Wanda Koop (b. 1951) is a major figure in contemporary Canadian art, known for her large-scale paintings that explore the intersection of nature, technology, and the built environment. Born in Vancouver and based for most of her career in Winnipeg, she studied at the University of Manitoba, where she later became a central presence in the city’s vibrant artistic community.

Koop rose to prominence in the 1980s with works that combined expressive colour and atmospheric abstraction with imagery drawn from industrial landscapes, zoos, and environmental subjects. Her paintings often blur the line between representation and abstraction, addressing themes such as ecological fragility, urbanization, and the human impact on the natural world. Over time, her practice has expanded to include installation, public art, and collaborations involving digital media. Her work is held in major public collections, including the National Gallery of Canada, and she is widely regarded as one of Canada’s most important living painters.