MULTI-DISCIPLINE ARTIST
Mary Ann Liu is an established contemporary Canadian artist based in Vancouver, BC, Canada. She holds a significant place in Canadian art history, having been honoured with the creation of Canada’s Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Ottawa in July of 2000. Liu is also the creator of the iconic dragon lanterns found in the historic Chinatowns of Vancouver and Chicago amongst numerous permanent public art installations across Canada.
In February 2025, the Royal Canadian Mint launched a gold coin to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the inauguration of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. This coin was designed by the original sculptor of the tomb (Mary Ann Liu) and is available to the public as a limited collector's edition through the Royal Canadian Mint's website and its postal distributors. Additionally, a toonie featuring Liu's design will be issued for general circulation in November 2025.
Liu’s expertise as a sculptor, combined with her knowledge of art history, allows her the freedom to employ various styles and approaches adaptable to different contexts. Her goal is to transcend barriers and reach the core of her message, whether it reflects a national sentiment or the essence of a specific location, making her work accessible to individuals of all ages and cultures.
Beyond sculpture, Liu is an award-winning film production designer and graphic designer. Her work in the broadcast field has reached millions worldwide. Her understanding of artistic principles such as composition and colour, combined with the element of time, has made film design a welcomed challenge. This versatility demonstrates her grasp of visual communication and her ability to convey essential themes across various mediums, whether in sculpture, film, or others.
Liu graduated with honours from the Emily Carr Institute of Art, majoring in sculpture and minoring in animation, she studied classical figurative modelling under Bill Kootchin and Jack Harman at the Emily Carr Institute of Art & Design. She later worked under Jack Harman at Harman Sculpture Foundry, where she learned the art of fine art bronze casting. Liu also pursued further education at Emily Carr, earning a Post Graduate Certificate in Digital Arts and Interactive Media.
Born in Hong Kong, Liu is fluent in both Cantonese and English, her passions include equestrian sports and is an avid dressage rider.
Mary Ann Liu's ongoing pursuit of innovation and excellence motivates her to explore a diverse array of materials, approaches, and techniques. Currently, she has transitioned her work to oil painting, where she focuses on the themes of softness, reflections and the fluidity of water, intertwining these concepts with the dynamic energy of equestrian forms. This relentless quest for artistic advancement fuels her creativity across sculpture, painting, and design