October Exhibitions

Warm up and embrace the season as a new month of visual arts debuts

  • Location: Various Venues

Cooler days and longer nights can only mean one thing—it’s the perfect time to get out and enjoy Calgary’s visual arts community. With a bunch of stellar exhibitions, this month is full of great pop-ups, receptions, workshops, talks, sales, and so much more.

Eceletikana

October 1 – 26, 2019
Framed on Fifth (1207 5th Ave. NW)
Free admission

Carol Nelson Meleshko is a prolific artist with many interests. Full of life and rich in colour, her recent work includes encaustic paintings, batik paintings on specialized rice paper, and soapstone sculptures. Explore the opening reception from 6:00 to 9:00pm on October 4.
framedonfifth.com

The Art of Lon Parker

October 1 – 31, 2019
Lower Level Gallery, cSPACE King Edward (1721 29th Ave. SW)
Free admission

This solo gallery art exhibition and sale features 15 recently completed paintings, evolving through many iterations, colours, and storylines. Many of the pieces can trace their heritage back over 20 years. An opening reception takes place on October 5 from 5:00 to 8:00pm.
atwarwithart.wordpress.com

Indigenous Art Exhibition

October 1 – November 29, 2019
Arts Commons (205 8th Ave. SE)
Free admission

This annual Indigenous art exhibition from Making Treaty 7 is back for it’s second year and this time it will be travelling to a few venues in Calgary. Make sure you take time to explore it at its second stop of the season—Arts Commons.
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Mini Masters

October 3, 2019, 11:00 – 11:45am
Esker Foundation (1011 9th Ave. SE)
Free admission, registration required

Calling Calgary’s newest contemporaries! Join the Esker Foundation on the first Thursday of every month for a hands-on art class. Parents and guardians are invited to bring their little ones, ages two to five, to explore art making in this fun and social program. All are welcome to participate, just dress for mess.
eventbrite.ca

Free First Thursday Nights

October 3, 2019, 5:00 – 9:00pm
Glenbow (130 9th Ave. SE)
Free admission

Since its launch in 2016, Free First Thursday Nights has provided access to over 56,000 visitors. Although Glenbow is in between its larger shows, this evening offers a great chance to spend some time with Calgary’s history.
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Burning the Midnight Oil

October 3, 2019, 6:00 – 8:00pm
Contemporary Calgary (701 11th St. SW)
Free admission, registration required

Collider artist-in-residence Dan Cardinal McCartney showcases a mixed media collage which stretches wall-to-wall in his studio. This talk touches on themes of intuitive art-making, his own relationship to Indigenous diaspora, and the intrinsic danger of living in Alberta as a two-spirit, transmasculine person.
contemporarycalgary.com

A Saskatchewan Focus

October 3 – 23, 2019
Wallace Galleries (500 5th Ave. SW)
Free admission

This vibrant October show at the Wallace Galleries features works by Dorothy Knowles, Gregory Hardy, David Alexander, Kenneth Lochhead, Ted Godwin, and Ronald Bloore. Don’t miss it and head to the opening reception on October 5, 2019.
wallacegalleries.com

Detail of Ted Godwin's Night Bone
See this piece by Ted Goodwin in A Saskatchewan Focus | Image: Courtesy of Wallace Galleries
Zurich: EnviroAgro Development

October 3 – 28, 2019
Stantec Gallery, University of Calgary (PF 2182, 2500 University Dr. NW)
Free admission

Professor Francisco Alaniz Uribe travelled with a group of students to Zurich to learn new strategies for how to preserve and manage environmentally sensitive and agricultural land while allocating areas for development. This exhibition includes ideas around sustainable livability—land management, sustainable urban planning, and design. Explore the opening reception on October 3 at 5:00pm.
go.ucalgary.ca

I’ll climb in your eyes

October 3 – December 14, 2019
Nickle Galleries, University of Calgary (410 University Ct. NW)
Free admission

With the work of Mark Mullin, there is always more than meets the eye. Organized by Nickle Galleries and curated by Christine Sowiak with support from the Alberta Foundation for the Arts, check out the show at its opening reception on October 3, 5:00 to 8:00pm.
nickle.ucalgary.ca

Turning the Lens: Indigenous Archive Project

October 3 – December 14, 2019
Nickle Galleries, University of Calgary (410 University Ct. NW)
Free admission

Turning the Lens: Indigenous Archive Project is a photography/history exhibition, a naming project, a social media campaign, and an opportunity contemplate the role of galleries, museums, and archives across Canada. The exhibition is the result of a long-standing social media and research project undertaken by Paul Seesequasis, a Plains Cree writer, journalist, and cultural activist based in Saskatoon. Explore it at the opening reception, 5:00 to 8:00pm on October 10.
nickle.ucalgary.ca

Bring the Baby Art Tour & Tummy Time

October 4, 2019, 12:00 – 1:00pm
Esker Foundation (1011 9th Ave. SE)
Free admission, registration recommended

A relaxed and social tour, bring your baby to the Esker Foundation and have tot-friendly fun while discussing the exhibitions. This program starts with a casual half-hour tour of the current exhibitions, followed by a half-hour of tummy time social fun for both baby and guardian!
eventbrite.ca

Chrysalis Art Exhibition & Sale

October 4, 2019, 6:00 – 8:00pm
Bridgeland Riverside Community Hall (917 Centre Ave. NE)
Free admission, registration required

This exhibition showcases the work of Chrysalis artists and represents their personal journeys in expressing their voices. It features paintings, collages, photography, prints, sculptures, and much more by artists with disabilities.
eventbrite.ca

Passionate Painters Art Group Show & Sale

October 5, 2019, 10:00am – 4:00pm
Canyon Meadows Golf & Country Club (12501 14th St. SW)
Free admission

The Passionate Painters Art Group are a group of 10 artists presenting an eclectic variety of work to adorn your walls or make fabulous Christmas gifts. Come and enjoy their work at this fun show and sale.
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The Rural Landscape in Watercolour

October 5 & 6, 2019, 10:00am – 4:00pm
Leighton Art Centre (282027 144th St. West, Millarville)
$195

This workshop with Rex Beanland demonstrates to artists a simple but effective approach to painting rural landscapes. It is both for beginners who have never touched a paint brush or intermediate artists looking for a fresh view!
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Traditional Broom Making

October 6, 2019, 10:00am – 4:00pm
Leighton Art Centre (282027 144th St. West, Millarville)
$140

Join local broom maker David Campbell for a workshop on the craft of hand-woven broom making. Participants are provided with all of the materials, tools, and instruction needed to make their own broom from start to finish.
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Make Your Own Nuno Felt Scarf

October 6, 2019, 10:00am – 4:00pm
Leighton Art Centre (282027 144th St. West, Millarville)
$95

Nuno felting integrates woven fabric into felt, opening up many new possibilities by changing the appearance, strength, and drape of felt. Create four samples with Fay Hodson using different techniques to integrate silk into felt.
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Creating your own Constellation

October 6, 2019, 1:00 – 3:00pm
Contemporary Calgary (701 11th St. SW)
$10

For the incurably curious, this hands-on workshop is an introduction to one of the first photographic direct imprint processes ever developed. The cyanotype process, also known as blueprint or sunprint, utilizes photosensitive iron salts.
contemporarycalgary.com

Riverview Artists October Show & Sale

October 7 – 11, 2019, 9:00am – 4:00pm
Gulf Canada Square (401 9th Ave. SW)
Free admission

Check out original artwork by 12 local artists featured in this upcoming art show and sale. The paintings are varied in style and technique, reflecting the unique creativity and inspiration of each artist. An artist will be in attendance each day.
riverview-artists.com

Hive To Honey Jar with Alvéole

October 10, 2019, 6:00 – 7:00pm
Esker Foundation (1011 9th Ave. SE)
Free admission, registration required

Experience a complete hands-on artisanal honey extraction with Alvéole urban beekeeper Liam Cobbe. Participants uncap honeycomb cells, hand-spin honeycombs in the centrifuge extractor, filter the raw honey, jar, and label it all.
eventbrite.ca

Benjamin Oswald

October 10 – November 2, 2019
Alberta Craft Gallery – Calgary, cSPACE King Edward (1721 29th Ave. SW)
Free admission

Benjamin Oswald’s ceramic sculptural work occurs within the blurred lines of art, design, and contemporary craft. Check out the show at its opening reception, October 10 from 5:00 to 8:00pm.
albertacraft.ab.ca

Benjamin Oswald's Hybrid Vase
Benjamin Oswald’s Hybrid Vase | Image: Courtesy of Alberta Craft Gallery – Calgary
Xposed – Humans vs Planet Earth

October 10 – November 3, 2019
Knox Contemporary Gallery of Art (200 Barclay Parade SW)
Free admission

A juried exhibition depicting how humans have impacted our planet, check out this showcase from both local and international visual artists at the opening reception, 4:00 to 8:00pm on October 10.
knoxgalleryofart.com

Foothills Art Club Fall Art Show & Sale

October 12, 2019, 10:00am – 4:00pm
St. Andrews United Church (128 1st St. E, Cochrane)
Free admission

Find over 150 amazing original paintings on display and for sale at this annual show. Find a new piece for yourself or a gift for someone special while enjoying live music by Marty Cochrane.
foothillsartclub.com

Crash Course: Discussions in Contemporary Art

October 16, 2019, 7:00 – 8:30pm
Esker Foundation (1011 9th Ave. SE)
Free admission, registration recommended

Continuing this new informal lecture series presented monthly over the course of the Esker Foundation’s current exhibition, hear Judy Anderson and Cruz Anderson speak to the art behind their collaborative projects which includes graffiti and beadwork.
eventbrite.ca

Artist Talk with Jeffrey Gibson

October 18, 2019, 6:30 – 7:30pm
Esker Foundation (1011 9th Ave. SE)
Free admission, registration required

Join the Esker Foundation as Jeffrey Gibson discusses his work. Time Carriers conjures a vision of many hands providing a framework of support, a fluid utopia where trust and movement go hand in hand.
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Aftermath

October 18 – November 16, 2019
Jarvis Hall Gallery (333B 36th Ave. SE)
Free admission

A solo exhibition featuring the latest work by senior Canadian artist Billy McCarroll, the show’s title, Aftermath, refers to the influence of the 1913 Armory Exhibition in New York of modern art from Europe. Be sure to check out the opening reception from 5:00 to 7:00pm on October 18.
jarvishallgallery.com

In Conversation: Sybil Andrews

October 19, 2019, 10:00 – 11:00am
Glenbow (130 9th Ave. SE)
$31.50 – $35

Join Glenbow for a fascinating discussion on English-Canadian artist Sybil Andrews with curator and scholar Dr. Hana Leaper. The morning complements the museum’s major retrospective that celebrates Andrews’ fascinating life and remarkable career and includes admission to the exhibition.
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Calgary Artists Society Fall Show & Sale

October 19, 2019, 10:00am – 4:00pm
Parkdale United Church (2919 8th Ave. NW)
Free admission

This much anticipated show features a diverse selection of original paintings in a variety of media by 45 local artists, as well as high quality framed artwork in a variety of sizes, mediums, and subject matter.
calgaryartistssociety.com

Fibre Shindig

October 19, 2019, 10:00am – 4:00pm
Hillhurst Sunnyside Community Association (1320 5th Ave. NW)
$5

The Fibre Shindig is back to kick-start your seasonal shopping in style. With one day only to shop from local fibre artists and more, cater to all those on your gift list! Admission includes a raffle ticket and your chance to win door prizes.
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Beacon Original Art Fall Exhibition & Sale

October 19, 2019, 10:00am – 4:00pm
Bridgeland-Riverside Community Association (917 Centre Ave. NE)
Free admission

Showcasing over 30 artists in attendance with painting, jewelry, glass, photography, ceramics, sculpture, and textiles—this sale creates an environment of belonging and celebrates the group’s 10th year of bringing artists and art enthusiasts together in the vibrant neighbourhood of Bridgeland-Riverside.
facebook.com

Calgary Sketch Club Art Exhibition & Sale

October 19, 2019, 10:00am – 4:00pm
Dalhousie Community Centre (5432 Dalhart Rd. NW)
Free admission

The Calgary Sketch Club is having its annual show and sale, and you can check it out. Featuring paintings, sculpture, art cards, and more on display and for sale, swing by this free, family-friendly event.
calgarysketchclub.com

Sheep Creek Weavers

October 19, 2019, 10:00am – 4:00pm
Millarville Racetrack Hall (306097 192nd St., Millarville)
Free admission

With spinners, weavers, knitters, felters, quilters, crocheters, dyers, and sewers, the Sheep Creek Weavers’ annual sale features fibre arts creations from over 70 local artisans as well as complementary tea, coffee, and snacks.
sheepcreekweavers.ca

To Name An Other

October 19, 2019, 3:00pm
Atlantic Avenue Art Block Lobby & Esker Foundation (1011 9th Ave. SE)
Free admission

A special performance as part of Jeffrey Gibson’s exhibition Time Carriers, watch as 50 artists are brought together for a drumming event to give names to our current political climate. The afternoon is presented in partnership with Springboard Performance, as part of the 2019 Fluid Festival, and the Esker Foundation.
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Launch Party

October 19, 2019, 7:30 – 10:00pm
Glenbow (130 9th Ave. SE)
By donation

Be among the first to see Glenbow’s new art exhibitions including the dynamic linocuts of Sybil Andrews, the textural delights of Gerald Ferguson, the multi-artist exhibition ExtraOrdinary Objects, and new work by Nicole Kelly Westman. The evening includes a musical performance by Justine Tyrell and more.
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Calyx Distinctive Arts Art Exhibition & Sale

October 19 & 20, 2019
Crescent Heights Community Association (1101 2nd St. SW)
Free admission

Showcasing all types of art made from artists in all sorts of media including painting, drawing, mixed media collage, glass, metal, jewellery, wood, fibre, and more, join Calyx Distinctive Arts each day of the sale to explore different artists.
calyx.ca

Blown Glass Sale & Glassblowing Shows

October 19 & 20, 2019, 12:00 – 4:00pm
Bee Kingdom Glass (427 22nd Ave. NW)
Free admission

Join Bee Kingdom for a live glassblowing show and sale! A one stop shop for high quality, handmade gifts and for your own home decor, check out new studio creations and spooky-themed glass demonstrations all weekend long.
facebook.com

Nicole Kelly Westman: Pastoral | Calamity

October 19, 2019 – January 5, 2020
Glenbow (130 9th Ave. SE)
With Admission

The 10th installment in curator Nancy Tousley’s ongoing series One New Work features two short works by Alberta multi-media artist and poet, Nicole Kelly Westman. The exhibition features moving-image works, for every sunset we haven’t seen and for nights bathed in sodium vapour.
glenbow.org

ExtraOrdinary Objects

October 19, 2019 – January 12, 2020
Glenbow (130 9th Ave. SE)
With Admission

From linoleum to drywall, dead flowers to toilet paper, ordinary, disposal, and perishable objects serve as the point of departure for the array of contemporary artworks found in ExtraOrdinary Objects.
glenbow.org

A toilet paper roll beaded in blue, yellow, red and green stripes
Audie Murray’s Four-Point Ply | Photo: Isaac Forsland
Gerald Ferguson

October 19, 2019 – January 12, 2020
Glenbow (130 9th Ave. SE)
With Admission

Pioneering Canadian artist Gerald Ferguson used quotidian materials to create striking, large-scale paintings that speak to the poetics of everyday life. The titles of his artworks literally describe what the artist used to make them—just wait until you see the monumental multi-panel painting 1,000,000 Grapes.
glenbow.org

Sybil Andrews: Art and Life

October 19, 2019 – January 12, 2020
Glenbow (130 9th Ave. SE)
With Admission

This major retrospective celebrates the fascinating life and remarkable career of artist Sybil Andrews. Glenbow is the major study centre for the life and work of this beloved English-Canadian printmaker.
glenbow.org

Art Critique with Doug Swinton

October 20, 2019, 11:00am – 2:00pm
Leighton Art Centre (282027 144th St. West, Millarville)
$25

Have your artwork analyzed and interpreted with local artist Doug Swinton, owner of Swinton’s Art Supply store. This workshop is open to all artists, from beginners to professionals. Bring your friends and enjoy a fun and lively afternoon.
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50

October 24 – December 7, 2019
Christine Klassen Gallery (200, 321 50th Ave. SE)
Free admission

Chris Kuzmanovich is a Calgary-based creative whose work in design naturally led to his pursuit of art when he began painting as a self-reflexive practice over 10 years ago. Explore the show at its opening reception from 1:00 to 4:00pm on October 26. Artists talks take place at 2:00pm.
christineklassengallery.com

Duality

October 24 – December 7, 2019
Christine Klassen Gallery (200, 321 50th Ave. SE)
Free admission

Lisa Matthias believes that all living things are part of a larger assemblage, emphasized by the recognition of patterns and relatedness across species and scales of life. Explore the show at its opening reception from 1:00 to 4:00pm on October 26. Artists talks take place at 2:00pm.
christineklassengallery.com

Performance as Protest

October 25, 2019, 7:00 – 8:00pm
Esker Foundation (1011 9th Ave. SE)
Free admission, registration recommended

Join the Esker Foundation’s assistant curator Elizabeth Diggon on this conversational tour that considers the significance of performance and performative gestures to the work of Jeffrey Gibson and Nep Sidhu.
eventbrite.ca

Borough Burrow

October 25 – November 29, 2019
Alberta Printmakers Gallery and Studio (4025 4th St. SE)
Free admission

Christeen Francis is a printmaker, musician, and activist based in Montreal. She is committed to print that engages with local communities and the public at large. Explore her work at this intriguing contemporary printmaking exhibition. The opening reception takes place from 7:00 to 9:00pm on October 25.
albertaprintmakers.com

Body Worlds: Animal Inside Out

October 25, 2019 – March 1, 2020
TELUS Spark (220 St. Georges Dr. NE)
With admission

See the world’s most spectacular animals like never before! This rarely seen perspective guides visitors through skeletons, muscles, organs, and circulatory systems of a variety of animals.
sparkscience.ca

Palette Fine Art Show & Sale

October 26, 2019, 10:00am – 4:00pm
Triwood Community Hall (2244 Chicoutimi Dr. NW)
Free admission

The Calgary Community Painters Society presents its upcoming sale featuring paintings by many independent artists in a variety of mediums including acrylic, oil, watercolour, and mixed media. Get a jump on your seasonal shopping.
calgarycommunitypainters.com

Adventures in Colour & Texture Painting Trees

October 26, 2019, 10:00am – 4:00pm
Leighton Art Centre (282027 144th St. West, Millarville)
$120

Join Melanie Morstad in this fun exploration of acrylics and textures painting trees. It’s your chance to gain a working knowledge of the differences between pastes and gels, and how to add dynamic colour to your paintings.
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Traditional Rug Hooking

October 26, 2019, 10:00am – 4:00pm
Leighton Art Centre (282027 144th St. West, Millarville)
$170

Rug hooking has evolved into a contemporary art form, using both new and recycled materials. Learn the essentials of rug hooking in this class led by Holly Kingdon, from the basic materials and equipment you need, and beyond!
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William Duma

October 26 – November 13, 2019
Wallace Galleries (500 5th Ave. SW)
Free admission

William Duma’s Twilight & Nocturnes and Rivers & Streams reflect his interest in the beauty and challenge in painting the night-scene and the challenge of the abstract quality of water. Check out the opening reception from 2:00 to 5:00pm on October 26—Duma is expected to be in attendance.
wallacegalleries.com

The Other Side of Colour

October 26 – November 16, 2019
Newzones Gallery (730 11th Ave. SW)
Free admission

This solo exhibition by Jonathan Forrest is the result of a six-month studio search. Seeking to develop ideas conceived in 2018, this new series displays heightened colour, created by successive, thin layers of dragged and pulled translucent paint.
newzones.com

Oceanic Legends

October 26 – November 16, 2019
Newzones Gallery (730 11th Ave. SW)
Free admission

Another solo exhibition at Nezones, Yechel Gagnon explores the pinnacle point of the technique she started to develop more than 20 years ago using a simple sheet of plywood. Check it out at the opening reception, 2:00 to 4:00pm on October 26.
newzones.com

Hidden Within

October 26 – November 23, 2019
Edge Gallery (1416 9th Ave. SE)
Free admission

David More’s vibrant, gestural, and generous use of paint lend themselves to his exploration of the layers that make up landscape. Explore this solo show at its opening reception, 1:00 to 4:00pm on October 26.
edgegallery.ca

Master Class for Families

October 27, 2019, 1:00 – 2:00pm
Esker Foundation (1011 9th Ave. SE)
Free admission, registration required

Head to the Esker Foundation for an afternoon of family fun at the gallery and delve into new mediums with art projects that relate to the current exhibitions. This is an educational, energetic, hands-on program for kids ages five to 10. An adult is required to stay for the duration of the workshop and all materials are provided.
eventbrite.ca

Iitsi’poyi

October 28, 2019 – January 26, 2020
Project Space, Esker Foundation (1011 9th Ave. SE)
Free admission

Marjie Crop Eared Wolf continues her ongoing project to learn Blackfoot in the drawing, sound, and video installation, Iitsi’poyi. Using thousands of Blackfoot words transcribed from the Blackfoot Dictionary as well as an audio tape made by her mother, this work addresses cultural legacy and resilience by actively engaging in language preservation.
eskerfoundation.com

A person listening to headphones
Marjie Crop Eared Wolf’s Iitsi’poyi | Image: Courtesy of the Esker Foundation
Launchpad 3.0

October 29, 2019, 5:00 – 7:00pm
Festival Hall (1215 10th Ave. SE)
Free admission

Celebrate Indefinite Arts Centre artists’ works before they travel to the Tracing Possibilities Conference in Guadalajara, Mexico. Launchpad 3.0 is a great opportunity to view the artwork being showcased in the Drawing Power exhibition and meet the artists.
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CAAF Connection 2019

October 29 – November 9, 2019
cSPACE King Edward (1721 29th Ave. SW)
Free admission

The Calgary Allied Arts Foundation features residents from the past year exhibiting their work. Join in for the exhibition reception on November 7 from 6:30 to 9:00pm. Artists will be in attendance and refreshments served. There’s even an open studio and artist talks.
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Art Baby Tours

October 30, 2019, 10:00am
Glenbow (130 9th Ave. SE)
Free – $5

Designed to allow parents and caregivers of children aged two and under an opportunity to engage with Glenbow’s content in a baby friendly environment, these guided tours go through one of the feature exhibitions in a relaxed, social atmosphere.
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Your Brain on Art

October 30, 2019, 7:00 – 10:00pm
Contemporary Calgary (701 11th St. SW)
$175

Prepared to be edutained—enjoy art, music, cocktails, appetizers, and… neuroscience. Find out why Calgary is leading the way in alternative brain research at this unique evening that is one part science fair, one part art exhibition and auction, and all parts inspiring.
eventbrite.ca

Ongoing Exhibitions

Autumn Colours II

Until October 2, 2019
Wallace Galleries (500 5th Ave. SW)
Free admission

Dramatic colour and changing light are the focus of this exhibition. Swing by to see works by gallery artists including Joice M Hall, Robert Sim, WH Webb, Ted Godwin, Peter Krausz, and many more.
wallacegalleries.com

Shaping Alberta

Until October 4, 2019
Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium (1415 14th Ave. NW)
Free admission

Presented in partnership with CARFAC Alberta and the Friends of the Alberta Jubilee Auditoria Society, Shaping Alberta shares 10 Alberta artists’ visual perspective on life and creativity.
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Salty Sea Dog

Until October 5, 2019
Alberta Craft Gallery, cSPACE King Edward (1721 29th Ave. SW)
Free admission

Unconventional ceramic creations by Salty Sea Dog duo Blair and Sarah Dawes are inspired by the sea, pop culture, and the animals they love. Swing by while you still can!
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Camoufleurs

Until October 5, 2019
Jarvis Hall Gallery (333B 36th Ave. SE)
Free admission

Featuring Sondra Meszaros’ second solo exhibition with Jarvis Hall and her latest body of work, this exhibition continues her ongoing exploration of female sexuality and representation through an expanded practice of collage.
jarvishallgallery.com

Fall In Love With Art

Until October 6, 2019
Knox Contemporary Gallery of Art (200 Barclay Parade SW)
Free admission

Knox Contemporary Gallery of Art showcases the artwork of Chlan Grant, Jane Lochrie, Mao (Kun) Chen, J. Broz, Laura Erdman, Matt Trinh ( aka “HAWK”), Keegan Karlsen, Terry Gregoraschuk, and its newest artist, Nuit—a Calgary celebrity that wishes to currently stay anonymous. Swing by to check it out.
knoxgalleryofart.com

Recent Acquisitions

Until October 11, 2019
Centre Street CTrain Station (1st St. & 7th Ave. SE)
Free admission

Exploring ideas of theft and authorship, Collin Zipp’s Recent Acquisitions is made up of 11 seemingly identical forgeries from an art reproduction company based in China. Seeing the paintings side-by-side encourages the viewer to further investigate their similarities.
uascalgary.org

Ghost Stories

Until October 12, 2019
Ruberto Ostberg Gallery (2108 18th St. NW)
Free admission

Gather around the campfire and listen to tales filled with ghosts and ghouls, the fantastic and macabre. These stories haunt our closets, our hallways, the undersides of our beds. Each of the artists has written a short story to go along with an original piece of work produced with a folk tale, urban legend, or ghost story in mind.
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Ponderosa

Until October 12, 2019
Christine Klassen Gallery (200, 321 50th Ave. SE)
Free admission

Ponderosa is the culmination of four years of research and making inspired by the ponderosa pine trees of the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia. See nearly 70 of Teresa Posyniak’s paintings alongside poetry by Nancy Holmes.
christineklassengallery.com

Teresa Posyniak’s Tangled
Detail of Teresa Posyniak’s Tangled | Image: Courtesy of Christine Klassen Gallery
In Bloom or in Doom

Until October 18, 2019
Alberta Printmakers (4025 4th St. SE)
Free admission

Adrian Gor’s work combines writing, egg-tempera painting, relief printing, and hand crafted organic materials. His medieval-inspired multi-processed techniques of line making and gilding drives him to question today’s symbols of human desire and containers of truth in our visual culture. This exhibition contains mature content.
albertaprintmakers.com

Kablusiak: Qiniqtuaq

Until October 20, 2019
Project Space, Esker Foundation (1011 9th Ave. SE)
Free admission

Qiniqtuaq (searching/looking) invites viewers to peer through a multi-eyed ghost sheet to witness a looping projection of a video collage screened in front of a piece of oil-stained cardboard. Inviting a presence of nostalgia, spectatorship, and diaspora, the piece was created by Kablusiak, an Inuvialuk artist and curator based in Mohkinstsis.
eskerfoundation.com

Suck Teeth Compositions (After Rashaad Newsome)

Until October 26, 2019
The New Gallery (208 Centre St. SE)
Free admission

A response to the frustrations of living within the denial of racism and an expression of the anger and pain that many Black people experience living in Canada, The New Gallery presents Suck Teeth Compositions (After Rashaad Newsome), an exhibition by Michèle Pearson Clarke.
thenewgallery.org

Only the Losers

Until October 26, 2019
Stride Gallery (1006 Macleod Tr. SE)
Free admission

Roy Caussy’s Only the Losers presents an interpretation of the artist’s experiences of living and working in Southern Alberta. It asks how do we negotiate the histories and sediments of this landscape that inform the larger social, political, and economic climate we find ourselves in today?
stride.ab.ca

Open Water

Until October 27, 2019
Leighton Art Centre (282027 144th St. West, Millarville)
Admission by donation

The Canadian Society of Painters in Water Colour (CSPW) is celebrating its 94th annual Open Water exhibition at the Leighton Art Centre. This water-media based international open juried exhibition is a major event in the CSPW’s exhibition calendar offering you the chance to see new and exciting artists showcased alongside well-known Canadian masters of watercolour.
leightoncentre.org

Through the Eyes of a Child

Until November 1, 2019
HUB @ 302 (302,1235 26th Ave. SE)
Free admission

After having observed children’s art, artist Ed Flanagan noticed their use of simplified shapes, vivid unmixed colour, and compositions, techniques which served as inspirations for his latest work.
albertasocietyofartists.com

Your Name Here

Until November 2, 2019
Herringer Kiss Gallery (101, 1615 10th Ave. SW)
Free admission

Showcasing two series of collage paintings done simultaneously between 2013 and 2014—Proscenium and Camp David—don’t miss this show by acclaimed international artist Attila Richard Lukacs.
herringerkissgallery.com

Shifting Shelter

Until November 2, 2019
Illingworth Kerr Gallery, Alberta University of the Arts (1407 14th Ave. NW)
Free admission

Vessna Perunovich’s Shifting Shelter establishes a thoughtful introduction to the politics of transcultural migrations in a changing global system—a crossroads where displacement manifests itself as one of the predominant geopolitical characteristics of living generations.
ikg.acad.ca

Coming Up Next

Until November 2, 2019
Alberta Craft Gallery – Calgary, cSPACE King Edward (280, 1721 29th Ave. SW)
Free admission

Serving as an annual showcase of emerging fine craft artists, the 2019 edition of this exhibition features 14 artists including several who are self-taught or have returned to their practice after several years away.
eventbrite.ca

Serena Beaulieu

Until November 2, 2019
VIVIANEART (1114 11th St. SW)
Free admission

Serena Beaulieu is quickly gaining recognition for her skilled and considered art practice. This exhibition pairs her paintings with a collection of works on paper that she describes as a methodology or an alphabet of her visual language.
vivianeart.gallery

It’s Still My Vault

Until December 14, 2019
Nickle Galleries, University of Calgary (410 University Ct. NW)
Free admission

Organized by Nickle Galleries and curated by Christine Sowiak, this solo exhibition from Chris Cran touches on key pieces, recognized works from well-known series and periods. Get a behind-the-scenes look on October 24 with Nickle at Noon.
nickle.ucalgary.ca

Jeffrey Gibson: Time Carriers

Until December 20, 2019
Esker Foundation (1011 9th Ave. SE)
Free admission

Jeffrey Gibson’s artwork intermingles elements of traditional Native American art, art historical references, craft, and pop culture while Time Carriers conjures a vision of many hands providing a framework of support, a fluid utopia where trust and movement go hand in hand.
eskerfoundation.com

Nep Sidhu: Divine of Form, Formed in the Divine (Medicine for a Nightmare)

Until December 20, 2019
Esker Foundation (1011 9th Ave. SE)
Free admission

Curated by cheyanne turions, Divine of Form, Formed in the Divine (Medicine for a Nightmare) examines how memories persist in the present, especially when related to practices of resistance, resilience, and ritual. Across different bodies of work produced over the last decade, Nep Sidhu explores how memorialization practices can transfigure grief and loss.
eskerfoundation.com

Artist In Residence: Albertine Crow Shoe

Until January 5, 2020
Glenbow (130 9th Ave. SE)
With admission

Glenbow’s artist-in-residence program invites multidisciplinary artists to interact with Glenbow’s vast collection of art and cultural material to inspire new works. Albertine Crow Shoe is known primarily for her exquisite jewellery and this exhibition features highlights of her past work as well as entirely new creations based on her discoveries from working with Glenbow’s collection.
glenbow.org

Ladylikeness: Historical Portraits of Women by Women

Until January 5, 2020
Glenbow (130 9th Ave. SE)
With admission

Presented in partnership with Library and Archives Canada, head to Glenbow to see a varied selection of portraiture produced over a 200-year period, with works dating from 1768 to 1960. Ladylikeness offers a fascinating look at how these artists chose to work within the genre in different ways, making it their own.
glenbow.org

Mary Kavanagh: Daughters of Uranium

Until January 26, 2020
The Founders’ Gallery, The Military Museum (4520 Crowchild Tr. SW)
With admission

On July 16, 1945, when the United States detonated the world’s first atomic bomb, the atmospheric radiation released by this event marked the beginning of the Nuclear Anthropocene. Mary Kavanagh engages different modes of representation, structuring the nuclear as a totalizing concept rather than as a singular event or period. Co-organized and presented by the Southern Alberta Art Gallery and Founders’ Gallery, this show is curated by Christina Cuthbertson and Lindsey Sharman with Katherine Ylitalo.
founders.ucalgary.ca

Ric Kokotovich Mardi Gras 1983 – 1987

Until February 9, 2020
Glenbow (130 9th Ave. SE)
With admission

Growing up as an aspiring musician in small town Canada led artist and filmmaker Ric Kokotovich to an early fascination with Mardi Gras. In 1983, his obsession with New Orleans’ iconic celebration compelled him to document the festivities. Over the next five years, Kokotovich returned to Mardi Gras to continue his photographic series.
glenbow.org

A photo of two drag queens at Mardi Gras in 1983
Ric Kokotovich’s Mardi Gras 83 05 | Image: Collection of Glenbow
Art of Resilience

Until March 2, 2020
Glenbow (130 9th Ave. SE)
With admission

The result of four art workshops held at Glenbow for children and families served by Kainaiwa Children’s Services Corporation Prevention and Support, explore their work in this unique showcase.
glenbow.org

Have a visual arts event that’s not listed above? Email us at events@calgaryartsdevelopment.com or fill out this form.