterly hooked on photography, specifically documentary photography, and going to different places and experiencing different things.
Ryan’s artwork is collected and exhibited worldwide and been featured by WIRED, Architectural Digest, CNN, Vogue, GQ, The Guardian, Mercedes-Benz, and more.
His journey to web3 began three years ago when he collaborated with partner, Alice Wexell. She’s a Swedish artist with a vast background in 3d animation. For the collaborative project, they transformed his photographs into something “more imaginative and creative.” Together they created ‘The Wild Within,’ a series of artworks that bring new life into abandoned buildings from a bygone era. It was minted on SuperRare in March 2021, and ever since then, he’s been full-time web3, connecting with artists and collectors, collecting other works, and creating new pieces.
This spellbinding artist values the NFT space, specifically the connections he has made. “One of the most exciting things about the connections I’ve made in this space is the cross-pollination of skillsets, experiences, and backgrounds,” he shares. Ryan also places a lot of value and gratitude on collectors who’ve acquired his work and the support of other artists. The space is uplifting, and positive – a community.
