Art Gallery of Nova Scotia

06/23/2026

Originally from Winnipeg, Susan Britton arrived at NSCAD in 1975 and began experimenting with photography and video. 📸

In this two-part work, she uses self-portraiture to take on different roles and identities, performing for the camera to explore the space between real and imagined narratives.

Through carefully staged, intimate moments, Britton questions how identity is seen and constructed, turning a self-portrait into a thoughtful conceptual work.

See it now on view as part of Conceptual Art and the Camera, alongside works by artists exploring photography as a space for experimentation and new ways of seeing.



Image: Susan Britton, Self-Portrait, 1976. 2 black and white photographs on paper. 28.0 x 35.7 cm (each photograph). AGNS Permanent Collection. Gift of Gerald Ferguson, Halifax, Nova Scotia, 1994.

06/22/2026

Yesterday was Father’s Day, and we’re keeping the celebration going just a little longer. 💐✨

Sometimes, the simplest gifts become the ones we treasure most.

Rather than letting a thoughtful bouquet fade with time, celebrated Canadian realist Tom Forrestall chose to preserve the blooms his daughter, Renee, brought him for Father’s Day in 1995.

Fresh flowers don't last forever, but this painting does. It captures a quiet family moment and turns it into something that can be revisited for generations.



Image: Tom Forrestall, Flowers Renee Brought Me for Father's Day, 1995. Watercolour over graphite on Arches paper. 58.0 x 38.4 cm. AGNS Permanent Collection. Gift of Forbes Leasing Limited, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, 2009.

06/19/2026

Ready for some gallery hopping this summer? The Canada Strong Pass is officially back starting today through September 7, 2026. ☀️🕶️

That means free admission for everyone 17 and under, and 50% off for visitors aged 18 to 24. No sign-up or physical pass needed. Just pop by the front desk and enjoy your visit.

💡 Bonus reminder: If you're a Nova Scotia resident or a student under 25, you can always visit the AGNS for free year-round with our Free Access Pass!

06/18/2026

06/15/2026

Our hearts are full after a beautiful kickoff to the summer. 🥂✨

A massive thank you to everyone who spent their time celebrating with us at the AGNS Summer Exhibition Celebration. There’s something truly magical about watching these gallery spaces transform when they are filled with creative energy, laughter, and art lovers connecting with one another.

Swipe through for a glimpse into the celebration! If you couldn't make it out last Friday, the exhibitions are all officially open for you to explore. 🏛️☀️

06/13/2026

NOW ON VIEW – Joan Jonas: We come from the sea. 🌊

Surrounded with layered projections, vibrant drawings, and ambient marine calls, this powerful multisensory exhibition invites you to experience the ocean as never before.

Deeply inspired by the artist’s connection to Cape Breton, it explores how the ocean shapes our collective memory and imagination and brings our local landscapes and spirit into a global conversation.

Presented in partnership with the National Gallery of Canada, with sincere thanks to the Province of Nova Scotia, the Canada Council for the Arts, the D.R. Sobey Foundation, The Sobey Foundation, and other generous supporters.

06/12/2026

The energy tonight is going to be unmatched. ✨

We’re thrilled to finally share Joan Jonas: We come from the sea with the community at tonight’s Summer Exhibition Celebration, along with other incredible exhibitions on view now in the Gallery.

Imagining these immersive spaces coming to life with live music, conversation, and art lovers is the perfect kick-off to the season. 🥂

Doors open at 6pm. Tickets are still available (https://agns.ca/event/summer-2026-exhibition-celebration/).

We can’t wait to celebrate with you all!

06/11/2026

Dive beneath the surface into the making of this ocean-inspired installation. 📽️

You can feel the rising tide of excitement as our expert team puts the final touches on Joan Jonas: We come from the sea. It’s all coming together, and it’s starting to feel pretty magical in the Gallery.

Organized in partnership with the National Gallery of Canada. The exhibition opens to the public this Saturday, June 13.

06/08/2026

Did you know June 8 is World Ocean Day? 🌊

Living in Nova Scotia, it's hard not to feel connected to the ocean. It shapes our coastlines, our communities, and many of the stories we tell about this place.

Artist Joan Jonas has reflected on that connection throughout her work, particularly during her decades spent returning to Cape Breton. Her words remind us of something many of us feel instinctively—that the sea is part of who we are. As she notes: “Somewhere in our unconscious we remember that we come from the sea. It’s not a memory; it’s a feeling; it’s in our DNA.”

What do you think, do we come from the sea? The immersive exhibition, Joan Jonas: We come from the sea, opens at the AGNS this Saturday, June 13. Come and find out. ✨

This exhibition is organized in partnership with the National Gallery of Canada.

06/06/2026

The sea runs through so much of life in Nova Scotia, including the art of Maud Lewis. As winds down, what activities have you checked off your list so far? 🐳

Still room for more? Drop by the AGNS to see this work and other ocean-inspired pieces on view. 🩵

Image: Maud Lewis, Untitled [Lighthouse and Lobster Trap], late 1950s. Oil on pulpboard. 29.4 x 34.6 cm. Private collection.