The Art Emporium

Established in 1897, The Art Emporium is the oldest art gallery in Canada west of Toronto.

The original location was on the corner of Georgia and Hornby Street, kitty-corner to the old courthouse – the current home of the Vancouver Art Gallery. In its early years, The Art Emporium was a popular focus for the young city’s art community, functioning as a gathering place for artists to converse, exchange ideas, buy supplies and frames, and exhibit their paintings.

Through the years, the gallery was frequented by such notables as the C.P.R. Painters, members of the Group of Seven, and local artists like Thomas Fripp, Emily Carr and Jack Shadbolt. Historically, it has been an integral part of Vancouver’s art scene for the past century.