Andrew Atkin is an artist whose work is deeply rooted in their upbringing in the backwoods of Muskoka. Born to a teacher and a lumberjack-of-all trades, Andrew witnessed the art of building a home from scratch - from hand-milling pine beams with a chainsaw, salvaging wood off the side of the road to using discarded insulation foam from OCAD University. Andrew's mother taught by example, feeding and clothing the community with homemade goods and discarded garments. These experiences instilled in Andrew a deep appreciation for the natural world and a desire to create art that reflects the themes of life, decay, community, play and self-reliance.
Andrew's artistic medium is diverse, ranging from ceramics, plastics, and plants to mushrooms, wood, upcycled electronics, and industrial waste. As the Technician of the plastic studio at OCAD University and self taught food scientist, Andrew also maintains a home ceramic, mold making and food lab where they make tools and foods for living in close relation with the land. In the summer months, Andrew tests these tools by living off-grid in a small sailboat exploring the wilderness of Ontario’s Lakes.
Andrew's work is driven by the idea of bringing nature into industrial environments. As their parents once said, "Get back to the forest where it is safe." But in today's world, that is not always possible. Through their art, Andrew makes it their prerogative to bridge the gap between nature and industry, highlighting the importance of living with respect for their more than human community.