The Polygon Gallery
Photo by Attilio Fiumarella.
Photo by Attilio Fiumarella.
Photo by Ema Peter.
The Polygon Gallery is one of the most acclaimed photography and media art galleries in Canada. Through adventurous programming, this vibrant art institution inspires and provokes cultural insight while championing diverse artists and building engaged audiences.
Its lens of inquiry responds creatively to ever-shifting perceptions of the world through the histories and evolving technologies of photography and related media.
The Polygon operated at Presentation House Gallery for 40 years prior to moving into its Governor General’s Medal-winning waterfront building in 2017. The organization has presented more than 300 exhibitions, featuring works by acclaimed Vancouver photographers as well as world-renowned and emerging artists, and produced numerous publications. Polygon’s expansive programming aims to reflect the diversity of the place it calls home, prioritizing new voices within lens-based practices. Situated on the unceded territories of the Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), səl̓ilwətaɁɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), and xwməθkwəýəm (Musqueam) Nations, the Gallery is committed to engaging with Indigenous communities, particularly the Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations.
A gathering space and community hub as much as a bold cultural institution, the Polygon is working to expand its audience by providing exhibition tours in English, Farsi, French, Mandarin, and Spanish. The Gallery is committed to inclusivity, firmly believing that art should be accessible to everyone regardless of financial means. Admission is by-donation all day, every day, courtesy of BMO, with exhibition tours, talks, and outreach programs included.
Children’s programs, which are also free or included with admission-by-donation, range from Gallery School to Kids First Saturdays, all geared to encouraging kids and families to learn about and interact with art.
Reid Shier is the Polygon Gallery director, and Jessica Bouchard is associate director.
Patkau Architects designed the Gallery’s glass-and-mirrored-stainless-steel landmark building with a shimmering façade that reflects the changing light of day. Situated on a historically resonant site at the foot of Lonsdale in North Vancouver, it overlooks Burrard Inlet and the Vancouver skyline.
The Polygon Gallery is a public cultural facility operated by the British Columbia Photography and Media Arts Society, a federally registered charity. It is grateful for the ongoing support of the Canada Council for the Arts, the British Columbia Arts Council, the Province of British Columbia, and the City of North Vancouver and the District of North Vancouver through the North Vancouver Recreation & Culture Commission.
Photo by Ema Peter.
Find the Polygon Gallery
101 Carrie Cates Court
North Vancouver, B.C.
Phone: 604-986-1351
