The distributed artist: artistry across borders, screens and time zones

A studio without borders

In today’s art world, creativity flows freely across continents. Artists connect with collaborators in other cities, exhibit to global audiences, and work in real-time with peers thousands of kilometres away. Digital platforms, remote tools and virtual exhibitions have transformed the idea of the studio, making it possible for a career to flourish across countries, languages and screens.

Global art collaboration in practice

One artist who embodies this spirit is Olafur Eliasson. Known for large-scale installations such as The Weather Project at Tate Modern, Eliasson operates a studio in Berlin while collaborating with partners around the world. His projects often involve diverse teams, from engineers in Denmark to artisans in Iceland, where over 90 employees work across architecture, science, design and art. This model shows how geographic distance can fuel innovation rather than limit it.

La Loïe Fuller from Jerome Robbins Dance Division, The New York Public Library.

Vancouver artists on the international stage

Closer to home, Vancouver-based artist Annie Briard builds her practice at the intersection of photography, installation and moving image. Her works have been shown in Canada, the United States and Europe, including exhibitions in France and Switzerland. Briard often develops projects through digital exchanges with curators and collaborators overseas. She credits this process with broadening her perspective and encouraging ideas that might not have emerged in a single-location practice.

Painter and multimedia artist Howie Tsui, originally from Hong Kong and now based in Vancouver, draws on cultural traditions from East Asia and Canada. His acclaimed installation, Retainers of Anarchy, was created through a combination of studio work, digital research and remote production. Tsui’s ability to navigate different cultural frameworks adds layers of meaning to his storytelling. 

Did you know?

Tsui's 25-metre-long animation, Retainers of Anarchy, was inspired by wuxia martial arts films and crafted frame by frame using hand-drawn digital techniques. Learn more here.

Vancouver also boasts internationally recognized artists who demonstrate the reach of distributed practice. Stan Douglas, known for his film, photography and multimedia works, has exhibited at major events like Documenta and the Venice Biennale. Douglas’s work often involves extensive research and collaborations that span cities and histories. His appointment as Canada’s official representative at the 2022 Venice Biennale highlighted how Vancouver artists contribute to global conversations.

Similarly, Jeff Wall has redefined photography with his large-scale, meticulously staged images that circulate widely in galleries across Europe, North America and Asia. Wall pioneered the use of backlit Cibachrome transparencies, creating works that are both painterly and cinematic. His practice bridges Vancouver’s local environment with global themes, exemplifying how a distributed artist can root work in one city while achieving worldwide resonance.

Balancing markets and creativity

Working across borders also involves a balance between market expectations and artistic integrity. International exposure can open doors to new collectors and opportunities. It also requires understanding the nuances of each region’s art market from preferred formats to pricing structures. Successful distributed artists embrace these differences and adapt without compromising their vision. For example, Eliasson’s works sell through galleries and public commissions, navigating very different market contexts.

Cultural translation across audiences

Cultural translation plays an important role in this process. Artists must consider how imagery, symbols and narratives resonate with audiences who may not share the same references. For example, when Haida artist Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas exhibits internationally, he provides contextual information that deepens appreciation of his Haida Manga style while inviting cross-cultural dialogue. His work, Red: A Haida Manga, toured internationally and was published by Random House, blending Haida storytelling with Japanese manga conventions.

Shaping the future of distributed art

The shift toward translocal practice is not only about technology but also about mindset. Many artists see themselves as part of an extended creative network. They build trust across time zones, foster relationships through consistent communication and maintain a rhythm that supports both productivity and rest. This approach helps address the challenges of constant connectivity by setting boundaries and making space for offline creation.

As Vancouver’s art community grows its global footprint, more local artists are joining the ranks of the distributed. Through virtual studios, cloud-based portfolios and international collaborations, they are shaping a future where artistic practice is truly borderless. Whether working from a shared co-op space in Gastown or a laptop in Lisbon, these artists prove that creativity knows no bounds in a connected world.

by Preety Komal