Plaid, Pop Culture, and Patriotism: The Iconography of Canadian Identity in Contemporary Art

What does it mean to be Canadian, not just in spirit, but in symbol? For generations, artists in this country have been exploring Canadian identity in contemporary Art: the rugged landscape, the solitary canoe, the maple leaf. But as our nation evolves, so too does our iconography. In my own work as a Canadian painter, I’ve long been interested in the visual cues that shape our collective identity, a patchwork of plaid shirts, denim jackets, goalie masks, polar bears, poppies, canoes, and tragically hip lyrics.

These symbols, sometimes quiet and sometimes loud, tell the story of who we are. They’re shorthand for values we hold close such as resilience, humility, humour, pride – and they form a visual vocabulary that continues to grow and shift.

The Power of Plaid

Plaid, for me, is more than a fashion choice or a lumberjack trope. It’s a cultural fabric very literally and metaphorically that is woven into the Canadian psyche. It speaks to our working-class roots, our connection to nature, our frontier spirit. I’ve painted plaid in countless forms: draped shirts, textile-inspired backdrops, even as abstracted colour grids. It’s instantly recognizable and deeply nostalgic, yet flexible enough to carry new meanings in a contemporary context.

Canadian Identity in Contemporary Art: Pop Culture as Collective Memory

Canadian pop culture often flies under the radar, quieter than our southern neighbours, but no less rich. From the storytelling of the Barenaked Ladies and The Tragically Hip, to the childhood nostalgia of Hinterland Who’s Who and Heritage Minutes, these cultural touchstones unite us across provinces and generations.

I’ve been incorporating pop culture into my work as a way to explore this uniquely Canadian quirkiness for decades, a kind of smart humility and quiet defiance. Referencing music, film, and sports lets me connect with a wide audience and spark recognition. It’s not about fandom; it’s about shared memory.

Patriotism, Reimagined

In the 21st century, Canadian patriotism is a more complex concept. It’s not blind nationalism, but rather a critical, evolving love of place and people. My use of national symbols such as the poppy, the maple leaf, the RCMP, the hockey net, are both homage and inquiry. These motifs raise questions: Who are we really? What do we want to be known for? How do we honour tradition while also pushing forward?

One of my more recent pieces, featuring a close-up of a denim jacket with a Remembrance Day poppy, is a quiet meditation on the “uniform of the everyman” and a symbol of collective identity and hope. In another, two red and black plaid shirts hang together like a domestic still life, echoing intimacy, memory, and cultural weight.

Contemporary Iconography in Flux

Canadian iconography isn’t static, and that’s what keeps it compelling. It’s fluid, shaped by immigration, Indigenous voices, regional stories, and the challenges of the modern world, from climate change to reconciliation. In my work, I try to honour that fluidity to hold space for both history and invention.

As I continue to travel across Canada from Victoria to Newfoundland, I find new symbols emerging. Sometimes they’re subtle: a specific tone of northern light, the shape of a maple leaf, or the architecture of small-town rural. Other times, they’re bold, like the juxtaposition of a vintage Tim Hortons cup with a wild mountain horizon.

Final Thoughts: Painting the Story of Us

At its heart, my work is about storytelling. I’m painting a visual memoir of Canada, one that invites viewers to bring their own memories, experiences, and meanings. Plaid, pop culture, and patriotism are just the starting points. The deeper story lies in how we connect through these shared images and how we continue to define what it means to be Canadian.