Drawing inspiration from its magnificent landscape, British Columbia's artists use the province's natural beauty and raw materials to create remarkable treasures showcased in BC art galleries.
Towering totem poles, powerful sculptures and masks, bold prints and exquisitely designed jewellery tell the story of BC's first peoples. Dramatic paintings, evocative photographs and a cornucopia of craft arts capture the province's diverse geography and multi-faceted spirit.
Aboriginal art is preserved in cultural centres such as the U’mista Cultural Centre, or weathered by the natural environment like the totem poles of Duncan and Gwaii Haanas National Park.
While the metropolitan centres of Vancouver and Victoria offer major collections, smaller communities such as Wells, Nelson, and the Gulf Islands abound with galleries and artist's studios. Drive the self-guided Purple Banner Route to connect with local artists in Gibsons, Sechelt and on the Sunshine Coast.
Artists and Art Galleries in BC's regions and cities
Vancouver Coast & Mountains: Purple Banner Route on the Sunshine Coast, Museum of Anthropology, chainsaw carvings in Hope.
Vancouver Island: Artistic communities such as Salt Spring, Hornby and Denman islands. Galleries include the Eagle Aerie Gallery and U’mista Cultural Centre.
Northern British Columbia: Art Route on the Queen Charlotte Islands, the Haida Heritage Centre, the Dawson Creek Art Gallery and Two Rivers Gallery.
Cariboo Chilcotin Coast: Arts town of Wells, Chris Harris Studio Gallery and Petroglyph Gallery.
Kootenay Rockies: Art communities of Nelson, Crawford Bay and Creston. Galleries include Touchstones Nelson Museum of Art & History and the Kootenay Gallery of Art, History and Science.
Thompson Okanagan: Kelowna Cultural District, Kamloops Art Gallery, and displays of public art.
Victoria: BC’s largest public art collection at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria. Popular artists tour in Sooke and Metchosin.
Vancouver: Extensive Emily Carr at the Vancouver Art Gallery; Aboriginal artwork at Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art, and art treasures at Granville Island.
Whistler: Cultural Capital of Canada (2009). Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre highlights local Aboriginal artwork and culture.
Aboriginal Art in BC
BC has a bounty of Aboriginal art. Celebrate traditions such as the potlatch at U’mista Cultural Centre (near Alert Bay). Discover beautiful regalia, hand-carved masks and centuries-old artifacts at the Haida Heritage Centre (at Haida Gwaii) and the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre (in Whistler) that preserve the art – and culture – of First Nations peoples.
Aboriginal artists have left their mark in the natural environment as well: Look for ancient red ochre pictographs on sheer rock faces near Princeton and Hedley, and the majestic totem poles of Gwaii Haanas Provincial Park and the Kispiox Valley near New Hazelton. Duncan’s 80 totem poles have earned the city its moniker of the “City of Totems.”
Notable BC Art Galleries
Marvel at the extensive collection of works by Emily Carr at the Vancouver Art Gallery. Wander to the nearby Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art to discover masterpieces by renowned Haida artist Bill Reid, whose works can also be viewed at the Museum of Anthropology.
Admire limited edition prints at Roy Henry Vickers’ Eagle Aerie Gallery (in Tofino) that are just as stunning as the traditional north coast longhouse they are housed in. BC’s largest public art collection – about 17,000 pieces – decorates the walls and halls of the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria.
Find contemporary regional art at the Two Rivers Art Gallery (in Prince George), Kamloops Art Gallery, Dawson Creek Art Gallery, Chris Harris Studio Gallery (near 100 Mile House), and Touchstones Nelson Museum of Art & History, which are all set in unique buildings that enhance the beauty of the artwork found within.
Artistic Communities in BC
Many artists are drawn to the simple charm of small (and off the beaten path) arts communities such as the Sunshine Coast, the Gulf Islands, Queen Charlotte Islands and Crawford Bay (near Creston), where traditional arts such as pottery, glass blowing, forgery, and painting, as well as non-traditional arts, all flourish. The Kelowna Cultural District and Granville Island in Vancouver are good examples of thriving arts neighbourhoods set in the heart of major city centres.
Well-preserved heritage buildings in Nelson and brightly painted store fronts in Wells are good indicators of the artistic flair these communities are known for.
Art Routes
Art routes make it easy to find studios and galleries and are a self-guided, unscheduled way to view artisans at work in their studios. “Art Walks” in various communities around the province transform downtowns into a string of mini-galleries.
In the month of August, take part in the BC Cultural Crawl. More than 80 communities around the province participate, with events centred around everything from music to culinary arts to community art walks.
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