Brent Rambie

Artist Statement

My artwork is inspired by my upbringing around big steel. I was surrounded by old cars, motorcycles, and my Grandfather telling stories about the past, thus establishing the importance of these big machines throughout my life. Growing up in this environment has shaped my artistic vision. The smells, the sounds and the visual beauty of these monoliths are my inspiration. I strive to capture these memorable moments and images of the industrial landscape in my art. My work is highly neo-realistic, focusing on the details of the trains and other large vessels. I want to capture the nostalgia of the past and the power of the present in my work creating a visual representation of the magnificence of the industrial landscape.

My paintings are a celebration of the power and beauty of trains and ships, and the stories they tell. The history of trains and the railroad is very important to me and to the history of our society. In my paintings, I explore the beauty of the locomotives and the power of the engines. I strive to capture the nostalgia of their past, while also exploring the potential of their future. My paintings are a tribute to the people who have worked on the railroads and around big steel, and to the communities that have been built around them. I hope to bring more attention to the importance of these industrialized machines in our history and to explore the contrasts of the past, and the potential of modern day machinery moving forward into the future.”

Artist Biography

Artist Brent Rambie grew up in and around the steel factories of Southern Alberta. He became a full-time steel worker and eventually put himself through ACAD (Alberta College of Art and Design, now known as the Alberta University of the Arts) in the 1990’s. Brent spent many years working with big steel and this has influenced his art. He is constantly exploring the relationships we have with structural and fabricated materials and how it affects the world around us. Brent’s series on “Things Made of Steel” further examines and explores the use of steel in his vibrantly beautiful and powerful train and ship paintings.

After spending four years attending ACAD he went right into the illustration business. His illustration work has been published in both book form and advertising formats. Over the years, Brent has exhibited his work in galleries around Calgary, AB and has won numerous awards for his artwork at the Calgary Stampede and in the illustrating world. Rambie continues to work on his art exploring railroad tracks and train yards looking for the next moment in motion where he will capture and catapult forward his uniquely stylistic vision. Each work is equivalent to a vibrant crescendo, where the artist and his canvas or watercolour paper collaborate with the viewer and form a unique relationship. A marvellous dance occurs between the art, the artist and the viewer. A stylistic broken border, evocative atmosphere and unique visual perspectives, familiar throughout Rambie’s work, lets the viewer in, allowing each piece to provoke an emotional response that is both experienced and contemplated.

Brent strives to capture the essence of the industrial age in his paintings, focusing on stylized trains and ships. He uses bold colours and strong lines to emphasize the strength and power of these machines, while also highlighting the intricate details that make them so unique. Brent’s goal is to create a visual narrative that speaks to the history and importance of these gigantic manmade machines, while also conveying a sense of awe and admiration for their beauty.