Born in Wainwright, Alberta in 1974, Dorland spent most of his youth in Red Deer, Alberta. With the support of his partner, Lori Seymour and her family, he found a solid direction in the pursuit of his art. He completed his BFA at the Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design and his MFA at York University in Toronto, Ontario.

Dorland has shown internationally in Milan, New York, Chicago and Los Angeles. His work is included in numerous collections including the Sander Collection (Berlin); Art Gallery of Alberta; Musée des beaux-arts de Montréal; Musée d’art Contemporain du Montréal; Glenbow Museum (Calgary); Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, and numerous private collections.