As we introduce this new body of work by Noah Waterous at Whistler Contemporary, we take a closer look at the memories and material explorations that shape his practice. Rooted in moments spent between sand and snow, his work captures the fleeting gestures we leave behind—transforming them into something lasting.
In this conversation, Noah reflects on growing up surrounded by art, the influence of landscape and experience, and his fascination with impermanence. He shares how nostalgia, play, and material come together in this series, and how his work invites viewers to reconnect with moments that are both personal and universal.
View Noah Waterous' Work HERE
What early memories or environments most shaped your relationship with making art, and how do those influences show up in the work we're presenting at Whistler Contemporary Gallery?
As the first-born son of artist Jane Waterous, my world was filled with art. From Jane, I picked up a real appreciation for texture, color, and the idea that art could carry meaning. Growing up as a Canadian in the Bahamas also meant I spent a lot of time between two very different places, the beach and the ski hill. Those places brought me the best memories, and this series grew out of them.
Many of your pieces preserve gestures and marks that were originally fleeting. What draws you to themes of impermanence, and how do you translate something temporary into something enduring?
Sand and snow are always changing. The tide comes in, the snow melts, and whatever marks you've made disappear. But the memory of being there, where you inscribed something silly in the landscape, usually doesn't fade. That's what this series is about. I take words and marks left in material like sand and snow, things meant to shift and change, and preserve them so those moments can live on.
The works launching at WCG feel both playful and conceptual. Can you speak to the balance between nostalgia, material exploration, and narrative in this body of work?
I want the work to feel fun and bring back nostalgic memories. A snowball fight, your first day on the mountain, an afternoon on the beach with family. The words and phrases pull you into one of those moments. The materials do the rest. There's also something satisfying about having something raw and natural permanently on your wall. With my sand pieces, I want it to feel like you brought a piece of the beach home with you.
Growing up in an artistic family, creativity was likely part of daily life. How has that environment shaped your artistic voice — and where have you intentionally carved out something distinct?
In our household growing up, no idea was too big or too crazy, and that freedom was a gift. This series stems from the materials and the places that inspire me: nature, the outdoors, the physical experience of being somewhere that makes you feel alive. That's where my work comes from.
As you debut this new collection with us, what do you hope collectors and viewers feel or reflect on when they encounter your work for the first time?
I love art that makes you fully present - art that you actually want to touch, that brings you in closer. But, I also hope it takes viewers somewhere else: a place they love, a trip they took, or a memory they want to hold onto. If it does both, that's the goal.
View Noah Waterous' Work HERE
We’re delighted to present Noah Waterous at Whistler Contemporary Gallery. We invite you to experience this new body of work in person, and if a piece resonates, our team of art consultants would be pleased to assist.
