Snow Sculptures

Talented artists from around the world converge to carve massive blocks of snow into intricate and imaginative creations during the SnowDays festival. Each sculpture tells a unique story and the transition from snowy canvas to work of art is a sight to see. Grab a hot drink, bundle up and follow the trail of snow sculptures throughout downtown Banff from the Whyte Museum, to Bear Street and Banff Avenue Square.

More SnowDays Events

Event Overview

When: Returning Jan, 2025
Time: TBC
Location: Multiple Locations
Cost: Free Event

2024 Snow Sculptures Theme - "Small Wonders of Banff"

Immerse yourself in the captivating world of Banff National Park's tiniest creatures brought to life as giant sculptures with our theme, "Small Wonders of Banff." This theme celebrates the intricate beauty of nature's smallest inhabitants, inviting artists and teams to design and sculpt the park's charming critters into magnificent, larger-than-life, snow sculptures. Each sculpture captures the essence of these small wonders, bringing their vibrant spirit to life in the form of snow.

David Ducharme & Susanne Ruseler

Susanne is a Dutch artist who has been working with sand since 2003, when she followed her passion for sculpting. She also loves to work with other materials such as ice, snow, and concrete. After finishing her university studies in biology she devoted herself full time to sculpting, participating in projects, events, and competitions all over the world.

David has been sculpting sand, snow and ice for 20 years in various parts of the world. The community of sculptors that dedicate their life to work with ephemeral materials has become a 2nd family where knowledge is shared and growth nurtured.

Both David and Susanne find interest in sculpting figures, creatures or anything that lives, moves, and grows.

Ken Anderson & Adam Green

Ken Anderson, born and raise in the Yukon, is of Tlingit and Scandinavian descent. Ken has been a professional snow carver since 1999. His artistry extends beyond snow, encompassing stone, metal, wood, and concrete, in which he is largely self taught. Ken's work intricately weaves the stories of his heritage into ephemeral snow sculptures, creating a captivating fusion of traditional design.

Having triumphed at the Quebec Carnival, Ken's artistry has traveled and garnered acclaim in Japan, the USA, and Canada.

In addition to his global recognition, Ken has organized a small festival in Whitehorse, showcasing his passion for art and his dedication to fostering a vibrant artistic community in his hometown.

Adam has lived and produced art in the Yukon since 1971. He uses several mediums ranging from snow to film, including paint and print making. Adam started snow carving in 2008 and the spell has captured him ever since.

Peter Vogelaar & Dmitrii Klimenko

Peter has been an artist for most of his life, specializing as a snow carver since 1992, following his participation in a snow sculpture contest. Over the years, he has diversified his skills, venturing into sand and ice sculpting, as well as creating enduring works from concrete, steel, bronze, and mosaic. The high-quality snow blocks in Banff during SnowDays are a source of delight for Peter, prompting him to return year after year. Notably, Peter has proudly represented Canada at two different Olympic Games as a carver, achieving 1st place and winning the People's Choice award in Torino in 2006.

Dmitrii, born and raised in Russia, currently resides there with his wife and daughter. In 2004, he graduated from the Saint-Petersburg State Academy of Arts and Design, embarking on his professional journey as an ice, snow and sand sculptor across the globe. His artistic repertoire extends to working with fireclay, bronze, and various multimedia arts. Dmitrii has actively participated in contests and festivals of ice and snow carving in countries such as Norway, Finland, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Canada, and Russia.

The connection between Peter and Dmitrii began in 2005 when they first met in Oberhausen, Germany. Since then, their friendship has flourished, leading to numerous collaborative projects. Now, they have decided to join forces and carve together as a team at SnowDays, a testament to their enduring creative partnership.

Brian McArthur & Dawn Detarando

Brian McArthur, a Red Deer, Alberta local, is an accomplished artist with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) from the University of Regina and a Masters of Fine Arts (MFA) from The Ohio State University. In 1998, he co-founded Voyager Art & Tile with his wife Dawn Detarando. Brian's art delves into Canadian folklore, exploring its impact on identity with a blend of whimsy and seriousness. His work is showcased in national and international exhibitions and is part of permanent collections at institutions such as the Alberta Foundation for the Arts, the National Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague, and the International Museum of Ceramics in the Czech Republic.

Dawn Detarando, originally from Massachusetts, has called Red Deer, Alberta home since 1998, becoming a Canadian citizen in 2004. With a BFA from Massachusetts College of Art & Design and an MFA from The Ohio State University. Her art draws inspiration from the Alberta environment. Using clay as her medium, she creates sculptures with metaphors and symbolic vocabulary, expressing poetic narratives inspired by nature. Dawn's work is part of the Alberta Foundation for the Arts' permanent collection, and she received the Lieutenant Governor Alberta Emerging Artist Award in 2008.

Snow sculpting large forms like those in the BLLT is one of the only times Dawn gets to work on something so large. She explained, “you really need a different skill set to manage the elements, figure out the composition, reductively remove the snow to reveal the sculpture, only to have it melt away within the two weeks of it’s presentation to the public. It’s a beautiful and rewarding process.