Visual arts & new media

World Art Day

Each year, on 15 April, World Art Day celebrations help reinforce the links between artistic creations and society, encourage greater awareness of the diversity of artistic expressions and highlight the contribution of artists to sustainable development. It is also an occasion to shine a light on arts education in schools, as culture can pave the way for inclusive and equitable education.

Sharing Alberta's art

With over 9,000 artworks in the AFA Art Collection, there is always a need to find creative ways to share Alberta's art province wide. In any given year, the AFA has an incredible 20-25% of its collection in public circulation. This is achieved through exhibition loans, extended loans, and touring and art placement programs.

Through the TREX Curators/Managers in the TREX program, the AFA has been able to share art throughout the province bringing Albertan creativity to 187 venues in 95 communities, and reaching over 615,000 Albertans!

Publicly accessible art

Throughout the province you can find works from the AFA Art Collection on display in publicly accessible areas. Keep an eye on social media on World Art Day and see if your favourite and recognizable locations are sharing art from the Collection! 

Athletic Aesthetics

Location: Gallery Foyer at the Esplanade Arts & Heritage Centre(April 19 - June 14)

Featured artwork

Craig Pelzer
Javelin: Studies 1 & 2, 1978 
acrylic, graphite and ink on paper
Collection of the Alberta Foundation for the Arts.

About the exhibition

Discover the surprising artistry within the world of sports! 

Athletic Aesthetics, a captivating exhibition featuring work from the AFA Art Collection, showcases 20 diverse artworks that beautifully blur the lines between art and athletics. Prepare to see iconic photographs from Edmonton's own 1978 Commonwealth Games by Don Mabie and Sylvain Voyer, offering a nostalgic glimpse into a significant local event. This exhibition uniquely explores the inherent grace and dedication found in both artistic expression and athletic endeavors.

Through a compelling collection of photography, video, prints, and paintings, Athletic Aesthetics showcases a wide range of activities, from familiar sports like football and cycling to the unexpected athleticism of ballet and bull riding. You'll gain a new appreciation for the shared skill, discipline, and even beauty that exists in these seemingly separate realms. Come and celebrate the power, elegance, and sheer joy of human movement, captured through the discerning eyes and hands of talented artists.

About the artist

Craig Pelzer was born in St. Francis, ON in 1952. Pelzer studied at the University of Saskatchewan (1970–72) before earning a BFA from the University of Alberta (1972–76). Pelzer also studied at the Banff School (now The Banff Centre) from 1976–77. Pelzer works primarily
in printmaking and painting. About his works on paper, he notes: “Paper provides me with a vehicle with which to research ideas and techniques for larger projects. Often they are within themselves finished pieces.”

About TREX

The AFA's Travelling Exhibition (TREX) program strives to ensure every Albertan is provided with an opportunity to enjoy fully developed exhibitions in schools, libraries, health care centres and smaller rural institutions and galleries throughout the province.

The TREX program assists in making both the AFA's extensive art collection and the work of contemporary Alberta artists available to Albertans.

Four regional organizations now coordinate the program for the Foundation:

• The Art Gallery of Grande Prairie - Northwest Alberta
• Art Gallery of Alberta - Northeast and North Central Alberta
• Alberta Society of Artists - Southwest Alberta
• Esplanade Arts & Heritage Centre - Southeast Alberta

These partners offer a wide range of exhibitions to communities from High Level in the north, to Milk River in the south, and virtually everywhere in between.

Folk Memoirs

Location: St. John Paul II High School, Grande Prairie (April 17 - May 14)

Featured artwork:

Hazel Litzgus
Canning Peaches, 1970
Watercolour on paper
Collection of the Alberta Foundation for the Arts

About the exhibition:

Folk Memoirs is a collection of visual narratives experienced while growing up on the Alberta prairies. Sourcing these rare historical moments from the Alberta Foundation for the Arts permanent collection, you will see paintings by Hazel Litzgus, Irene McCaugherty, William Panko and Doris Zaharichuk. The works are described as folk art, which is a unique style of art that reflects the cultural life of a community. Inspired by scenes from everyday life including: helping with housework, farm labor, playing outside, going to rodeos and more.

A memoir is a narrative composed from personal experience. The paintings in this show speak for themselves, taking you back in time to recall or learn the history of what life was like in the mid nineteen hundreds. Folk art takes on a very whimsical and colourful style of expression. This genre of artists are typically not concerned with making their subject look realistic. As you can see in William Panko’s paintings, he doesn’t worry about painting the scenes with the exact perspective or proportions – rather, he gives the paintings a more two dimensional or ‘flat’ appearance. More importantly, he depicted the story and what he remembered.

This group exhibition showcases simple everyday work-life balance. Hazel Litzgus’s work is a perfect example of this, from painting scenes of harvesting and cattle round up to dancing in the kitchen and rodeos. Enjoy finding hidden details of Irene McCaugherty and Doris Zaharichuk’s paintings as they draw the viewer in to enjoy how natural and simplistic life was. The works in this exhibition are a memoir of the artist’s life, savoring and reflecting on stories of the past.

About the Artist:

Hazel Litzgus continues to captivate the hearts of Albertans with her charming and nostalgic folk images of early Alberta life. Born on a farm near Lloydminister, Alberta, Hazel, through her paintings give us a glimpse of her early childhood and her many recollections of early rural and small town life on the Alberta Prairies.

Working in the unforgiving medium of watercolour, Hazel Litzgus narrates moments from her past in vivid detail with whimsy, in a naïve painting style. Whether it be the detailed wallpaper and patterned linoleum floor in a country farm house, or a school yard full of excited children playing various games, her art work is very reflective of her as a person. Hazel is a charming, soft spoken lady with a strong and determined character. She is full of life and stories and one feels right at ease as she tells of her experiences on the Prairies. Hazel’s book, Where the Meadow Lark Sang was published in 2003 and received great attention. In a review by CM Magazine, University of Manitoba, wrote: “In her use of bright colours and carefully detailed drawing, Litzgus created illustrations that are reminiscent of William Kurelek.”

About TREX

The AFA's Travelling Exhibition (TREX) program strives to ensure every Albertan is provided with an opportunity to enjoy fully developed exhibitions in schools, libraries, health care centres and smaller rural institutions and galleries throughout the province.

The TREX program assists in making both the AFA's extensive art collection and the work of contemporary Alberta artists available to Albertans.

Four regional organizations now coordinate the program for the Foundation:

• The Art Gallery of Grande Prairie - Northwest Alberta
• Art Gallery of Alberta - Northeast and North Central Alberta
• Alberta Society of Artists - Southwest Alberta
• Esplanade Arts & Heritage Centre - Southeast Alberta

These partners offer a wide range of exhibitions to communities from High Level in the north, to Milk River in the south, and virtually everywhere in between.

The Alberta Society of Artists invites all artists in Alberta (must be 18 years of age or older) to submit to the exhibition, Nostalgia – Chasing Yesterday. 

“Nostalgia is a sentimental longing for the past—its people, places, events, and possibilities. What triggers this yearning? Is it the scent of something familiar, the sound of an old song, or perhaps a weathered photograph? Were the "good old days" truly as perfect as we remember, or do the mists of time cloud our perception? In an ever-evolving world, nostalgia can offer comfort and a sense of belonging, but does it also keep us tethered to what once was? Can revisiting the past help us better understand and shape the future? What does nostalgia feel like to you? Is it an abstract emotion conveyed through shape, color, and texture, or does it manifest as a tangible memory, an image frozen in time? We encourage you to explore nostalgia in its many forms—whether it’s a glimpse of a moment from the past or a deeper emotional reflection on how those moments continue to shape us today.”

 All artists, both emerging and established, working in all media including installation, sculpture, video or photography, fibre, painting, drawing, and mixed media are encouraged to apply. 

Deadline for Submissions: June 30, 2025 

For more information, go to www.albertasocietyofartists.com/2025-travelling-exhibitions. 

For questions on accepted media, please contact coordinator@albertasocietyofartists.com or call the Gallery at 403-265-0012. 

The Alberta Society of Artists is the oldest society of juried professional artists in the province, providing art education and exhibitions in public venues since 1931. The Society’s goal is to increase public awareness and appreciation of the visual arts in Alberta.

(Calgary, AB) The Alberta Society of Artists invites all artists in Alberta (must be 18 years of age or older) to submit to the exhibition, “Finding Joy in a Dystopian World”. “A dystopian world is one that often feels devoid of reason, a reflection of some of the struggles we face today. 

In such a world, how do we navigate without losing our sense of hope? Can we discover joy through the power of ideas, knowledge, and creativity? Is it possible to imagine a future where compassion, equality, and the resilient human spirit triumph over despair? We invite you to explore and express your vision: what brings you joy, inner peace, and hope in the face of adversity? How do you find light in the darkness? What can we learn from dystopia, and how can we shape a more hopeful future through art?” 

“This will be our reply to violence: to make music more intensely, more beautifully, more devotedly than ever before.” – Leonard Bernstein, on the occasion of the death of President John F. Kennedy.” All artists, both emerging and established, working in all media including installation, sculpture, video or photography, fibre, painting, drawing, and mixed media are encouraged to apply. 

Deadline for Submissions: June 30, 2025 For more information, go to www.albertasocietyofartists.com/2025-travelling-exhibitions. 

For questions on accepted media, please contact coordinator@albertasocietyofartists.com or call the Gallery at 403-265-0012. 

The Alberta Society of Artists is the oldest society of juried professional artists in the province, providing art education and exhibitions in public venues since 1931. The Society’s goal is to increase public awareness and appreciation of the visual arts in Alberta.