Royden Mills was born in Canada in 1963. In his youth, he was hospitalized for extended periods of time, and it was there that he learned that drawing gave him a sense of control he was lacking in life. Originally planning a career in architecture, he received his Diploma in Architecture from Northern Alberta Institute of Technology. He later went on to earn a Diploma in Art and Design at Red Deer College and a Bachelor of Fine arts and a Master of Fine Arts at the University of Alberta. As a graduate student, he had an assistant internship with Anthony Caro. In the early 1990s, Mills and his wife moved to Japan for two years, a move that afforded him new experiences yet continued his earlier interests in Buddhism, Taoism, and Eastern philosophy. When he returned to Canada, he began to assimilate these varied influences into his work, which culminate in pieces such as Inside Elevation: large architectonic elements combine with organic shapes to create forms and surfaces that reflect sensitivity to harmony, order, and aesthetics. Mills has had a diverse career. Early on, he was a therapy aid and rehabilitative care worker for mentally handicapped people, and he did freelance architectural drafting and design work before becoming an instructor and sculptor. His work has been shown throughout the world and is included in public and private collections in the United States and abroad. His awards, both artistic and academic, are numerous. | | 
Inside Elevation, 2005
steel
126" x 78" x 66"
On Loan courtesy of The Sculpture Foundation |
