From colorful street murals to sleek gallery spaces, monthly art walks to world-class exhibition halls, every destination has its own artistic personality and cultural identity. Below are some of our favorite artful attractions along Vancouver Island, from Victoria to Tofino.
ART GALLERY OF GREAT VICTORIA – Featuring a collection curated over nearly 70 years, the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria first opened in 1951 in a historic 1889 mansion, which now neighbors seven of its other modern galleries. With nearly 20,000 works of art, the Art Gallery has the largest public collection in British Columbia, featuring works produced in the region. Its pieces from around the Pacific Rim have now become one of the finest established collections of Asian art in the world.
THE AVENUE GALLERY – One of the premier boutique art galleries in the Pacific Northwest, The Avenue Gallery showcases contemporary Canadian art in its Victoria gallery. Ever-changing exhibits showcase impressive collections and new arrivals by painters, sculptors, glass and jewelry artists covering a broad spectrum of modern art.
PUBLIC ART – Victoria is home to dynamic public art scene with murals, sculptures, digital art, streetscapes and mixed media featured throughout the city. Grab a cup of coffee and Instagram your way through the streets of Downtown and along the waterfront with this interactive map.
ROY HENRY VICKERS GALLERY – A Tofino, British Columbia landmark, Roy Henry Vickers Gallery is owned by the artist and situated within a stunning traditional Northwest Coast longhouse. Vickers’ collection of paintings, original prints and reproductions hang on hand-adzed cedar walls among totem poles and carvings. The gallery welcomes more than 500,000 visitors a year from around the world, including many who gather around the centre pit in the main hall to hear stories of Vickers’ life and the inspiration behind his work.
STINKING FISH STUDIO TOUR – Located near Victoria in the seaside enclaves of Metchosin and East Sooke, The Stinking Fish Studio Tour features exceptional fine art and craft inspired by the lush rainforests and colorful coastline of Vancouver Island. One of the richest “art trails” on the island, the annual studio tour and art sale features paintings, mosaics, mixed media, jewelry, pottery and more.
TD ART GALLERY PAINT-IN – Already taking submissions for this summer’s event, the 32nd Annual TD Art Gallery Paint-In takes place on Saturday, July 20, featuring artists, food vendors and a family-friendly beer garden along Moss Street.
