Josh Tiessen was born in 1995 in Moscow, Russia, where his parents were professors and humanitarian workers. He graduated with a Bachelor of Religious Education in Arts, Biblical Studies, and Philosophy in 2020 from Emmanuel Bible School in Kitchener, ON Canada. He works out of Josh Tiessen Studio Gallery, located between Toronto and Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. His shaped oil paintings, which take up to 1700 hours to complete, reflect the interaction between the natural world and human cultures. Mentored by acclaimed Canadian wildlife artist Robert Bateman, Tiessen has exhibited his work since 2006 in over 100 shows including the National Gallery of Canada and prestigious galleries throughout the United States. He has sold over 150 original works to private and corporate Canadian and international collectors. As a teenager, he was juried in as the youngest member of International Guild of Realism, Artists for Conservation, and Society of Animal Artists. Over 60 awards include the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, Canada’s Top 20 Under 20, and numerous international awards. As a young adult, Art Renewal Center designated him Associate Living Master, and New York-based gallery Jonathan LeVine Projects awarded him first place from 2000 artists in their international competition. LeVine presented the emerging artist’s debut international solo exhibition, Streams in the Wasteland, in May 2019. Tiessen is also a sought-after speaker and writer.