MARY ANN LIU
BRONZE SCULPTOR
MULTI-DISCIPLINE
CANADIAN CONTEMPORARY
ARTIST
Mary Ann Liu is a significant Canadian artist known for the numerous public monuments she has permanently installed across Canada. She was awarded the honour of creating one of Canada's major national monuments, Canada’s Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Ottawa.
The Royal Canadian Mint has recently commissioned Liu to design a prestigious gold coin with a collector's edition of 1500. The gold coin commemorates the 25th anniversary of the inauguration of the national monument. https://www.mint.ca/en/shop/coins/2025/tomb-of-the-unknown-soldier-pure-gold-coin. A circulation toonie also commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Tomb of The Unknown Soldier is planned to be publicly presented with a distribution of three million later in 2025.
Liu also created the landmark dragon lanterns in Vancouver and Chicago’s historic Chinatowns, amongst many other public installations across Canada. Liu’s mastery as a sculptor and knowledge of art history allows her the freedom to employ different styles and approaches that are adaptable to varied contexts. Liu’s goal is always to transcend barriers and get to the core of the statement, whether it’s the representation of a national sentiment or the genius loci so that everyone regardless of age or culture can understand the work.
Outside the discipline of sculpture, Liu is an award-winning Production Designer in Film. Her understanding of art principles such as composition and colour added with the dimension of time made designing film a welcomed challenge. It is another example of her understanding of visual communication and how to express the essential theme, be it sculpture, film, or any other medium.
Mary Ann Liu’s ability to connect emotionally to the greater public is a key in developing monument concept designs, representing not only a personal point of view, but a noble cause for a nation, idea or a movement. Born in Hong Kong, Liu was one of the first generation of “astronaut” families immigrating to Canada. Graduating with honours majoring in sculpture and minoring in animation. Liu Studied classical figurative modelling under Bill Kootchin and Jack Harman at Emily Carr Institute of Art & Design. She then apprenticed under Jack Harman at Harman Sculpture Foundry where she learned the art of fine art bronze casting. Later, also at Emily Carr, she gained her extended education in a Post Graduate Certificate in Digital Arts and Interactive media.
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Doodles come from the subconscious flow. They happen during a busy day, expressed without constraint or directed intention. Doodles are a natural flow of expression through hand to paper. They are a reflection of a person's perception and an unintended sum of human experience. Common to all but unique to each.
Cyrus' doodles are a treasure trove of musical notes and amoebic forms presented to Mary Ann Liu as a gift of possibilities. There are numbers, names, cryptic messages, lines and shapes that arrange themselves into surprising agility or voluptuous orbs.
Doodle Does it- A Journey From Doodles To Bronze is a meeting of two minds who shared a journey to create modern art that is light and carefree. Unencumbered by conceit or restrictions, inspired by freedom of the subconscious, from Cyrus's doodles, the doodles materialize into three-dimensional art by the hands of Mary Ann Liu.
