The World Tree - Available in 4 sizes
Whitney Lewis-Smith is a Canadian contemporary photographic artist whose practice explores the complex relationship between humans and the natural world within the context of ecological systems, cultural memory, and global interconnectedness. Working primarily with large-format 8 x 10 glass plate negatives, she constructs meticulously staged tableaux that merge scientific observation with narrative imagination.
Her photographic worlds are built through an intricate process of set construction and field research. Drawing from ecological fieldwork experience, Lewis-Smith gathers flora and fauna during expeditions across North America, while also sourcing specimens and stories from healers, storytellers, and museum collections. These elements are carefully assembled into richly layered compositions that blur the boundaries between documentation and invention.
Lewis-Smith’s practice aligns with contemporary staged photography traditions, where image-making becomes a form of world-building. Her work challenges conventional notions of documentary photography by presenting carefully choreographed environments that appear naturalistic but are entirely constructed.
Works by the artist can be found in collections such as Global Affairs Canada, City of Ottawa Public Art Collection, The Beaverbrook Art Gallery, SUMMA Contemporary Art Fair Permanent Acquisitions, Maison Simons, the private collection of Justin Trudeau, among others.
Whitney Lewis-Smith's 8 X 10 inch glass plate photograph pigment prints are framed in black behind UltraVue92, protecting the artwork from 92% of UV rays. The artist's 59 X 76 inch and 59 X 74 inch photographs are framed in black behind plexiglass.
