The Best Places to Buy Art in Vancouver

In a city that has the highest number of artists per capita in all of Canada, shopping for artwork is guaranteed to be an adventure. Vancouver is known for its thriving arts scene and is a great place to start looking for one-of-a-kind art pieces.

Original artwork adds ambiance and has a way of bringing a room to life. Collecting local art contributes to the economic strength and development of local communities. Art can also be a form of investing—individual pieces can increase in value over time and become assets.

Art enthusiasts choose to buy art in Vancouver because of its dynamic and vibrant artistic vibe. The city has enough galleries and studios to keep an art aficionado busy exploring for weeks. Vancouver hosts art events such as festivals and fairs which encourage diversity from both emerging and established artists. The region’s indigenous and international communities bring variance to the art community, so rest assured there’s a lot to choose from as you hunt for new art in Vancouver.

We’ve compiled a diverse list of places to buy art in Vancouver:

• Pacific Arts Market
• Coastal Peoples Fine Arts Gallery
• Vancouver Art Gallery
• Emily Carr student sales
• Arts off Main
• Eastside Culture Crawl
• Inuit Gallery of Vancouver
• Polygon Gallery

Pacific Arts Market

Pacific Arts Market has recently taken over the entire building at 1448 & 1450 W. Broadway St. in South Granville. The new space hosts “The Gallery” downstairs, which offers a pop-up space for art exhibitions and shared rental spaces for artists. “The Studios” consist of work spaces that are occasionally open to the public. “The Market” is a place for visitors to check out art made by local artists, and the best part is that there are no commission fees, so 100% of art proceeds go directly to the artists. Pacific Arts Market also hosts free-entry social events, art workshops, and other art-related activities. If you are looking for an art gallery that gives back to the community, this is the place.

Pacific Arts Market - 1448 & 1450 West Broadway, Vancouver, BC

See website for events and exhibitions

(604) 216-9063

Coastal Peoples Fine Art Gallery

Coastal Peoples Gallery was established in 1996 and showcases the strong art and cultural heritage of the Pacific Northwest, Plains and Inuit First Nations. A visit to the gallery is a great chance to see museum-quality traditional and contemporary artwork produced by masters as well as the next generation of young, emerging artists. Buying First Nations artwork not only contributes to Indigenous communities, it also supports cultural preservation—a step in the right direction towards reconciliation efforts in Canada.

Coastal Peoples Gallery - 332 Water Street, Unit 200, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6B 1B6

Monday to Saturday, 10 am–6 pm | Sunday, 11 am–6 pm | Extended Hours: 10:00 am–7:00 pm (May 1st – September 30th)

+16046849222

Vancouver Art Gallery

If you want to experience Vancouver’s cultural diversity in the form of mind-blowing art, Vancouver Art Gallery is worth checking out. The Gallery was established in 1931 and is known for its displays of historical and contemporary art from British Columbia and around the world, with a special emphasis on Indigenous art. The Gallery also offers extensive public art programs and scholarships. The Institute of Asian Art was established in 2014 and showcases artwork produced in the Asia Pacific region.

The Vancouver Art Gallery is a charitable not-for-profit organisation and is supported by memberships, donations, corporate funding, foundations and government entities. Construction has begun in the heart of downtown for a new Vancouver Art Gallery. The architecture features traditional Coast Salish designs based on ancient weaving techniques.

Vancouver Art Gallery - 750 Hornby Street Vancouver, BC V6Z 2H7

Monday, 10 AM–5 PM | Tuesday, CLOSED | Wednesday, 10 AM–5 PM | Thursday and Friday, 10 AM–8 PM | Saturday and Sunday, 10 AM–5 PM

+16046624700 press 0

Emily Carr University Student Sales

ECU Student Sales is a celebrated (if not legendary) event that has been running for over 50 years, and takes place in November. The sale showcases original paintings, photographs, prints, ceramics, sculptures and more from over 225 participating students who are currently enrolled in Emily Carr University's top-ranking art programs. Shopping at the Student Sales event is a great way to support and encourage young artists while scoring one-of-a-kind pieces at affordable prices.

Emily Carr University of Art and Design - 520 1st Ave E Vancouver BC V5T 0H2

Student Sale dates TBA

1-604-844-3800

Arts Off Main

Arts Off Main was founded in 2003 when a group of seven artists came together, all needing a permanent platform for showcasing and selling their art. The gallery also offers consignment space for other artists. Over time the group incorporated new partners and talents while continuing to share the responsibilities of managing and staffing the gallery. The collective invites visitors to explore the vibrant and eclectic collections of artwork, either online or in person. Arts Off Main is a perfect example of artists supporting other artists.

Arts Off Main - 1704 Charles Street, Vancouver, B.C. V5L 2T6

Wednesday to Sunday 11:00 am - 5:00 pm

+16048762785

Eastside Culture Crawl

For the last 28 years, the Eastside Arts Society has organised the Culture Crawl Arts Festival every November in Vancouver’s eclectic Eastside neighbourhood. Participating artists open their studios to the public, showcasing painting, sculpture, printmaking and photography among other artistic disciplines. Affectionately known as “The Crawl,” the annual event offers open studios, workshops, demonstrations, exhibits and artist talks.

Eastside Culture Crawl - 716 E Hastings Street Vancouver, B.C. V6A 1R5

Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday, 10:00 am-3:00 pm

+17783794545

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Inuit Gallery of Vancouver

The Inuit Gallery of Vancouver was established in 1979 and displays a museum-quality collection of masterpieces from Inuit, Northwest coast First Nations, and other Canadian artists. While most Indigenous galleries in Vancouver feature art from coastal First Nations, The Inuit Gallery is where you can find a large collection of Inuit art from Northern Canada. Both established senior artists and the next generation of emerging artists are featured at the gallery, which is located across from the Lonsdale Quay Market. At the Inuit Gallery of Vancouver you can also find handcrafted jewellery, original sculptures and digital graphics.

Inuit Art Gallery of Vancouver - 120 Carrie Cates Ct, North Vancouver, B.C. V7M 3K7

Monday to Saturday, 10 AM–6 PM | Sunday Statutory Holidays, 11 AM–5 PM

+16046887323, toll free 1-888-615-8399

The Polygon Gallery

Originally known as the Presentation House Gallery, the Polygon Gallery has been showcasing thought-provoking and sometimes even challenging perceptions of the world through photography. This North Vancouver gallery has hosted over 300 photography exhibitions over the last 40 years. The gallery prioritises diversity and works continually with Indigenous communities, particularly the Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations. Admission is offered on a by-donation basis, making the gallery accessible to all. Additionally, the gallery offers multilingual tours and programs to engage a broader audience. Consider bringing the whole family on your next hunt for fine art—The Polygon offers family-friendly programs and activities so that everyone feels included.

The Polygon - 101 Carrie Cates Court North Vancouver, BC V7M 3J4

Monday & Tuesday, Closed | Wednesday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday, 10 AM–5 PM |  Thursday, 10 AM–9 PM

+16049861351

If you are planning a move to Vancouver, or are looking to transport art to your home, Top Move is here for you. We help connect you to low-cost moving services, hassle-free so that you can relax and enjoy Vancouver and its abundant arts community.