​Happy New Year! It’s been a little while since we last posted, but we’re back in action and excited to kick off 2025 with fresh energy, inspiring exhibitions, and exciting plans for the year ahead.
Check out what's been happening and what's to come!

We began the year with an incredible exhibition by emerging artist Casey Fisher. Taking viewers on a journey through dynamic textures, bold colours, and unique sculpture work. This exhibit showcases Casey’s unique perspective and artistic growth, while exploring geographic locations familiar to her personal experiences. 
​
We had a wonderful turnout at the opening reception, where guests had the chance to meet the artist, enjoy great conversations, and immerse themselves in the artwork. For those who couldn’t make it, we’ve shared some photos from the event—be sure to stop by and see the exhibition in person before it closes on March 6th!
​

The new year is a time for fresh beginnings, and we kicked things off with a work bee to refresh and reorganize the gallery space. Our amazing team of volunteers came together to wash walls, tidy up, and ensure that our gallery is looking its best for the year ahead. A big thank you to everyone who lent a hand—we’ve shared a few behind-the-scenes photos of the team hard at work!

Along with the refreshed space, our gift shop has also been updated with a selection of new works from local artists. From handcrafted pottery to prints and original paintings, there’s always something special to discover. The gift shop is open Tuesday to Saturday, 10 AM – 4 PM, thanks to our dedicated volunteers who make it all possible.
​
If you or someone you know might be interested in volunteer opportunities at the art gallery, send us an email or stop into the gift shop and sign up in person! We are growing, and it takes a village to make change—we are very grateful for our village of volunteers! 

Mark your calendars! Our next exhibition, Kidz Art, opens on March 12th. This bi-annual exhibition, created in partnership with School District 28, showcases the creativity of elementary students in our community.

​The opening reception will take place on March 12th at 6:30 PM, and everyone is invited to attend. We are so grateful to our attendees who show so much support for our local emerging artists. The exhibition will be open during our regular gallery hours until April 3rd—don’t miss this wonderful opportunity to support young artists!
​

​Over the winter we had the pleasure of celebrating the winner of a colouring contest created by our previous exhibiting artist. Congratulations to our lucky winner Ann Finch!

​Ann was presented with a high quality print of her coloured-in version of the lovely drawing ‘Down Reid’ by artist Guillaume Schoon, as well as a printed mug with her beautiful work. Thank you to everyone who participated in this artistic contest and to Guillaume for hosting a unique and interactive experience for visitors!

Calling all artists—our annual Call for Submissions for the 2026 Exhibition Calendar will be announced later this spring. If you’re interested in exhibiting at the Quesnel Art Gallery, keep an eye out for application details at the end of April!

There’s plenty more to come this year, and we can’t wait to share it with you. Stay connected with us here on the blog and on our social media channels @quesnelartgallery for updates, behind-the-scenes content, and more ways to get involved in our vibrant arts community.

Here’s to another inspiring year at Quesnel Art Gallery! Thanks for reading! ​— Shae

As we wrap up 2024, we’re reflecting on what has been an exciting and inspiring year at the Gallery. Our final exhibit of the year, Guillaume Schoon’s Mundane, hosted in in October, was uniquely different than others. Guests of all ages were captivated by his detailed and thought-provoking drawings. Thank you to everyone who visited and shared in the experience—we hope you enjoyed it as much as we did! 
​Thank you to the sponsor of this show Fraserview Medical Associates.

Our Beaux Arts Bazaar is still running for a few more days, offering the perfect opportunity to pick up some last-minute treasures before the holiday season. Here’s a quick look at our upcoming hours:

• Saturday, December 21st: Open 10 AM - 4 PM
• Sunday & Monday: Closed as usual
• Tuesday, December 24th: Open 10 AM - 12 PM

​After that, the Gallery will close for the Holiday season. Artists can pick up their works between January 2-5th, 2025. Following this, we’ll be closed for two weeks as our board and volunteers dive into planning and preparations for the exciting year ahead.
Thank you to the sponsors Bill & Sue-Ellen Miller and Big Country Printers Ltd.

The Gallery Gift Shop will reopen for regular hours on January 21st, and you are all invited to our first exhibit of the year opening on February 6th, 2025.
While we don’t want to give away too much just yet, 2025 is shaping up to be an amazing year. From exciting workshops to a brand-new emerging artist showcase initiative, there’s so much to look forward to. Stay tuned for more details in the coming months!

Finally, we’d like to thank all of you—our artists, visitors, and supporters—for making 2024 such a special year. Your continued engagement and enthusiasm fuel everything we do, and we’re so grateful to share this creative journey with you.
From all of us at the Gallery, we wish you a safe, joyful holiday season and a fantastic start to 2025. See you in the New Year!

If you or someone you know might be interested in sponsoring one of our 2025 exhibits, please reach out to me via email! Your support helps us continue to foster local talent and provide a vibrant space for the arts.
​Whether you're a business, organization, or individual, every contribution makes a difference.
Let’s collaborate to make a lasting impact in our community!

We recently wrapped up Cecile Allen's Barkerville Series, a captivating exhibit by a talented local artist. Cecile’s work beautifully captured the rich history and character of the historic gold rush town of Barkerville, bringing to life its stories, architecture, and landscapes. The exhibit received an overwhelmingly positive response from visitors, who appreciated the detail in these beautiful coloured-pencil drawings.
Cecile’s paintings offered a nostalgic journey through time, each piece infused with her deep connection to the region. We’re thrilled to continue celebrating her work, and for those who missed the exhibit, Cecile’s cards are still available for purchase in our gift shop.
Thank you to everyone who came out to support this wonderful showcase of local history and talent!

The Art Gallery & Gift Shop will be closed Saturday August 31st until Tuesday September 16th.  The Gift Shop will re-open on Tuesday September 17th 10-4 & we will be hosting our opening reception that evening from 7-9PM. 

We’re incredibly fortunate to have a free public gallery right here in Quesnel, thanks to the support of our community and the Arts & Rec Centre. Every year, the Centre undergoes essential maintenance to keep the building in top shape. During this time, the Quesnel Art Gallery will be temporarily closed for those two weeks.

Our dedicated volunteers will be back and ready to welcome you in September. We can’t wait to share our upcoming exhibits with you!

On August 1st, we hosted the opening of "Five Explore Our Cariboo," a captivating exhibit featuring the works of member artists Maureen Wheeler, Fred Paulson, Megan Long, Heather E.S Armstrong, and Keith Prestone. These local artists beautifully showcase the essence of the Cariboo through diverse styles and mediums.

Guests packed into our gallery space where they were greeted with live harp music, setting the scene to delve into pieces that highlight the region's natural beauty in an artful way. A special slideshow offers insights into the artists' creative process & can be viewed at the Gallery until the end of the exhibit. 
​
"Five Explore Our Cariboo" will be on display until August 29th at the Arts and Recreation Centre. Don't miss this opportunity to experience the unique perspectives of our talented local artists. Thank you to all those who were able to attend the opening reception, we can't wait to see you at the next one!

A big Thank You to the sponsor of this exhibit Cariboo Murals & Fine Art.

We are pleased to present "Animals I Have Seen," an exhibit by the talented artist Sydney Andres from Fort St. James. The opening reception was an intimate gathering, where community members and art enthusiasts came together to appreciate Sydney’s skill in capturing the essence of wildlife through her colourful paintings and detailed sketches.

Sydney’s work offers a captivating journey through the diverse and stunning animal life she has encountered. During the reception, Sydney shared with the crowd details of seeing these animals in fleeting moments and painting from her memories of them. This unique approach adds a personal and evocative touch to her art, making each piece a vivid yet dreamy recollection of her wildlife encounters.

The exhibit, hosted at the Quesnel Art Gallery located in the Arts & Rec Centre, will be open for viewing until July 26th. We encourage everyone to visit and immerse themselves in Sydney's extraordinary artworks. The gallery is a free public space where art meets nature, offering a serene escape into the wild through the eyes of a remarkable artist.

Enjoy a cool, air-conditioned environment to escape this heat while you explore the exhibit!

With a great deal of support we were able to put together this very meaningful exhibit. 'Spirit of Quesnel' represents the impact and legacy left by the late Stanley Boyd, through his lens. Visit the Gallery before June 28th to view this collection of Stan's photographs, some are still available for purchase!

We are very grateful to all those who attended the opening reception on the evening of July 6th. The Eldzi drummers opened the evening and then we got to hear stories from family and friends of Stanley.  We heard moving words from many who were close to Stanley. This included stories of his political achievements from Terrence Paul, touching words from Nazko Chief Leah Stump, and heartfelt stories from Stan's sister Doreen Patrick, and wife Laura Boyd. 

We have many thanks to give to those that made this exhibit possible; Our sponsor The Bare Family in memory of Frances Bare, The Lhoosk'uz Dené & Nazko First Nation Bands. As well as Doreen Patrick & Maureen Trotter for making this all possible, and kudos for learning how to frame and hang a professional exhibit!! 
​
We were able to find and colourize some of the many newspaper articles featuring Stan Boyd's life and achievements. These stories are posted on our gallery wall with the exhibit, as well as below for you to view.
​