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Vancouver Art Gallery
Categories: Arts & Entertainment Museums Arts & Entertainment Art Galleries Shopping Art Galleries Museums, Art Galleries [Edit]
750 Hornby StVancouver, BC V6Z 2H7
Neighbourhood: Downtown
(604) 662-4719
- Hours:
Mon, Wed, Fri-Sun 10 am - 5:30 pm
Tue, Thu 10 am - 9 pm
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- By Appointment Only:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
43 reviews for Vancouver Art Gallery
Review Highlights
"...collection of works by Emily Carr and Group of Seven."
(in 11 reviews)
"Enjoyed the Ken Lum, a local Vancouver artist."
(in 3 reviews)
"Upcoming Da Vinci exhibit looks interesting."
(in 4 reviews)
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43 reviews in English
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Review from Melissa E.
Vancouver, BC
1/14/2012
I am a huge fan of art. Any art. Even art I don't really like. Though my background is in science and i can be quite analytical, i was raised around artists and tend to prefer keeping company with them. So really, i probably won't ever give any gallery or museum a bad review because in my eyes they provide an essential service and people need to be exposed to it.
Could the VAG do better? Ya, sure. The entry price is exorbitant, but to be honest, most large galleries charge about the same price. Plus you can always go on the cheap tuesdays (donation night) and save your money for a post-art martini at Bacchus.
So even though I am not always keen on the exhibits, I am glad that they mix things up and don't always default to group of seven or First Nations art. There is nothing wrong with that, but Vancouver needs good injections of international perspectives we aren't always exposed. I tend to go to those exhibits.
Song Dong was one example. LOVED it. Another was Kerry James Marshall and the Robert Adams photography which knocked my socks off.
If you haven't been awhile, make a date with your honey or friend for a 5pm donation night stroll and get lost in artsy conversations and disagreements that truly feed the soul. -
Review from Michael U.
1/21/2012
Go to see pieces by The Group of Seven but unless you are A) American and therefore unable to see their works elsewhere or B) A huge fan this museum is outrageously priced for the miniscule size of the permanent collection.
Even as a huge fan and supporter of the Arts the $17.50 per person cost of admission and lack of free parking within a quarter mile is very steep. As a single person (and a tourist) I can understand visiting once, but consider what it would cost for a family of four to visit.....it would probably be cheaper to drive, park, and see the (far superior) Seattle Museum instead.
Credit to the museum store - all things being equal it is the best part of the experiece. -
Review from Joshua N.
1/9/2012
It's a small exhibit, there's no permanent collection, and the admission is exorbitant at $17.50 per person.
Listen, people. Do you want young people to vandalize cars and spray paint illegible slogans on every surface? Then by all means restrict access to museums and other venues that could be inspiring to them when they are kids or at the very least provide them with a safe indoor activity. I'm not familiar with the art gallery's governance structure and I'm not saying that it's necessarily the gallery's fault... But as a society we need to revisit our priorities.
In my vision of the world, the art gallery, science world, the aquarium etc would be free. And there would be a lot more activities like them for young people and families.
Or we could continue to let TV babysit our kids (and us, for that matter). That actually seems to work well for the economy, so what do I know anyway. -
Review from Amanda H.
Vancouver, BC
12/17/2011
We went to the gallery for the da Vinci exhibit. That was great but the place was PACKED! I felt like cattle being herded. Anyway, we had a great time and the building is very lovely. Yes, it was a bit expensive but I felt like it was worth it.
I have since been back but only to shop in the gift shop. It is GREAT for gifts and other interesting items. -
Review from Emily-Anne P.
Vancouver, BC
8/18/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I often forget how much I love the Vancouver Art Gallery until I drop in and just sit looking at art and watching people go by. The first things I have to say relate specifically to what is there now, followed by general VAG comments.
This is the first time I've been in the VAG in over a year, they've moved the standard Emily Carr exhibit out of the fourth floor and have some art up there, which I have to say I appreciate. While I, like every other British Columbian, love Emily Carr, space at the VAG is at a premium and I'd rather either see other works from the permanent collection cycled through or other traveling pieces up on the fourth floor.
I think that the rest of the exhibits are amazing. The curating both for the Ken Lum work and the works from the permanent collection is really brilliant, I think. I think they tie really well with the Surrealist work on the first floor, but I'm not an expert.
I will say that I think that the VAG does a really good job with the space it has. When you go to other galleries around Canada they have much more space and have obviously a bit more money to work with, I think that the VAG is doing a fabulous job. I've always found salvation in the architecture of the building itself but the shows and works add to it. -
Review from Tish C.
7/30/2011
We were visiting Vancouver & saw that the Vancouver Art Gallery was showing: The Colour of My Dreams The Surrealist Revolution in Art. My husband is an art guy & just had to see this exhibit. We were not disappointed & enjoyed the show very much. The thinking behind Surrealism produces some very interesting art! I don't know that much about art but I do appreciate seeing the "out of norm" pieces and reading the history behind the movement.
As far as the Vancouver Art Gallery goes, we didn't make it to any other floors, we arrived late & spent all the time we could on the 1st floor, so I can't speak to the rest of the gallery but was impressed with this showing! If you get a chance, it's worth seeing. -
Review from Amanda F.
7/13/2011
The good:
A gorgeous building. One of Vancouver's nicest pieces of architecture. Also, I thoroughly enjoyed the Surrealism exhibit which was showing at the time of my visit.
The bad:
This place is $22 freaking dollars admission? EACH?! So...going to the art gallery with your significant other will cost you almost 50 big ones?
This is a total and complete turn off for me. After being spoiled by free museums and galleries when living in the UK, paying that much to get into a gallery is a hard pill to swallow.
That being said, I decided to go to the gallery on "by-donation" night. Tuesday evenings are the ONLY evening of the week that the gallery is open late and also the only by-donation time. Which means that this place was packed. It was hard to enjoy all of the amazing artwork when I felt pressured to get out of the way. The horde had to keep moving.
So basically, it's too freaking expensive most of the time, and if you go on the donation night, you might get trampled by other broke, art-hungry Vancouverites. -
Review from Eric B.
6/11/2011
The Vancouver Art Gallery (VAG) is the fifth-largest art gallery in Canada and the largest in the West. Its permanent collection of about 10,000 artworks includes more than 200 major works by Emily Carr, the Group of Seven, and illustrations by Marc Chagall.
The VAG is located in the former main courthouse for Vancouver. The original 165,000-square-foot neoclassical building was designed by Francis Rattenbury, who also designed the British Columbia Parliament Buildings and the Empress Hotel in Victoria. The design includes ionic columns, a central dome, formal porticos, and ornate stonework. An annex was added to the western side of the building in 1912 and is the only part of the VAG that was not converted to use as an art gallery. It was declared a heritage site and retains the original judges' benches and walls as they were when the building was a courthouse.
The VAG is a nice museum, with a good layout, and filled with interesting art to ponder and enjoy. I also like spending time in their spacious (and stuffed gift shop). On the outside, there's the architecture (including the Centennial Fountain) and of course the various public gatherings on the lawn. The most interesting group that I saw was during "420" day. I may have received a buzz just walking by! -
Review from Dan J.
Vancouver, BC
4/1/2011 10 Check-ins Here
I think the VAG could do better. Right now it might be suffering from mismanagement.
For years now they have been prattling on and on about needing a larger space to house their vast permanent collection. Vast? Really? Explain this:
I have seen the same Emily Carr and Lawrence Paul paintings in at least 5 different exhibits. The same Cindy Sherman and I know I've seen that damn saw by Claus Oldenberg at least three times. Now -if the VAG collection is so vast why am I seeing the same works of art in different exhibits?
I understand that some pieces fit into different curatorial themes. The Cindy Sherman for example fits into an exhibit featuring women artists of the 20th Century as well as an exhibit featuring self-portraits. But, it's kind of a rip off to see the same work repeatedly. And if their collection is as vast as they claim why not show some new pieces we haven't seen before? When they have a guest curator please just give them a list of the pieces that have already been featured.
Also, when is it a good time for a business to expand? When it's doing well financially or when they're struggling to maintain their current level of service? I'm taking away one star because in the past few years they have:
1) Reduced their hours
2) Laid off staff
3) Reduced the number of guided tours
4) Increased the cost of membership
The current exhibit WE: Vancouver is okay. But it would have been, in my opinion, a perfect exhibit during the Olympics instead of that Italian guy whatsisname... Da Vinci. I'm still stunned that they didn't have local work on display during the games. Dummies.
There have been some memorable shows. I went to see Truth / Beauty at least a dozen times. The Dutch Impressionist exhibit was beautiful and especially informative. The Monet to Dali was stunning but poorly lit in some cases. Krazy was crazy popular. It was fun for a lot of people but it didn't have as much appeal for me. They hit it out of the park with Huang Yong Ping's "House of Oracles" despite the bungled handling of the SPCA and other conceptually challenged activists.
There have been some surprise hits for me too. I am grateful to have been introduced to some amazing work. "How Soon is Now" was a pleasant surprise. Scott McFarland's exhibit was fascinating. It was nice to see local artists Stan Douglas, Brian Jungen featured and I've always loved BC Binning's work. It was gutsy that they took a chance on Reese Terris' massive installation. The Zhang Huan show was thoughtful and moving.
There have been some disappointing exhibits as well. The Toullouse LeTrec and Da Vinci exhibits were little more than sketchbook rejects under glass. And even Jack Shadbolt's funky and fascinating work couldn't rescue Emily Carr's muddy canvases and clumsy technique.
And there have been some serious stinkers. WACK! was totally whack. This exhibit of feminist art was a vulgar mess of amateurish art school caliber self indulgence and it was sloppily curated. Legacies of Impressionism in Canada appeared to be an assembly of a few pieces on loan mixed with the same old same old from the permanent collection. I got the impression that this exhibit was just thrown together to take up space. Exhibiting a dilettante like Bryan Adams was probably the low point in the VAG's history and cheapened the whole brand for several years.
The gallery seems to currently be in a bit of a downward spiral. Let's hope they can right the ship.
Prediction: They will get their new space. There will be a temporary spike in memberships and visitors. They will be unable to maintain an adequate level of service. Fees will go up again. People will be disappointed and not renew their memberships. The numbers of guests will fall off. There will be a "Save the VAG" campaign.Listed in: Art Galleries.
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Review from Stacy G.
6/21/2011
I went here hoping to catch a little local flavor and see works by BC artist Emily Carr. Much to my dismay, I found out they were all gone in some traveling exhibit for the summer!
The entire museum was full of surrealist art, which was intriguing for a few wings, but by the time I left I was almost running from the nightmarish images. Thought provoking? Yes. Art? Apparently. Disturbing? Oh yeah. Armadillo fetus photo anyone?Listed in: Vancouver BC
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Review from Sarah A.
6/23/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I'm a member of the VAG and one of my favourite things to do on a rainy afternoon is go to the VAG to see an exhibit and then grab a bite to eat and a glass of wine at the Cafe upstairs.
The main floor houses the gift shop and the current exhibit (often a traveling exhibit from out of town). The top floors house the permanent collection of works by Emily Carr and Group of Seven.
The VAG is in a gorgeous building in the epicenter of downtown Vancouver (although there are current plans to move the VAG to a larger space). Occasionally it can get quite crowded so try and come in the early afternoon if you want a chance to look closely at everything. However, it's also a great place for parties. FUSE is held periodically on Friday nights (there is another FUSE for families held during the day as well). It's is a very fun event for adults of all ages, and I definitely encourage you to check this even out at least once (art + live music + performers + cash bar = a blast).
It's also a great place to just people watch, as art galleries always seem to attract interesting groups of people with good fashion sense. -
Review from David G.
5/23/2011
HISTORIC BLDG
Great building displaying contemporary art. Enjoyed the Ken Lum, a local Vancouver artist. Especially interesting was the glass maze and the mirrored words on wall. It was very surreal to see someone's expression reading the words and they not knowing you are looking at them from behind the the glass. Also, the walking + falling exhibit with Jim Campbell was amazing. The Chris Marker "Le Jette" was memorable as was the Eadweard Muybridge images of man and animal. -
Review from Jerry R.
Vancouver, BC
2/26/2011
Yes I realize, Toronto is our largest city, and yes I should not be comparing, but I cant help it. I was in Toronto for a few days, and I stopped by their Art Gallery the AGO, might I say it was a Jewel. I also went to New York, but really I cant say much for it here as it is just not fair to compare that with anything.
Our Vancouver Art Gallery has a bit of work ahead of itself, before it can compete with our Eastern Counter part. Sorry VAG, I bought the groupon for an years member ship, and even considered getting the Young-Associates upgrade, but was quite disappointed by the exhibit. I've been to the AGO, Guggenheim, MOMA and a few others, yes its unfair to compare to our small City, but the VAG really needs to up its game -
Review from honky t.
Vancouver, BC
8/14/2011
$22.50 to enter...and its not even a world class Art Gallery. Are you kidding? Art is for the people.
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Review from Brian L.
7/11/2010
For the price of the museum, I expected much more. I'm more of a paintings person, and there just weren't many paintings here. There were some performance pieces, some paintings here and there, but it wasn't worth it. They had a special gallery from the Impressionists of the "modern woman", but they were mostly sketches and not real pieces of work...def not worth it.
I did enjoy the Kerry James Marshall work though...definitely thought provoking. -
Review from Roanna Z.
2/21/2010 3 photos
Nice museum, good layout.
Our visit was during the Olympics meant that we lined up for nearly two hours. Just long enough for my fingers to go numb. Probably not the best idea we ever had. I'll return to the gallery at a time when it's not as busy and enjoy the exhibits more I'm sure.
The DeVinci exhibit is particularly interesting if you're keen on anatomy. (which I'm not). But considering how old this work is, it's truly amazing.
There is plenty more to see at the gallery. I'll look forward to another visit. There are discount hours normally on Tuesday pm. check the website.Listed in: It's raining... get inside…
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Review from Jena J.
Vancouver, BC
7/1/2011
The surrealist art revolution show was great! lots of stuff to look at, the entrance was my favorite part though. Ken Lum is up on the second floor. i love his work will the mirrors, both the maze and the ones on the wall. The top floor is pretty but gets old fast. over all it was fun :)
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Review from JP D.
Calgary, AB
2/22/2010
Nice Gallery, I like the size of the museum. The overall content is not overwhelming and can visit without being rushed in a few hours.
The sense of space in the gallery is somewhat different from other galleries I've visited in the past, mixed mediums of art within the same space. The standout pieces (this was a few years ago), were the structures by Brian Jungen, a first nations BC artist, one of his pieces was the skeletal structure of a whale's skeleton entirely built from plastic chairs, another of his pieces was a native mask made from Nike Air Jordans. Interesting pieces by an artist of the region
Overall I highly recommend this gallery to anyone visiting Vancouver -
Review from Danielle S.
6/30/2009 1 photo
Yes, it has one of the most unfortunate acronyms of all time. Seriously, they can't change the name to the Vancouver Art Museum? But seeing as this place doesn't have much in the way of permanent collection, it really is more of a "gallery" than a "museum". So perhaps they wear the "VAG" as a "badge"...of honor. Sorry, that was awful. Moving along now.
I went to the Gallery on a Tuesday during my trip to Vancouver, which is pay-what-you-can night. I had originally planned to go on a Monday, but when I found out that adults were $22, I decided it reeeeally wasn't that important to go right then. That's a really steep price for a gallery that's honestly a bit on the small side and doesn't have much to fund in the way of permanent collections.
The Dutch Masters exhibit on the ground floor was the focal point the night I was there, and was by far the most packed. In looking through the exhibit, I found myself skimming rather than stopping. I felt it was overly simplistic. The way the interpretive panels were written, it sounded like they were catering to people who knew nothing about Dutch art, or children. Am I really that much of an art snob to assume that everyone should already know what a vanitas painting is? Still, it was really neat to see a camera obscura in actual operation, as I'd only read about them.
It seems like the Emily Carr exhibit is the only permanent installation. I wasn't particularly compelled. They may have been groundbreaking for their time, but now they look like average material that emerges from every college drawing class. The next few floors were filled with other exhibits--some outstanding, some forgettable. Since they rotate out so quickly, I'm not going to describe them in detail, as they'll be gone and this review will soon be moot. But a photography / video installation by a Northwest artist and a display of photojournalistic snapshots from Los Angeles in the 70's and 80's were real standouts in this constantly shifting arts landscape.
The lack of permanence in the Gallery is a real bummer. You can tell a lot about a city by what's in their art galleries, but I can't really get a read on what's important to Vancouverites by visiting this museum. Perhaps when they move to their new space they'll be able to build more of a permanent collection.Listed in: Fun in Van-city
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Review from Catherine B.
Vancouver, BC
1/18/2010
They often have really interesting exhibits including great photography exhibits. Their recent exhibit on North American landscapes was beautiful. Upcoming Da Vinci exhibit looks interesting.
FUSE is their big social night - in my view it's the best night out in Vancouver but only comes around a handful of times each year. Always filled with live performances and great people watching. Definitely worthwile to be a member if you like FUSE.
FYI - Apparently the gallery is FREE during the Olympics. -
Review from Jacqueline W.
8/23/2010
I have mixed feelings about the Vancouver Art Gallery...the space is large and I feel like parts of it could be put to better use.
I stopped in to see the Modern Woman exhibit, a collection of pieces from the Musay D'Orsay (which I have visited) that have never been seen outside of France. I thought the exhibit was informative and definitely had some nice pieces. The exhibit spanned the entire 1st floor.
The 2, 3, and 4th floors had exhibits from other artists, some local, some from U.S. I thought that the other exhibits were well presented but overall I was uninterested.
The Modern Woman exhibit was definitely the best in the museum. If there is a good featured exhibit, it is worth stopping in. If not, hmm... -
Review from Christine R.
New Westminster, BC
11/12/2008 1 photo
The enjoyment of the art gallery really does depend on what exhibit is showing. Sadly, the VAG does not have a permanent collection on display where one can go visit a favourite piece. I was under the impression that they had Emily Carrs on permanent exhibition, but now have it on good authority that only a few are displayed at any given time, usually within another exhibition.
Right now, the main exhibit is WACK!, a collection of feminist art from the 60s and 70s. Much of it is provocative and shocking, although I found few pieces that I could get with. I was really more interested in the new Jeff Wall photograph collection on the third floor. It's only 11 works, but they're each arresting in their own way.
For such an uneven and chancy experience, the VAG's normal adult admission rate of $17.50 is way out of line. For comparison, it would cost about $20 Canadian to visit the Louvre in Paris, including both permanent and temporary exhibits. That's a whole lot of museum, including many world-famous paintings and sculptures.
So, really, for most of us, the best way to see our own VAG is by going on Tuesday's by-donation nights. It's a little busier than normal, but you'll get your money's worth. -
Review from Suzanne P.
8/2/2009
I agree with Danielle S. WHAT is with the acronym?!?! My hand was stamped VAG as i moved through the galleries. Um, didn't think that was necessary, and didn't anyone see that and think that it wasn't quite right? Haha. Oh well. The museum itself was amazing.
We were fortunate enough to get to see the Vermeer/Rembrandt exhibit, which was fantastic. I really really enjoyed seeing such masterpieces. I also really loved the Reece Terrace apartment exhibit. That was fantastic and really represented the different decades!
The staff was a little snippy. We had to get into my bag to get something before we were ready to leave, and the coat/bag check lady snapped at me about how my bag was heavy and that was an inconvenience to her. Um ok. I get that I am an annoying tourist but you don't have to be rude!
I would come back to the VAG in a second, but would sincerely hope for a different entry stamp. -
Review from Johnson C.
Vancouver, BC
3/17/2010
When abbreviated as 'VAG' - I told by artsy folks that it's pronounced like 'vagabond' rather than 'vagin-' - ahh, nevermind.
There was no wait/lineup as the VAG is still free during the Paralympics. Glad I came - I've been living in Vancouver my entire life and I've never to the art gallery. On the fourth floor is the BC Pavilion which is sponsoring the regular $15 admission for everyone - I got a free lanyard and a Olympic pin. The BC Pavilion is pretty lame - just a tourism/business advertisement in a faux BC forest display. The 4D show was pretty short and tame - but it was only a 15 minute wait.
The scale and layout of the art gallery itself is impressive. Each floor had a theme - the third floor was dedicated to senses and had many dark rooms where the artist attempts to stir emotions of isolation and unsettled the viewers through film and sound. The second floor was dedicated to BC itself featuring photographs and art of the BC landscape and its people.
The life-sized whale skeleton by Jungen built from plastic chairs was impressive to behold. Unfortunately, his Native mask pieces built from deconstructed Nike Air Jordans are gone. Then again, it may have hurt my heart to see so many destroyed sneakers.
The ground floor was dedicated to the human body and its anatomical beauty. Half of it was modern art pieces of the human anatomy and the other half was the star attraction - the Da Vinci anatomy sketches. If this doesn't awe you with the man's genius and make you feel your accomplishments are insignificant, nothing will.
Thumbs up for the free admission - glad I finally visited the Vancouver Art Gallery.Listed in: Olympic Events/Venues
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Review from Allen W.
Vancouver, BC
4/11/2010
Now that the long Olympic line is gone, I wanted to check out the recent DaVinci exhibit. At $20, it's pricey adventure although I've since learned that Tuesday evenings are 'by donation'.
The DaVinci exhibit was great however the rest of the museum was rather blah. The 2nd/3rd floors are carpeted and have a slightly dusty smell. The main collection just didn't resonate with me.
I should also warn about the staff person on the 3rd floor you made sure every single person visited the 'theater' exhibits (small rooms with crazy videos playing).
I witnessed him interrogating several other patrons. One couple was trying to leave the floor when he practically begged them to visit the 3 theaters. He then approached us to ask if we'd toured the theaters yet. We said no. He highly recommended them.
Minutes later while wandering around he approached me again to check in on whether I'd actually viewed the videos ... so I said, 'yes' and walked away from him. It was very very odd. -
Review from Esther Y.
8/29/2008 3 photos
We happened to go on a Tuesday night, when it's community night so you can just go for free or pay a $5 donation. My friends and I did the donation and I'm glad we didn't pay full price, because it definitely wasn't worth it.
There was a special "Krazy!" exhibit going on this summer (2008) on comics. It was pretty interesting, but I don't think I appreciate that as much...my friends and I finished that pretty quickly. I liked the Wallace & Gromit and Over the Hedge parts though.
As for the rest of the museum, it was slightly...eccentric, to say the least. There was a lot of interesting/weird art. Not really anything I could aprpeciate either.
The worst part of the whole experience was smelling a ton of people smoking weed on the lawn in front of the gallery. That weird baby sculpture thing that looks like it's wrapped in snakes on the building made for a weirder experience too.
The Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics countdown is here though! -
Review from Chloë E.
Vancouver, BC
1/15/2009
Firstly, the Vancouver Art Gallery (or the VAG as it so curiously markets itself) is situated in a simply gorgeous building. The grounds are perfect for a mid-day sit in the sunshine, admiring a water fountain prank, witnessing a protest, or attending a special event held on the gallery's main floor.
On top of that, the VAG is also home to a number of great exhibits. Last year (was it?) I saw a classical exhibit with works from the likes of Monet here, and then the fantastic and insightful local photography of Fred Herzog.
I tend to like their visiting exhibitions, which often have a timely and magnificent thought-provoking element, because Emily Carr is not my speed. But if Emily does rank as one of your personal favorites, you won't leave disappointed.
The transition to the new gallery space, east of downtown I think, will be interesting. It'll be hard to match the gravity with which this current location pulls. -
Review from Anita T.
Toronto, ON
9/22/2008 1 photo
Depending on which exhibits are showcasing at the Art Gallery, your visit may be a hit or a miss.
I got to go when the Zhang Huan exhibit was there (its still there until Oct 5). The photography that was included in this exhibition was amazing.
I find the art gallery to be an yearly visit for me. That is, unless, some amazing exhibit happens to be there that I absolutely have to see. Living in Vancouver, I think alot of us take the Art Gallery for granted and have probably never even been there - so take a Saturday afternoon and do something cultured! -
Review from Luisa S.
Vancouver, BC
9/24/2008
When the (unhurried) hustle and bustle of daily life starts to weigh me down, I take refuge at the Vancouver Art Gallery. Despite the mad queues and tourist frenzy, something about this place stills my cacophonic thoughts.
Over the years, the VAG has become progressively more avant-garde. Rarely do they show the stale retrospectives of yesteryear (in other words art history as seen and told by deceased Caucasian men). In its place is a more conceptually driven program: collaborative endeavours, riskier site-specific installations and other groundbreaking projects that offer a unique perspective on visual culture and the world around us.
Whether looking at the past, the present, the future or the imaginary, the VAG will challenge and inspire you. -
Review from Cameron M.
Toronto, ON
11/12/2008
I have to go on record with the people who aren't so fond of the VAG. I'll first say that the temporary exhibits are great. Interesting, dynamic and well curated, absolutely. I suggest checking out most of them. But the problem the VAG has is its price.
Most travelers I meet from Europe are shocked that the VAG isn't free, let alone that it's nearly 20 bucks to get in. The VAG isn't huge either. It has a couple floors of different exhibits and one permanent collection, which thankfully recently changed from pure Emily Carr paintings.
Worse yet is the fact that since I've moved to the city the 'pay what you can' day has gone from actually whatever, to 5 to 10 dollars minimum. Half-price is nice but they're severely limiting a lot of the city's ability to see the work.
If you must go I'd suggest checking out the FUSE events they do with every show. The gallery is open all night with food and drink and live performances. Much more full and eclectic than the usual shows. Plus, though it's expensive it's only about 5 dollars more than the regular admission. -
Review from Luke A.
Toronto, ON
9/13/2008
I was last at the Vancouver Art Gallery when the KRAZY! show was still on, and it was fantastic. I was impressed that it was co-curated by bigwigs in the various fields for comics, anime, manga, video games, etc., such as Art Spiegelman and Will Wright, among others. Kudos to the VAG for originating such a thorough exploration of a whole cluster of under-appreciated artistic media.
The other exhibit (which is still on), was Canadian Women Modernists, but it was pretty dull in comparison. It reminded me of the kind of shows regional art galleries usually put on, stuff that's only of interest to a very narrow range of art critics.
The building that the VAG is housed in is great, but they're planning to move in the next couple of years into somewhere with more space. Hopefully, the new home will still have character, since in my opinion, an interesting space can enhance or even compensate for a lackluster exhibition. -
Review from Felix T.
12/14/2009
I'll be the first to admit, landscapes of mountains, trees, and rivers get a little old for me after a while, but somehow I stayed interested and loved this museum. I learned a lot about Canadian Art, and they had a great photography section on the upper floors.
The admission is pricey worth it if you really appreciate art, but I wish I knew that entrance is by donation on Tuesday nights from 5-9pm. Don't come expecting much modern art, this museum is very devoted to traditional landscapes and the work of the group of seven.Listed in: Seattle and Vancouver
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Review from Kristina A.
8/20/2008
This is a nice little art museum. Well worth checking out. When I was there, they were showing Rembrandt and had many works I'd never seen before, including a series of self sketches. This is my favorite: http://www.booksplendo... Recognizing genius at it's finest, they had a fridge magnet of this in their gift shop; made a great souvenir.
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Review from Susanne J.
Hope, BC
6/12/2009 1 Check-in Here
While it's no MOMA - I didn't leave feeling so inspired I imagined I would become the world's next Warhol - I was impressed with the projects they'd brought in. First floor: stodgy Dutch masters. Seen it, done it, kinda bored with it. Plus they give Vermeer and Rembrandt top billing and I think I saw (of hundreds) only one portrait from either.
But then...the next floor: Emily Carr. Outstanding. You really get a sense of how she evolved as an artist. A further floor: Andreas Gursky's Burtynsky-esque photography was truly compelling. Top floor: Throwback to the glam and not so glam days of eighties LA by Anthony Hernandez reminded me of my fav flick Less Than Zero. In the middle of it all was a 4 level open structure which reveals a taste of interior design throughout the past several decades. So while they try to tempt you with an old "masterpiece" or two, in a beautiful neoclassical building, it's really the contemporary work (and Carr's) which compels.
PS. Tuesday nights are by donation. -
Review from David Y.
6/29/2010
Was here for a donation Tues night (paid the recommended $10 for entry instead of the $20 normal admission). This was more of a museum of contemporary art or modern art. There were 3 different exhibits. Two were modern artists and 1 about women in France's history (from the First Revolution to the start of equal rights). While the exhibits weren't bad, they didn't hold enough of my interest than a mere passing. I was really expecting more classical paintings and sculptures and basically just more. Thus, the disappointment although museums are rarely a bad experience.
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Review from David L.
2/20/2010
I've been living in B.C. for pretty much all of my life, yet last week was the first time I visited the Vancouver Art Gallery. I had to visit it because the B.C. Pavilion for the Olympics was on the fourth floor. The first, second, third floor was part of the Vancouver Art Gallery when I was there last week. This is your typical Art gallery, except you can't take photos at all. There are displays of drawings from Leonardo Di Vinci on the main floor and artwork, photos, and two dark rooms for short artwork movies on the 2nd and 3rd floor. There is a lot to see, but nothing spectacular. I saw more photos than paintings and sculptures. I've been to Emily Carr Art Gallery a few times, and Vancouver Art Gallery is just a step above Emily Carr, except you won't find original Leonardo Di Vinci artwork at Emily Carr.
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Review from vanessa G.
Vancouver, BC
9/8/2010
As a travelled Art History student, and as a local. I love the VAG (pronounced VAAG). With a new curator that has decided to shake things up a bit, she has brought some amazing shows to town for the last few years. She has been drawing the dialogue between many topics that i have studied over the years including Women in Arts which is often a foreshadowed subject because of the lack of exposure.
The gallery is the perfect size, not to big, not to small before you get over whelmed and get museum fatigue. Try and take in all 4 floors as every floor usually has something different to offer, yet the bottom 2 floors are usually the touring floors, and the top 2 are the more local collections. I also love the cafe here. It has one of the best patios in vancouver..it makes you feel like your in europe. I also really enjoy the FUSE events because they bring all the arts into the gallery in the evening. Nothing like watching modern dancers perform in front of a thought provoking video installation of a water fall, or making your own mustaches!
I opt for an annual membership and i definitely get more then my moneys worth from it. -
Review from Lee N.
Vancouver, BC
2/8/2010
Go see the De Vinci Exhibit, if it doesn`t move you then you are a Zombie, well Zombies would probably love it also.
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Review from Justin N.
Surrey, BC
2/18/2010
With free admission during the Olympics there has been a lineup every day for the last week. We waited about 40 minutes in the morning, it doesn't get a lot of light before noon so dress warmly as the wind chill can make it painful.
Large bags are to be checked, this is mandatory, and no liquids or foods are allowed as is the standard in places like this.
The Da Vinci exhibit was great, the original double sided papers sit in panes of glass allowing you to see both sides with ease. Translations in English and French are located on the walls behind.
The rest of the building was dedicated to things BC oriented. A large totem pole guides you up the first level stairs where the floor is dedicated to a documented BC. Pictures ranging in time from the 60's to Expo '86 show how things have changed and some of the aftermath of the last world event we hosted. Particular attention is given to Native perspectives.
The third floor is dedicated to sensory overload, more modern art, tables with plates which display video, walls of skills, rooms to stimulate the senses.
The fourth floor has been turned into a mini-advertising campaign for BC. You exit the escalator into a faux rainforest with images of carp rippling in a stream at your feet, recreations and examples on where our BC timber products can improve our lives. Examples of hydrogen transit and "Green" technologies are spattered throughout the floor. A large portion of the floor is dedicated to a lineup to see a promotional video in 3D on what beautiful BC has to offer. It's not usually my cup of tea but it was a great experience.
We easily spent 3 hours browsing, they have a cafe as well which we didn't go to as there was a lineup but it looked inviting. -
Review from Tiffany R.
8/8/2008
I really enjoyed the "Krazy!" featured exhibit during my visit here. It was a lot of fun to see the evolution of comics. I was impressed by the breadth and depth of the exhibition covering a wide range of genres and formats. The other exhibitions and collections at the museum were just so-so.
