Spring Arts Preview 2025: Visual arts critics’ picks


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Spectral Bodies in Three Acts

To March 29 @ Pendulum Gallery

Spectral Bodies in Three Acts explores the evolution of the Wanderer archetype, a figure shaped by romantic longing, existential resistance, and philosophical inquiry. The exhibition spans 10 years, and three distinct acts trace Justin Ogilvie’s artistic shift from figuration to abstraction, reflecting a deep engagement with themes of transformation and identity. Presented at Pendulum Gallery, a public space in downtown Vancouver, it continues to showcase the best of thought-provoking contemporary art in an accessible setting.

Response: Remembering Our Futures

To April 4 @ The Polygon Gallery, North Vancouver

Response: Remembering Our Futures showcases new video works from participants in the Response Program, an annual filmmaking initiative that fosters artistic engagement with Indigenous histories, traditions, and futures. Through workshops led by Indigenous artists and Knowledge Holders, emerging filmmakers explored themes of healing, belonging, and resistance, using techniques ranging from animation to performance. By breaking down the divide between past and present, these works offer profoundly personal and communal reflections on such themes as identity, connection, and transformation, reminding us that our relationships (both ancestral and contemporary) are all key in shaping the futures that we imagine.

Clouds for Breakfast

March 7 to April 19 @ Centre of International Contemporary Art

Daisy Parris’ latest collection of large-scale abstract paintings explores the tension between destruction and renewal through layered textures and gestural marks. Muted pastels suggest distant landscapes, while scraped and carved surfaces reveal deeper histories. Paint is applied and removed, creating a sense of movement that reflects emotions and memory’s shifting nature. Alongside these canvases, smaller works on paper offer structured reflections on grief, love, and transformation. Parris’ work considers weather as an external force and an internal process, shaping how we experience change.

Anti-Racism Art Exhibition

March 21 @ Surrey City Hall, Surrey

The Anti-Racism Art Exhibition at Surrey City Hall showcases a range of artistic expressions addressing experiences of racism and the importance of inclusivity. Organized by Surrey’s Progressive Intercultural Community Services Society, the exhibition features work from artists of all ages, including paintings, sculptures, and mixed media pieces. The event provides a platform for dialogue and reflection, encouraging participants and attendees to engage with the realities of systemic discrimination through art.

Utopia of the Seas

March 24 @ Slice of Life Gallery

Jae Ryan’s Utopia of the Seas presents a deeply personal look at life aboard a cruise ship, marking the artist’s first solo exhibition. Inspired by a 2024 trip to Disney World and the Bahamas, the show features six colour prints and a slideshow of never-before-seen photographs, all taken exclusively on the ship. Through Ryan’s lens, the series explores themes of escapism, leisure, and the surreal experience of being at sea. The exhibition offers a unique perspective on travel, nostalgia, and the curated environments of cruise culture.

Infinite Order

April 3 to May 4 @ Kostuik Gallery

Kostuik Gallery presents new works by AJ Oishi and Matt Shlian, two artists exploring geometry, colour, and precision through distinct yet complementary approaches. Oishi’s pointillist paintings, created with thousands of tiny dots applied using the eraser side of a pencil, produce intricate, meditative compositions. Shlian’s paper sculptures merge hand-folding techniques with digital mapping, drawing inspiration from microscopic natural forms. Both artists push the boundaries of their materials, transforming meticulous processes into visually dynamic works that invite close examination and contemplation.

Restless by Nature: Mary Sui Yee Wong, 1990s to the Present

April 12 to June 8 @ Richmond Art Gallery, Richmond

Restless by Nature: Mary Sui Yee Wong, 1990s to the Present, offers a rare look at the Montréal-based artist’s evolving practice. It features works from alternative spaces, ephemeral platforms, and performance-based art. The exhibition highlights Wong’s experimental approach and engagement with fleeting artistic forms by bringing together pieces that were previously shown only once or insufficiently documented.

Murderers Bar

April 18 to September 28 @ Vancouver Art Gallery

Lucy Raven’s Murderers Bar marks her first major exhibition in Vancouver and her largest in Canada, debuting a new moving image installation alongside key past works. Through installation, photography, and video, Raven examines the evolving narratives of the American West, revealing the intersections of nature, technology, and industry. Her work explores the tension between human intervention and the forces that shape our world, blending history, entertainment, and military influence into a striking visual language.

Art Vancouver Contemporary Art Fair

April 24 to April 27 @ Vancouver Convention Centre

Art Vancouver unites global galleries and artists, creating a dynamic platform for networking, collaboration, and cultural exchange. Attracting thousands of attendees, the fair goes beyond traditional exhibitions with live art demonstrations, speaker panels, and the signature ‘Face of Art Runway,’ offering immersive experiences that connect audiences with the creative process. With a carefully curated selection of contemporary works, Art Vancouver fosters an inclusive environment where art lovers, collectors, and industry professionals engage in thought-provoking conversations, strengthening Vancouver’s presence as a global hub for contemporary art.

The Classical Project

May 3 to May 23 @ Ian Tan Gallery

Mandy Bousicot’s latest series of monochrome drawings brings Classical Realism to a Vancouver audience, focusing on the human form with a refined balance of accuracy and idealized beauty. In a time of uncertainty, her work offers a sense of uplift and inspiration, emphasizing grace and harmony in each carefully rendered figure. Her Smiling Faces series, in particular, invites viewers to share moments of joy, celebrating warmth and expression through detailed, lifelike portraiture.



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