Discover the power of art on your next trip to Vancouver with a visit to the Vancouver Art Gallery, one of North America’s most exciting and innovative visual arts institutions. Open 7 days a week, a visit to the Gallery is an opportunity to meditate on more than a century’s worth of Canadian and international art, from historical masters to contemporary visionaries.

Enhance your experience by attending one of the Gallery’s engaging special events, educational tours or programs designed for families, youth and art enthusiasts of all ages. All programs onsite are currently postponed until further notice, but you can find out more about what’s happening virtually at www.vanartgallery.bc.ca/events.

Spend time in the Gallery Store, a locals’ favourite for one-of-a kind-gifts; or refuel at 1931 Gallery Bistro, an eatery with a reputation for great food and an outdoor patio that is one of Vancouver’s hidden gems.

History, the Permanent Exhibitions and Emily Carr

The Vancouver Art Gallery had been telling stories through art for nearly 90 years. It made its debut in 1931 with a collection of British historical paintings and only seven works by Canadian artists. Those humble beginnings became the foundation for a collection of more than 12,000 pieces including significant works by Indigenous artists as well as collections in the Institute of Asian Art, established in 2014. The gallery has a rich repository of works by Vancouverites such as Jeff Wall, Stan Douglas, Rodney Graham, Roy Arden, Ian Wallace and others as well as historical landscapes, 17th-century Dutch paintings and one of North America’s most important photographic collections, featuring icons such as Ansel Adams, Cindy Sherman and Henri Cartier-Bresson.

The Vancouver Art Gallery has an impressive record of exhibitions by historical, international masters such as Monet and Picasso as well as presentations of important works by Emily Carr and other respected British Columbian, Canadian and Indigenous artists. Historical projects are often exhibited concurrently with contemporary art presentations, connecting past and present perspectives. We recommend you check the Gallery’s website for current exhibition information at www.vanartgallery.bc.ca.