We recently had the pleasure of connecting with the brilliant and boundary-pushing artist Desirée Patterson for a wide-ranging conversation on art, climate, and the powerful role of visual storytelling. Known for her deeply thoughtful work on environmental themes — particularly around the cryosphere — Desirée’s practice continues to evolve in stunning and ambitious directions.

A Landmark Exhibition on the Horizon

Desirée is currently preparing for a landmark solo exhibition at a public institution in the Fraser Valley. This show marks a major career milestone and promises to be both visually and emotionally immersive. At the heart of the exhibition will be a breathtaking 60-foot installation: 112 hand-treated cyanotype textile panels, each measuring 5 x 7 feet, documenting glacial melt. Accompanied by sound and light, the work is designed to transport viewers into the delicate, vital world of ice.

What makes this show even more impactful is its scientific foundation. In collaboration with five leading glaciologists — including one affiliated with the United Nations — Desirée’s work has received UN endorsement as part of Canada’s contribution to the International Year of Glacier Preservation. 

Aligning with the United Nations Decade of Cryospheric Sciences, this exhibition will reach across the globe.

Merging Science, Beauty, and Urgency

For years, Desirée has focused her lens on the fragile state of the planet. Her cyanotypes — a traditional photographic process using UV light — create ghostly, ethereal impressions of molecular shifts and landscapes in flux. But this is far from static imagery. In her studio, Desirée blends analog and digital techniques, scanning the cyanotypes in ultra-high resolution and weaving their patterns into landscape photography captured with a medium-format camera. The results are meditative, poetic, and powerfully contemporary.

This delicate fusion of old and new mirrors the way Desirée approaches climate communication: reverent of tradition, driven by innovation, and always rooted in storytelling.

Commercial Collections & New Work

While the upcoming exhibition leans into the public sphere, Desirée is also working on a new commercial catalog of mountain and landscape photography — much of it captured around Whistler and the Rockies. The goal? To offer more accessible entry points for collectors and interior designers looking to bring meaningful art into their spaces.

Fans of Desirée’s "Memory of Ice" series — currently represented at Mountain Galleries — will be excited to hear that new works are in development, exploring the balance between urban life and mountainous wilderness. These stunning compositions, layered in meaning and technique, continue to strike a chord with our clients seeking beauty with depth.

Art as Connection and Catharsis

Desirée’s work is not just technically impressive — it’s emotionally resonant. The cyanotype series, for instance, began as a deeply personal practice during a time of separation. It became, in her words, a cathartic act of healing, anchoring her to the mountains and evolving into a body of work now recognized on the national stage.

As a passionate advocate for environmental awareness, Desirée brings an empathetic, human lens to the often overwhelming topic of climate change. From community projects with students using lumen prints and repeat photography to large-scale installations set to be projection on infrastructure in 2026, her work continues to engage and inspire.

See the Work, Join the Conversation

At Mountain Galleries, we are honoured to represent Desirée Patterson — an artist whose vision is as clear as the glacial water she so often photographs. Her ability to blend science and soul, intimacy and scale, makes her one of the most important voices in contemporary Canadian art.

We invite you to explore Desirée’s work at our galleries or reach out to learn more about available pieces. Whether you’re a longtime collector or discovering her for the first time, we promise you’ll walk away feeling something profound.