Bronze Sculpture - From Prairie To Pedestal…

historic and contemporary by Malcolm (Mac) MacKenzie, Jill McKinney, and Marsha Schuld (see bronze and other works by Marsha).

Showcasing three masterful artists whose bronze work embodies Western Canada’s heritage, proving the medium captures the land’s spirit. Their prairie‑born pieces bridge the region’s past with its vibrant present, reflecting appreciation for fine bronze and celebrating West diversity.

Malcolm (Mac) MacKenzie

1932-2002

Cowboy‑artist Mac MacKenzie grew up on a farm nestled in the Alberta Foothills near Cochrane. After completing his schooling, he spent years working on ranches throughout the foothills—including a lengthy stint with the Brewster family—before devoting more than two decades to guiding and outfitting in Banff National Park. During that period he co‑founded Warner & MacKenzie Outfitting Ltd., helping shape the region’s early tourism industry.

A self‑taught painter and sculptor, MacKenzie created over one hundred works that celebrate the cowboy way of life and the wildlife of the West. His most iconic piece is the towering bronze “Men of Vision” statue—a lone cowboy astride his horse perched on a bluff that overlooks the historic Cochrane Ranche site. The monument has become a beloved symbol of Alberta’s pioneering ranching heritage, embraced by Cochrane residents and visitors alike.

MacKenzie’s talent earned him commissions worldwide, and his art now resides in private and corporate collections across Canada, the United States, Japan, Australia, England, and China. His legacy endures not only through his striking sculptures and paintings but also through the enduring tribute to the province’s frontier spirit that his “Men of Vision” statue embodies.

Jill McKinney

Jill McKinney is a celebrated Canadian sculptor whose bronzes have become staples of Western Canada’s equine‑award tradition. Her work has been repeatedly commissioned for prestigious competitions, of note was the 1993 Champion of the Half‑Arabian Mare Halter Stock/Hunter division at the Canadian National and Half‑Arabian Championship Horse Show.

Renowned for her equine, Western‑themed, and wildlife figures, McKinney’s reputation was enhanced when her work appeared on the cover of the September/October 1985 issue of Inside International Arabian Horse. That same year, her “Fancy Ladies” bronze entered the Government House Art Collection in Canada, underscoring both her artistic merit and the country’s long‑standing appreciation for finely cast bronze sculpture.

Each piece bears McKinney’s signature and edition number, and the base is stamped with a distinctive Canadian maple‑leaf symbol—an unmistakable mark of authenticity that ties her work to the rich heritage of bronze artistry in Western Canada.

Marsha Schuld

Sculpting, embroidery, and printmaking allows the artist to examine the essence of these animals.  The texture of fur or feathers, the way light shines on antlers and horn, the artist presents them in unconventional portraiture and with minimal colour or with a brilliant application of vivid colour to bring across the character and diversity of what she sees.

Marsha Schuld is a multi-media artist working out of her studio in southern Saskatchewan.  A lifelong artist, Marsha came to art as a career through all her other jobs and interests.

Largely self-taught, she has studied art formally through the University of Saskatchewan and arts programs at Red Deer College as well as attending numerous courses and workshops over the years in a variety of media.  That diverse background is shown in her art practice which ranges across painting to drawing, sculpting, stained glass and needlework. 

She received a second to none education from the skilled tutors at the Royal School of Needlework (RSN).  The result is a proudly earned Certification with Merit from the people who embroider the Queen's coronation robes.  To be included in this elite group of stitchers is a high honour indeed. 

Her artwork has been exhibited in solo and group exhibitions and won numerous awards. Her work is in corporate and public collections in Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

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Jackie Anderson RCA

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Inuit Sculptures