Stephen Waddell began his career as a painter, completing his MFA in painting at the University of British Columbia in 1994. He has exhibited internationally at Monte Clark Gallery, the Vancouver Art Gallery, and the Contemporary Art Gallery in Vancouver; Espai d’Art Contemporani de Castelló in Castello; Kunstforum Baloise in Basel; and C/O Berlin, among other institutions. Waddell’s works are held in the permanent collections of the Armand Hammer Collection in Los Angeles, the Vancouver Art Gallery, the National Gallery of Canada, and numerous others. His books include Hunt and Gather (2011) and Dark Matter Atlas (2017). Waddell is the recipient of the 2019 Scotiabank Photography Award. He lives and works in Vancouver.