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special project

on view
Apr 12, 2026–Apr 12, 2027

Curatorial Portraits

Reading the 1980s and 90s

A conference room featuring a long wooden table surrounded by chairs. A woman sits at the table, examining a magazine. Behind her is a bookshelf filled with books and a large window that offers a view of the outside. Natural light streams in, casting shadows on the walls.

The Gibson Library.

Ema Peter 

This archival project raises the visibility of notable curators active in the Lower Mainland between 1980 and 1999, when curatorial practices were expanding alongside a growing field of exhibition spaces. Some participants lived in the region throughout this period; others landed more briefly but made decided impacts; several had broader careers as artists or administrators but made valuable curatorial contributions. Some held positions at local museums and public art galleries, while others activated smallerartist-run spaces or realized ideas in public sites or through thematic gatherings or media-specific contexts such as photography, video, performance, and new technologies. Their approaches were shaped variously by the drive to respond to the demands of a specific place and time, to bring visibility to lesser-known practices, or to experiment with the conventional curatorial model itself.  

Each participant has selected up to a dozen publications that reflect their influences, focus, and practice—in a sense, creating a type of self-portrait. These archival fragments begin to chart Metro Vancouver’s curatorial activities, revealing shifts in attitudes, institutions, and strategies as they pertain to exhibiting art. Additionally, many contributors have made annotations in their selections as a way of inscribing personal histories into their books and brochures. The publications have been donated to the Gibson Art Museum, which is itself a malleable container of histories and ideas. Paper copies of participants’ curriculum vitaes are also available in the Gibson’s library, showing the full extent of their curatorial activity. 

This unofficial archive is but a starting point, representing only a portion of the curators who energized Vancouver’s art scene during these decades. With further engagement and deeper research, our aim is for this library of portraits to grow to encompass even more curators from this period (including those who are deceased), as well as those from earlier and successive generations, and from a broader geographical area. Over time, this growing archive will undoubtedly add a curatorial dimension to the histories of Vancouver’s art ecology that have yet to be written.

To visit the library, contact the Gibson’s Collections Manager, Sydney Laiss.

Curatorial Portraits: Reading the 1980s and 90s launches on Sunday April 12, 2026, at 2PM with an informal roundtable discussion and reception that offers available participants an opportunity to speak about their "self-portraits." 


Curator Biographies, Bibliographies, and CVs

Bill Jeffries

Daina Augaitis

Glenn Alteen

Hank Bull

Helga Pakassar

Henry Tsang

Ian Thom

Jo-Anne Birnie-Danzker

Karen Henry

Karen Love

Keith Wallace

Laiwan

Liane Davison

Lorna Brown

Paul Wong

Sara Diamond

Shengtian Zheng

Zainub Verjee


This project is a celebration of the 2025 Governor General's Awards in Visual and Media Arts laureate, Daina Augaitis, presented and supported by the Canada Council for the Arts, in collaboration and supported by the National Gallery of Canada, and the MacKenzie Art Gallery. 

Ce projet célèbre la lauréate du Prix du Gouverneur général en arts visuels et en arts médiatiques 2025, Daina Augaitis, présenté et soutenu par le Conseil des arts du Canada, avec la collaboration et soutien du Musée des beaux-arts du Canada, et de la Mackenzie Art Gallery. 

Organized by Daina Augaitis with Katja Canini, National Gallery of Canada; Kimberly Phillips and Julia Lamare, Marianne and Edward Gibson Art Museum; and Nicolle Nugent, MacKenzie Art Gallery. 


Related Programs

  • TalkCuratorial PortraitsRoundtable & Reception

Contributors

  • Glenn Alteen
  • Daina Augaitis
  • Greg Bellerby
  • Jo-Anne Birnie-Danzker
  • Lorna Brown
  • Hank Bull
  • Liane Davison
  • Sara Diamond
  • Karen Henry
  • Bill Jeffries
  • Laiwan
  • Karen Love
  • Helga Pakasaar
  • Shengtian Zheng
  • Ian Thom
  • Henry Tsang
  • Zainub Verjee
  • Keith Wallace
  • Scott Watson
  • Paul Wong

Supporters

CCA logo
National Gallery of Canada
Mackenzie Art Gallery





Images (18)

A wooden table displays a stack of several books with varied cover designs and colors, including titles like "THE SHORT CENTURY" and an abstract black-and-white design. Other items, such as a dark blue book are also visible in the background.
A group of three women are engaged in conversation indoors. One woman, smiling, has long blonde hair and is wearing a black outfit with a red shawl. The other two women, seen from the back, have curly hair and are wearing dark clothing. A television screen is visible in the background.
A group of six people stands in a contemporary space with large windows. They are engaged in conversation, with some facing each other and others looking at a table filled with books and boxes. The setting features a wooden bookshelf in the background, displaying various books. A sign labeled "Curatorial Portraits" is visible on the wall beside the bookshelf. The atmosphere is casual and collaborative.
Three individuals are gathered around a wooden table filled with a variety of colorful books. One person, seen from behind, is inspecting a book, while another, wearing a black jacket, gestures as he speaks. A third individual, in a black hoodie, listens attentively. In the background, there is a television mounted on the wall. The setting appears to be a modern, well-lit room.
A group of people are engaged in conversation and examining books at a wooden table in a modern interior space. The background features a large window with views of a landscaped area outside, and a wall with neatly arranged bookshelves. On the table, various colorful books are displayed alongside pink labels. The atmosphere is casual and collaborative, with individuals of diverse appearances.
Two women are standing at a table filled with books. One woman, with long hair and wearing glasses, is looking closely at a book she is holding, while the other woman, with short white hair and colorful attire, is observing her. In the background, there are additional people and a large photograph hanging on the wall depicting someone throwing objects from a window. The setting has light-colored walls and wooden accents.
Two women are engaged in conversation in a modern indoor setting. One woman, wearing a gray cap and a red scarf, is holding a notebook while examining it closely. She has a patterned bag slung over her shoulder. The other woman, with curly hair and glasses, stands nearby holding a stack of books. A table in front of them is covered with various books and notebooks, and large windows show a blurred outdoor view with trees.
A group of sixteen people poses for a photo in a well-lit room featuring shelves filled with books. The individuals, a mix of genders and ages, are dressed in various styles, some with glasses and distinctive hairstyles. In the foreground, there are several boxes and books on a wooden table, suggesting a scholarly or artistic gathering.
Two individuals are engaged in conversation indoors. The person on the left, a man with curly hair and glasses, is looking thoughtful while touching his chin. He is dressed in a black hoodie and carries a blue bag. The person on the right, a woman with long gray hair and round glasses, is speaking animatedly while gesturing with her hands. She is wearing a dark blazer over a patterned top. The background shows a large window and hints of greenery outside.
A group of people are engaged in conversation inside a modern room with large windows. In the foreground, a table is covered with various books and materials. Two individuals are standing beside the table, while another person is partially visible, bending over the table. The scene conveys a relaxed setting focused on discussion and exploration of books.
Two women are speaking at an event in an art gallery. One woman, with curly gray hair and glasses, is holding a paper and appears to be addressing the audience, while the other woman, with short gray hair and glasses, stands nearby, listening. The background features art on the walls and a wooden sculpture. An audience is visible, mostly seen from behind.
A group of people is seated in a modern indoor space with wooden beams and a blue wall featuring artistic tree designs. In the foreground, attendees sit facing a panel of speakers, some of whom are wearing colorful clothing. A woman stands to the right, holding notes and addressing the audience. The room has large windows allowing natural light, and various artworks are displayed on the walls.
A group of four individuals is seated in a modern, brightly lit room. One person, dressed in a blue beanie and a jacket, is speaking animatedly while holding a piece of paper. Another person is holding a microphone and a cup, while a woman in a patterned outfit and a black jacket listens. The setting includes a small round table with cups and books, and artwork hangs on the wall behind them. There are also plants and a vibrant flower in the foreground.
A discussion panel featuring a man wearing glasses and a black shirt speaking animatedly, while a smiling woman with long, light-colored hair in a red shawl sits beside him, holding a microphone. In the background, there are abstract wooden wall sculptures, and several audience members are partially visible in the foreground, attentively listening.
An elderly man with glasses is seated in a light-colored chair, gesturing with his hands as he speaks. He is wearing a black turtleneck and a red scarf. Next to him, a woman in a red sweater is holding a microphone, while another person, out of focus, is sitting to his left. The background features a blue wall with wooden wall art.
A group of four people sits in a discussion setting. The focus is on a woman with curly gray hair and glasses, gesturing as she speaks. Next to her is a man in a black shirt holding a microphone. In the background, there is a woman in a red shawl and another woman with light brown hair, both listening attentively. The backdrop features wooden artwork and a blue wall.
Three individuals are seated in a well-lit room. On the left, a man wearing a blue beanie and an athletic jacket is holding a pen and looking attentively. In the middle, a woman dressed in a black blazer and white blouse is smiling as she holds a notepad and gestures with her other hand. On the right, an older man in a checkered shirt is seated with a thoughtful expression. There are modern chairs and a table in front of them, with cups and snacks visible. A window in the background lets in natural light.
A group of people sits in a circular arrangement within a modern art gallery. They are engaged in discussion, with one person animatedly speaking at the center. The background features a large wall installation of wooden trees and animals, while the seating includes various chairs and small tables. Some participants appear to be taking notes or listening attentively, and there are several printed materials and a bouquet of flowers on a table. The room is brightly lit with a white ceiling and light wooden flooring.