Ryan Smitham was raised on Treaty 7 land in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, near Bragg Creek, Alberta. He expresses a love of natural forms while exploring themes such as armed conflict and environmental degradation.

Smitham holds an MFA in Sculpture from the Pratt Institute (New York) and a BFA & B.Ed from the University of Lethbridge.  Ryan currently teaches Design Studies & New Media at Foundations for the Future Charter Academy in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.