The art scene in Vancouver
The Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia holds a major collection of Northwest Coast First Nations art, including totem poles and sculptures by Bill Reid. Downtown, the Vancouver Art Gallery presents historical and contemporary exhibitions and gives a prominent place to Emily Carr, one of the defining painters of the West Coast. Together they offer a good grounding before you go looking for work by living artists.
Granville Island, beneath the bridge of the same name, combines studios, craft shops and a public market. Every fall, the Eastside Culture Crawl opens hundreds of studios in the city’s east side over a long weekend, a rare chance to see artists at work. The Vancouver Mural Festival, meanwhile, has left dozens of large walls across Mount Pleasant and Strathcona. Keep an eye out for Indigenous public art too, visible across the city and at the international airport.
On Artblr, you can browse work by Vancouver and coastal artists, compare pieces and contact the artists directly. Like something? Ask for details or a studio visit. Direct contact with the artist comes with no commission.
- UBC Museum of Anthropology
- Granville Island
- Eastside Culture Crawl
- Mount Pleasant murals
