Ray Swirsky is a full time, mostly self-taught, artist from Calgary, Alberta, working primarily with oils. Having grown up in the small town of Kimberley, BC, Ray has never lost his connection with nature. His love of the mountains and western landscapes can be seen in the bulk of his paintings.

Ray works with light and value to create a sense of space and location. Landscapes, Wildlife and Historic works are his three main focal points in his art. Being Metis, the historic works, where Ray combines material from Archival maps and photos, are his main focus, creating unique pieces of and for the indigenous peoples of Treaty 7 and other tribes cross North America as well as historic works of the industrial changes throughout history.

Much of his time is spent on commissioned pieces of his historic series, where he works from clients photos and maps, or researches the history to compose the perfect piece for his clients.

 Ray is a member of the Federation of Canadian Artists (AFCA), currently the Vice-President of the Calgary Chapter, the Alberta Society of Artists (ASA). He is the Vice-president Canada Paints Plein Air, a group dedicated to growing the awareness and interest in plein air painting.

 In his short career, Ray’s work has been well received into many juried exhibitions with works being sold to corporations and collectors throughout Canada, USA, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Europe and South Africa. Ray is a regular exhibitor at the Calgary Exhibition & Stampede’s international Artist’s Studio, The Great Western Art Show in Great Falls Montana, the has been an invited artist to the CM Russell Auction in March 2026.

Represented by the following galleries:

• Gust Gallery, Waterton Lakes National Park, AB
• Art Gallery Kimberley, Kimberley, BC
• Hooked on Bragg, Bragg Creek, AB
• Route 22 Gallery, Cochrane, AB