Morgan Tams is a Canadian artist who regularly struggles with writing about himself in the third person. He works primarily in the mediums of film and photography, with an interest in the inherent iconography of landscape, and the humanity within it. His practice focuses on process-driven projects in remote and challenging locations around the world. Traveling by foot with a camera and tripod slung across his back is his favourite place to be. Immersion in his environment, trust, relationship building and sensitivity to the world around him are his core values as an art maker.


His film credits include the documentaries 'Green Valley' (2025) 'Dear Mr. Dudley' (2021) 'Strangers in a Strange Land' (2016) and 'Bella and Don' (2016), site specific and interactive works 'Window Movie' (2016) and 'A Cartography of Iconic Memory' (2014) and the psychedelic hybrid western/rock opera ‘Killer’s Crossing’ (2013). He cut his cinematic teeth producing the award winning short films ‘Hello Faye’ (2007) and ‘Marnie Love’ (2006) with Canadian artist and playwright Norman Yeung.


His research into modes of 'Elevated Cinema' and his work as a creative facilitator has resulted in a series of installations, interactive, and community-based art interventions which re-imagine traditional storytelling, distribution and power structures in media creation.


As an educator Morgan has taught in partnership with The National Film Board of Canada, The City of Victoria, The Vancouver Olympic Organizing Committee, Hot Docs International Documentary Festival, The Cortes Island Academy and The Klondike Institute of Art and Culture. He is also a creative advisor for The Weight of Mountains, a biennial residency project for filmmakers held in remote, challenging, or uniquely inspiring locations across the globe.


He has received awards from the Canada Council for the Arts and the British Columbia Arts Council for his creative work and holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film Production from Ryerson University in Toronto (2008), and a Masters Degree in Art Education from the University of Victoria (2013).


Morgan currently spends his time on the road shooting and/or living on an off-grid community farm property on Canada's west coast.


morgan(at)morgantams.com

Selected Awards,
Exhibitions and Residencies

Publications & Press

'Island Filmmaker Films Ode to Family, Memory and the Distance in Between'
Victoria Times Colonist, October 2022.
https://www.timescolonist.com/entertainment/island-filmmaker-films-ode-to-family-memory-and-the-distance-in-between-5976844


InFlux Journal of Critical Writings on Media Art.
'Window Movie.' Volume 1, Number 2.


‘A Neighbourhood in Stop Motion’
The Martlet, October 2014.
http://www.martlet.ca/culture/a-neighbourhood-in-stop-motion/


Korsakow Artist Profiles: ‘A Cartography of Iconic Memory’
https://web.archive.org/web/20141213214233/http://korsakow.org:80/a-cartography-of-iconic-memory-by-morgan-rhys-tams/


The BC Art Teachers Association Journal:
'Making Connections in Remote Locations.' Volume 56, Number 1.


The Journal of the Canadian Society of Education Through Art:
'Windows into Digital Worlds.' Volume 11, Number 1.