Art News. Vasari Codex

article local schedule Jun 14, 2025 visibility 10 link 7 artists, 1 gallery

LOOK25 Gala supports Contemporary Calgary and Butterfly Ball raises funds for Boost Child & Youth Advocacy Centre

The LOOK25 Gala in Calgary, held on May 31 and presented by MAWER, raised over $1.2 million for Contemporary Calgary. Themed “Noir Nouveau” after textile artist Simone Elizabeth Saunders, the event featured a VIP dinner by Holt Renfrew, performances by Justine Tyrell and Timothonius, and a live auction led by Heather Edwards that included works by Saunders, June Clark, Evan Penny, and a circa-1960 Jean-Paul Riopelle. An after party sponsored by Masters Gallery drew 600 guests. Separately, the Butterfly Ball in Toronto, now in its 26th year, raised $1.27 million for Boost Child & Youth Advocacy Centre, with co-chairs Claire MacNamara and Trish Del Sorbo, and an auction handled by Christie’s consultant Brett Sherlock.

newspaper The Globe and Mail open_in_new Read original

museum exhibitions schedule May 5, 2026 visibility 9 link 5 artists, 1 gallery

The National Gallery of Canada, commissioner of Canada's participation in the 61st International Art Exhibition - La Biennale di Venezia, unveils the exhibition Abbas Akhavan: Entre chien et loup

The National Gallery of Canada has unveiled the exhibition "Abbas Akhavan: Entre chien et loup" for the Canada Pavilion at the 61st International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia in 2026. The site-specific installation reimagines the pavilion's architecture as a Wardian case, a precursor to the terrarium used to transport plants across the British Empire, featuring a custom pool with giant Victoria water lilies. The artist replaced the facade with glass panels, making the plants visible from outside, and the installation is framed by additional sculptural works. The exhibition is curated by Kim Nguyen and accompanied by a fully illustrated publication.

newspaper Newswire Canada open_in_new Read original

article local schedule Sep 18, 2025 visibility 8 link 4 artists, 2 galleries

Downtown Calgary Fun New Public Art Gallery

A new public art gallery called "art house" has opened in downtown Calgary, occupying a temporary exhibition space previously used by the Glenbow Museum in the Edison office building. The gallery is a collaboration between Aspen Properties and the Alberta Arts Foundation (AFA), featuring the foundation's extensive collection of 9,600 artworks by over 1,700 Alberta artists. It opened on September 10 and is currently open Tuesday to Friday from 12 to 4 pm. The space was originally created as a museum-grade gallery during the Glenbow's renovation, and after the Glenbow vacated to prepare for its reopening as the JR Shaw Centre for Arts & Culture in late 2026, the Alberta Foundation for the Arts stepped in to keep the gallery active.

newspaper Everyday Tourist open_in_new Read original

trending_up market schedule Apr 23, 2026 visibility 13 link 9 artists

Rare art lands in new downtown Calgary gallery ahead of auction

Cowley Abbott Fine Art, a Toronto-based auction house, has opened its first permanent western Canada gallery in Calgary's East Village. The new space launches with a three-day public preview of museum-quality artworks heading to its Spring Live Auction on May 27 at the Globe and Mail Centre in Toronto. Highlights include rare works by Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Vincent van Gogh, Emily Carr, and members of the Group of Seven such as Lawren Harris and A.Y. Jackson. Among the standout pieces is Emily Carr's 1936 canvas "Wind," estimated at $500,000 to $700,000, and a Lawren Harris painting valued similarly. The gallery aims to attract both collectors and casual visitors, with Peter Ohler, Western Canada Representative and Director of Private Sales, emphasizing that the space is open to anyone interested in art.

newspaper CityNews Calgary open_in_new Read original

trending_up market schedule Apr 8, 2026 visibility 18 link 14 artists

Work by Group of Seven's to be featured at Contemporary Calgary's LOOK2026

Contemporary Calgary has announced the details for its upcoming LOOK2026 auction fundraiser, featuring a prestigious selection of works by Canadian masters and contemporary stars. The auction will include pieces by Group of Seven member L.L. FitzGerald, Maxwell Bates, and Chris Cran, alongside contemporary works by artists such as Kablusiak. The event was bolstered by a significant contribution from Calgary-based philanthropist and collector John Lacey, who reached out to CEO David Leinster to support the institution's mission.

newspaper Calgary Herald open_in_new Read original

article local schedule Aug 18, 2025 visibility 8 link 1 artist, 1 gallery

New Public Gallery to Open in Calgary

The Alberta Foundation for the Arts (AFA) is opening a new public gallery called AFA's art house in the Edison gallery space in downtown Calgary. A grand opening is scheduled for September 10, 2025, featuring works by Alberta artists and pieces from the AFA Art Collection, which was established in 1972 to document the province's visual art history. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and AFA Chair Cynthia Moore are expected to attend. The Edison space previously hosted pop-up exhibitions from the Glenbow, which is currently closed for major renovations until 2026.

newspaper Galleries West open_in_new Read original

person people schedule Mar 4, 2026 visibility 4

royal ontario museum director nicholas r bell 1234775700

The Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) in Toronto has appointed Nicholas R. Bell as its new director and CEO, effective July 6. Bell, who currently leads the Glenbow museum in Calgary, succeeds Josh Basseches following a decade-long tenure. During his time at Glenbow, Bell was noted for securing a $250 million capital campaign and implementing a landmark free-admission policy, the first of its kind for a major Canadian museum.

newspaper ARTnews open_in_new Read original

article local schedule Sep 11, 2025 visibility 5 link 2 artists

Alberta Foundation for the Arts opens first gallery in Calgary

The Alberta Foundation for the Arts (AFA) opened its first-ever gallery in Calgary on September 10, 2025, called the AFA art house, located on the second floor of the Edison building. The space, previously used as a temporary gallery by the Glenbow Museum during its renovation, will host rotating exhibitions from the AFA’s 10,000-piece collection, including the opening show "New Views" featuring 50 works purchased in the last decade. The gallery also allows Alberta artists to display and sell their art, and will feature a solo exhibition by Samantha Williams-Chapelsky, the 2024-25 AFA Alberta Artist in Residence, beginning in October.

newspaper LiveWire Calgary open_in_new Read original

museum exhibitions schedule Apr 22, 2026 visibility 10 link 10 artists

Group of Seven, Van Gogh and Renoir works will be showcased at new downtown gallery

A new commercial gallery, Cowley Abbott Fine Art, is opening in downtown Calgary with a three-day public preview starting April 23, 2026. The gallery will showcase rare masterworks by artists including Vincent van Gogh, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, and Canadian icons like Emily Carr and Lawren Harris of the Group of Seven. Notably, an Emily Carr painting from the 1930s, last exhibited nearly a century ago, will be on view.

newspaper Calgary Herald open_in_new Read original

person people schedule Mar 3, 2026 visibility 5

Royal Ontario Museum picks Nicholas R. Bell as next leader

The Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) has appointed Nicholas R. Bell as its next director and chief executive, effective July 6. Bell, a Vancouver native, succeeds Joshua Basseches, who led the Toronto institution for a decade. Bell joins the ROM from the Glenbow Museum in Calgary, where he was recognized for overseeing a major $200 million renovation and implementing a free admission policy.

newspaper The Art Newspaper open_in_new Read original

article local schedule Oct 7, 2025 visibility 5

Zoo, science centre and art gallery open for students during teachers’ strike

During Alberta’s province-wide teachers’ strike, the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo, TELUS Spark science centre, and Contemporary Calgary are offering special programs for students. TELUS Spark is providing first-come, first-served camps for grades 1-6, with registration opening weekly, while the zoo highlights new animal additions. Contemporary Calgary is offering a $20-per-child art field trip on color theory and painting for students aged 5-13, with a maximum of 30 children per session.

newspaper LiveWire Calgary open_in_new Read original

museum exhibitions schedule Jun 1, 2025 visibility 3

Art lovers gather at Contemporary Calgary for glittering Look Gala 2025

Contemporary Calgary hosted its annual Look Gala 2025, a fundraising event featuring an art auction that showcased works by artists from across Canada. The gala drew art lovers to the venue for an evening of celebration and support for the institution.

newspaper CTV News open_in_new Read original

article local schedule Apr 22, 2026 visibility 4 link 2 artists

Local artist to feature at one-day-only Calgary art gallery

Local Strathmore artist Emmeline Keeling will participate in the one-day Obsidian Art Show at the Calgary Chinese Cultural Center. She is among over 50 artists selected for the event, which is organized by the Public Display Agency to connect artists with gallery owners from Webster Galleries, The New Gallery, and Gallery Underground.

newspaper Strathmore Times open_in_new Read original

article local schedule Sep 11, 2025 visibility 6 link 2 artists

Alberta Foundation for the Arts launches free art gallery, celebrating Alberta artists

The Alberta Foundation for the Arts (AFA) has launched a free public art gallery on the first floor of the Edison building in downtown Calgary. The gallery opened on Tuesday evening with a trumpet fanfare, and will be open to the public Tuesday through Friday from noon to 4 p.m., showcasing works by Alberta artists.

newspaper Calgary Herald open_in_new Read original

article local schedule Jul 9, 2025 visibility 3

Fun-Filled Backyard Garden and Art Bar in Calgary

A blogger visits Canopy Studio Art & Wellness in Calgary, a century-old red brick house on 9th Street SW that functions as an art and wellness hub. The space includes an exhibition gallery, artist studios, and houses Blackbird Healing Arts collective and The Burrow, offering mental health and holistic therapies. The backyard deck has been converted into a summer speakeasy bar on Thursday nights, where guests can book a spot, enjoy drinks, and choose from an art kit menu featuring watercolor cards, clay kits, embroidery kits, and mindful doodling notebooks.

newspaper Everyday Tourist open_in_new Read original