Cath Simard
Cath Simard is a Canadian photographer and digital artist based in Calgary, Alberta. Known for surreal composite landscapes that blend reality and imagination, her work features cool tones, ethereal light, and remote mountain environments. Simard has gained international recognition in both traditional photography and digital art circles.
Her images have been published in TIME, Sony Alpha Universe, and DPReview, and exhibited by Sotheby’s and Christie’s. She is widely regarded for her distinctive visual style and pioneering contributions to digital storytelling and photographic innovation.
Simard’s journey into photography began in 2016 following a solo trip through Indonesia, Hawaii, and Western Canada. Deeply moved by the raw beauty of the Canadian Rockies, she transitioned from a career in fashion modelling and art direction to visual storytelling rooted in nature. Entirely self-taught, her process involves extensive multi-day treks through rugged landscapes to capture the elements used in her intricate composites.
With a strong eye for composition shaped by her design background, Simard produces only a limited number of artworks each year. Each image is crafted with narrative depth and emotional clarity, reflecting a deep personal connection to the landscapes she explores.
Simard is best known for her meticulous composite photography. This process blends elements from multiple images—often captured over several expeditions and locations—to create surreal yet emotionally resonant landscapes. Her composites are not mere visual fabrications but poetic reconstructions of real experiences, shaped by solitude, endurance, and a deep sensitivity to light and form. Using techniques such as focal length blending, focus stacking, and time-based layering, she constructs images that transcend the literal and invite viewers into a world where memory and imagination converge.
Simard is a recognised innovator in the field of digital photography. Her 2021 release of FreeHawaiiPhoto, her most stolen work, made headlines when it was sold as a 1/1 NFT for 100 ETH, releasing its rights as an open license for the world to use freely and addressing questions of digital ownership and authorship in the online space. She continued to push creative boundaries with projects like Lumière du Noir and From Nowhere to Somewhere, which integrated physical exploration with blockchain technology and artificial intelligence.
Cath Simard plays an influential role in the global dialogue around digital ownership, creative freedom and the future of visual storytelling. Through public speaking, publishing, and collaborative projects, she has become a leading voice for artists navigating the evolving relationship between creativity and technology. Her work not only inspires a sense of wonder but also advocates for meaningful change in how we value and protect the visual arts.
Cath Simard plays an influential role in the global dialogue around photographic rights, digital licensing, and the future of visual storytelling. Through public speaking, publishing, and collaborative projects, she has become a leading voice for artists navigating the evolving relationship between creativity, technology, and environmental awareness. Her work not only inspires a sense of wonder but also advocates for meaningful change in how we value and protect the visual arts.
Simard is a recognised innovator in the field of digital photography. Her 2021 release of FreeHawaiiPhoto, her most stolen work, made headlines when it was sold a 1/1 NFT for 100 ETH, releasing its rights as an open license for the world to use freely and addressing questions of digital ownership and authorship in the online space. She continued to push creative boundaries with projects like Lumière du Noir and From Nowhere to Somewhere, which integrated physical exploration with blockchain technology and artificial intelligence.
Simard’s work has been presented at Sotheby’s and Christie’s and published through platforms such as SuperRare. Major projects include Continuum (Sotheby’s 2022), FreeHawaiiPhoto (SuperRare 2021), Lumière du Noir (2021), and the collaborative series Metascapes (2022) with Ryan Newburn and Yuri Beletsky. She has been featured in TIME’s and Nat Geo’s Genesis NFT Collection and in publications, including Sony Alpha Universe, Art of Visuals, Open Skies Magazine, Patagon Journal, and DPReview.