Exhibitions

The visual arts can be found all over Richmond in exhibitions designed to spark curiousity and encourage insightful conversation.

 Photo: ArtRich exhibition opening at Richmond Art Gallery, 2019

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Richmond Art Gallery

The Richmond Art Gallery is the City’s only public, municipal gallery and is dedicated to presenting visual art exhibitions by local, national and international artists. 

Founded in 1980, the Gallery is supported by the Richmond Art Gallery Association, a non-profit organization. It is dedicated to promoting dialogue among diverse communities and presenting exhibitions that address challenging ideas and contemporary issues.  

The Art Gallery’s main exhibition space is located in the Richmond Cultural Centre. It also manages two offsite spaces: City Hall Galleria and The Annex Gallery. Each provides platforms and opportunities for local artists and makers via an annual open call for submissions.  

RAG has presented over 1500 exhibitions and numerous offsite art installations over its 45 years. Deeply connected to its local context, the Gallery has always sought to be reflective of its many diverse communities. Through exhibitions, public programs, and other activities, RAG considers the histories and issues impacting Richmond and beyond, by presenting projects of social and cultural pertinence that reflect Richmond’s intercultural context.  

The Art Gallery is a space to experience, make, and discuss art via exhibitions, youth/school programs, art-making workshops, talks, screenings, publications, and its permanent collection. The gallery presents four to five exhibitions plus numerous off-site art installations annually. This work is paired with a broad range of multilingual public programs and a robust set of educational programs. The Gallery is recognized for bringing artists and communities together through innovative, well-attended exhibitions and programs of relevance to Richmond residents, and beyond. 

Top photo: The lights constellating one’s internal sky by Richard Ibghy and Marilou Lemmons, 2012
Bottom photo: In Suspended Silence by Xiaojing Yan, 2018

 

Community Art Exhibitions

The work of local artists can be discovered in many public spaces around the city.

The Annex Gallery presents the work of Richmond-based artists at the Richmond Cultural Centre Annex. Overseen by the Richmond Art Gallery, The Annex Gallery hosts three exhibitions per year selected through an open call each fall.

City Hall Galleria displays artworks responsive to the context of Richmond in the main hall of Richmond City Hall. Exhibitions are curated by the Richmond Art Gallery and selected through an open call each fall. The Galleria hosts four exhibitions per year.    

Located on the second level of the Richmond Cultural Centre, the Upper Rotunda Gallery is a community-based gallery space exhibiting works from Resident Art Groups, community artist groups, art students and emerging artists. Exhibitions are presented by the City of Richmond and community partners including Richmond Black History Month, School District No. 38, Sister City Program and more. 

Urban Infastructure Art Program transforms everyday public infrastructure—like utility boxes and construction hoarding—into engaging artworks that celebrate Richmond’s vibrant communities and natural heritage, often in partnership with the City’s Engineering and Transportation service teams and community groups. Artists can participate by applying to the program’s roster, which is updated every two years.

City Centre Community Centre exhibits artwork in the lower and upper hallways.

South Arm Community Centre offers art displays along a 15-foot hallway and accepts submissions from artists year-round.

Thompson Community Centre has two opportunities to view art exhibitions: the River Walk community art installation and monthly displays in the lobby.

Gateway Theatre has exhibition spaces in the lobby and on the second floor.

No. 3 Road Art Columns are circular backlit display cases located at Aberdeen and Lansdowne Canada Line Stations. The columns are curated by the Richmond Public Art program and are designed to showcase 2D visual art.

Richmond’s Street Banner Program is a civic beautification initiative that invites community members to submit visual designs to be printed onto banners that adorn light posts across the city.

Top photo: Upper Rotunda Gallery, Richmond Cultural Centre, 2025. Photo credit: Rachel Topham Photography
Bottom photo: My Memories of Steveston, Adrianne Moore, No. 3 Road Art Column, 2026.

Richmond Public Art Program

The Richmond Public Art program turns the city into a living exhibition by situating permanent, temporary and ephemeral artwork into our everyday landscape.

With more than 300 public artworks by local, Canadian and international artists in the collection, there is lots to discover. Search the Public Art Registry to browse the collection by title, artist or neighbourhood.

Plan your public art walking or bike tour online, download a Public Art Brochure or use Tourism Richmond's Public Art Trail Interactive Map to explore a new area or rediscover your own neighbourhood.

Artists interested in responding to public art calls are encouraged to download the guide for tips on how to apply and to contact us to get on the Public Art email list to receive artist calls as they are announced. Current artist calls can be found here.

Richmond’s Public Art Plans are designed to help City staff, private developers and communities identify potential collaborations and thematic links that could be made between areas of the city and projects that span property and neighbourhood boundaries.

Top photo: Richmond Skaters, Inges Idee, 2025.
Bottom photo: Together, David Jacob Harder, 2019.

Additional gallery and exhibition spaces

Richmond has a growing number of commercial galleries, exhibition spaces and community-driven arts initiatives. Here are a few to check out: