Art Vancouver 2023
Art Vancouver is primed and ready to invite the global art community to Canadian shores for four days of art, enlightenment, and education. Western Canada’s largest international art fair, more than 120 exhibitors will display their work from May 4–7.
Written by Nathan Durec. Images courtesy of Art Vancouver.
April 14, 2023
Sky Lilah, “it’s better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring”, 2019
Art Vancouver is primed and ready to invite the global art community to Canadian shores for four days of art, enlightenment, and education. Western Canada’s largest international art fair, more than 120 exhibitors will display their work from May 4–7.
As the flagship exhibition of the Vancouver Visual Art Foundation [VVAF], Art Vancouver is constantly growing and exploring new ways to be innovative in how the public interacts with art and artists, and that feeling of welcome is shown in their vision: Art brings people together.
Lynn Li, “Companions”, 2021
“It does bring people together,” Wolfin said. “So many people volunteer because they want to be a part of something that’s happening. We have so many people asking to help in so many different ways and it really brings people together.”
Having the artists and representatives of galleries at the exhibition is also unique, she said. It gives the public the opportunity to speak with the artists, learn the story behind their work and give it context and meaning.
“They meet the artists, and you know, everybody’s happy. It’s a happy place.”
(Left) Rose Tanner, “Reflections”, 2019; (Right) Tasha McNulty, “Need A Name”, 2022
Much of what Art Vancouver does is unique and always comes back to their vision of bringing people together through art. In addition to the exhibition, there are panel talks with artists, live painting shows accompanied by music, art demonstrations and classes, and even a runaway where artists can display their work.
“Art Vancouver developed into more than an art fair that you see at other events,” Skyla Wayrynen, VVAF's managing director said. “When you go to other cities, they have tons of art fairs, but it’s just art. There’s no runway shows or artist demonstrations.”
New for this year, Art Vancouver will host a panel talk on the growing influence of art created by artificial intelligence. Differing viewpoints will express their opinions and debate how the emergence of AI art could change preconceptions of art, authorship, and licence.
Art Vancouver 2023 runs from May 4–7. It will be held at the Vancouver Convention Centre. artvancouver.net
