Art Vancouver Returns: Celebrating Local and International Art
Vancouver has a diverse and lively art scene, with both large galleries as well as boutique establishments. It’s also the host city for Western Canada’s premier contemporary art fair, which is set to return this spring for its 9th edition.
Art lovers, get set for Art Vancouver 2025, happening April 24 to 27 at the Vancouver Convention Centre East (Hall B). Presented by the non-profit Vancouver Visual Art Foundation, the annual event has become a highly anticipated bringing together of artists, curators, dealers, collectors, and art enthusiasts. The multiday fair, which celebrates the vibrancy and diversity of local and global contemporary art, includes exhibitors, classes, demos, art talks, networking, and more.
Below are highlights of the upcoming Art Vancouver 2025:
You don’t want to miss the Opening Night of Art Vancouver. On April 24, the evening starts with a VIP and media reception involving a red carpet preview and private tour (6-7pm). Doors then open to the public at 7pm, with a party that runs until 10pm. In addition to first access to the event space and the exhibitors, you’ll get to watch the Face of Art Runway show on the Main Stage, which involves art showcased on the catwalk. Get social and appreciate art with fellow enthusiasts and industry folk during Opening Night.
One of the most exciting elements of Art Vancouver is the array of over one hundred exhibitors. As a destination for art collectors, curators, and art lovers, Vancouver is the perfect city to host artists and galleries from around the world. Local artists will also be in attendance, including talented Indigenous artists. As you walk around the Vancouver Convention Centre Hall, you’ll be able to get to know both established and emerging artists creating in a variety of mediums, including paintings, photography, installations, and sculptures. Not only are the artists happy to talk about their work and practices, but their artwork on display can be purchased.
So far, confirmed artists for 2025 evidence a diversity of artistic styles from across Canada and beyond. They include Elika Keshavarz, a painter, photography, illustrator, and graphic artist who was born in Iran and is now based in Canada; Jai Sallay-Carrington, a figurative ceramic sculptor from Vancouver who creates to celebrate 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals; Silas Onoja from Nigeria who specializes in realistic and hyperrealistic paintings; and Julie Gagné, a Quebec multidisciplinary artist inspired by punk and “urban art.”
Art Vancouver brings artists and art lovers together in both informal and formal dialogue. Every year, the fair holds Art Talks (April 26, 2-3:20pm), a panel discussion with a moderator facilitating conversation between four experts in the art world. What unfolds is engaging, thoughtful, and forward-thinking as the speakers consider important issues in the industry. Topics in the past have included censorship in Indigenous art, AI art, and NFTs—illustrating a willingness to engage with complex, often provocative topics. The panel discussion on the Main Stage runs one hour, with 20 minutes of Q&A after.
Art Vancouver also organizes a Speaker Series, with even more opportunities for you to hear the stories of industry professionals and learn more about the work (creative, business) that goes on behind the scenes.
Art Vancouver is much more than exhibitions. It is also an immersive and interactive experience for everyone who appreciates art. Art demonstrations will be happening throughout the fair, with attendees able to not only watch artists in action, but also ask questions about their process and craft.
If you want to roll up your sleeves and create your own art, there are a range of different classes you can sign up for. They range from a Bright Blossoms Art Class (April 26, 1-3pm, $55 plus tax and fees), during which Lauren Morris will lead you in painting florals; to an Alcohol Ink Art Class (April 25, 6-8pm, April 26, 4-6pm, $55 plus tax and fees), during which Taisha Teal will teach you how to express with alcohol ink, a fluid and dreamy medium.
Those who enjoy watching black box challenges will want to catch Art Masters (April 26, 6:30pm-8:15pm). It’s a competition to create stellar art within intense time constraints. Participants will get a theme and a box of supplies—and then have to furiously create a work. The audience votes for the winner, and can also bid on pieces to take home.
Art Vancouver is definitely an event you don’t want to miss if you have a passion for art. Stay tuned for more details regarding artists, speakers, and other programming. Tickets and further information on Art Vancouver can be found here.
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