Frederick R McDonald

Painter, Poet, Photographer

Life, History & Spirituality thru Art in Wood Buffalo, Alberta
Self-portrait of the artist.
Traditional indigenous male dancers at twilight.

Event Photography

Photography was Fred's first medium at the University of Calgary and he has been a familiar face at community events in Fort McKay & Fort McMurray.
View Event Photos

Painting

Fred is an international, award-winning painter. His art is held in many important public art collections and he has been commissioned by numerous corporate art collections.
View Paintings
Acrylic painting of the artist's mother.

Artistic Ways Blog

A published poet, Fred is both inspired and fascinated by poetry, a medium he practices each day. Here, he posts poetry, art, photography and his unique perspective on indigenous issues. You can also find his latest book here.
Read Poetry
A headshot photo of Frederick R McDonald; older indigenous man smiling and wearing a camera around his neck.

About Fred

Frederick R McDonald is an international, award-winning artist - a painter, poet and photographer - and a member of the Fort McKay First Nation. Fred was born in Fort McMurray and raised in the bush along the Athabasca River, brought up in the traditional hunting and trapping lifestyle of his parents.

Although he has travelled far and wide, Fred’s heart is still with his community and he continues to be an active member of the Fort McKay band. He keeps himself grounded through his family; his children and his grandchildren are his inspiration for everything he does and they are ultimately his greatest creation.

In addition to his mastery of painting, Fred is an accomplished intellectual, with multiple degrees and awards to his name.

  • Bachelor's of Fine Art, University of Calgary
  • The Alberta Heritage Scholarship Fund, 2001 Edmonton, Alberta
  • Regional Aboriginal Recognition Award, Wood Buffalo
  • Global Public Voices Fellow, Cornell University
  • Masters of Fine Art, University of Calgary