Review: Vancouver Art Gallery

Start with the basics. What’s this place all about?
Located in a former courthouse in the heart of downtown, the Vancouver Art Gallery is the city’s largest. Plans are in the works for a larger, more modern gallery (designed by Herzog & de Meuron) a few blocks away, but few visitors complain about the current heritage site, built in 1906, which centers around a large rotunda and elegant staircase and features formal porticos, marble stonework, and a bright central dome. On sunny days, the exterior steps are a favorite hangout for the office lunch set, bike couriers, and Robson street shoppers; the grounds also host peaceful demonstrations of all stripes. And while it may not have the heft of larger institutions like the MOMA or the Tate, this museum has an impressive collection and the curators have a knack for choosing touring exhibitions that make a lasting impression.

Great. So what's on the walls?
The gallery has an expansive collection of more than 12,000 artworks ranging from historical masterworks to visionary contemporary pieces, including 200 works by famed British Columbia painter Emily Carr, as well as Group of Seven painters including Lawren Harris, A.Y. Jackson, and Tom Thomson. Photography also has a significant place here, with works by Diane Arbus, Eadweard Muybridge, and Henri Cartier-Bresson, plus Vancouver School photo-conceptualists such as Stan Douglas, Jeff Wall, Ian Wallace, and Roy Arden. Pop art by Roy Lichtenstein and Andy Warhol are also in the mix.

Any shows passing through, too?
All of the exhibits are seasonal and shift multiple times a year; some recent highlights include "Guo Pei: Couture Beyond," the first Canadian exhibition devoted to the work of the famed Chinese couturier; "Cabin Fever," a historical and cultural survey of the cabin in North America that came complete with architectural models; "Takashi Murakami: The Octopus Eats Its Own Leg," a major retrospective of the explosively colorful work by the Japanese art icon; and "Claude Monet’s Secret Garden," one of the largest exhibitions of the French Impressionist’s work in Canada in two decades.

Who's here?
The building and grounds, which take up an entire city block smack in the center of downtown, draw everyone: art lovers, travelers, and locals looking to get out of the rain or summer heat. On Sunday afternoons the gallery also hosts a fun, activities-heavy family program that's a big hit with kids.

What's the space itself like?
The gallery is housed in a heritage building that has been extensively updated. The exhibitions are spread across four floors, which can be accessed by stairs, escalators, or elevator. The spaces are all large and open, with plenty of sitting areas.

Any guided tours worth trying?
There are two types of tours (Thursday to Sunday): a 45-minute survey tour that provides an overview of the current exhibitions and a 30-minute highlight tour that focuses on key works. Self-guided audio tours are also available, too, as are guided Chinese language tours, primarily in Mandarin, on Saturdays and Sundays. For a pretty penny, you can also book private guided tours and after-hours tours with gallery pros.

How's the gift shop—worth a stop on our way out?
The shop is an art-lover’s paradise, with handmade jewelry, beautiful greeting cards, limited-edition prints, art puzzles, locally made clothing and bags, smart kids’ toys and activity books, unique housewares, and more, as well as the requisite goofy gifts that never fail to elicit bemused chuckles.

How about the café?
The café is a destination, mostly for its beautiful summer patio, which is one of the best in the downtown area. With an emphasis on local and organic bistro-style cuisine, the café goes well beyond wrapped sandwiches and yogurt cups; instead offering hearty soups, salads, grain bowls, fresh panini sandwiches, and house-made quiches. Admission to the gallery isn’t required to access the café, so it’s a great spot for Robson Street shoppers to refuel, too. On Tuesdays the gallery is open until 9pm, and the café, which is licensed and also open until 9, is a great date-night spot.

If we're a little crunched for time, what should we make sure to see?
You could easily spend a half-day here, if you really wanted, but an hour should get you through all of the exhibitions. Focus on the main-floor feature exhibit and save a few minutes for the gift shop.