Art Exhibits
The City of St. Catharines' public art exhibits provide the opportunity to experience original art, historic photos, or cultural treasures that reflect St. Catharines' stories, creative self-expression, experiences and perspectives. Our exhibits are coordinated by the Cultural Services office with support from the Public Art Advisory Committee.
17th Annual Juried Exhibition: Current
On View: September 18, 2026 – January 22, 2027
Third Floor of City Hall, Chambers Gallery
The Niagara region is shaped by currents: waterways, histories, industries, migrations, and the social and cultural forces that continue to shape life today. Current invited artists to explore both the literal flows that define this place and the currents of the present moment, from global events and technological change to personal, political, emotional, and environmental experiences.
Bringing together a diverse range of artistic practices, Current reflects on movement, transformation, connection, and change. The exhibition examines how local experiences intersect with broader global realities, revealing the visible and invisible forces that influence contemporary life. Through photography, painting, mixed media, printmaking, and ceramics, the artists offer unique perspectives on the energies shaping both Niagara and the wider world.
Selected through an open call for Niagara-based artists, this annual juried exhibition showcases the breadth of creative talent across the region. The exhibition was juried by two of the City's Arts and Culture Committee Members, Bart Gazzola and Debra Antonic, who selected works that thoughtfully engage with the theme while demonstrating originality, artistic merit, and creative approaches to contemporary practice.
The exhibition opens with a public reception on Friday, September 18, 2026, at 5 p.m. in the Chambers Gallery, Third Floor, St. Catharines City Hall. Visitors are invited to meet the artists, learn more about the works on view, and celebrate the opening of this annual juried exhibition.
Featured Artists:
Benjamin Bradbury, Roisin Derbis, M.F. Elliott, Amy Friend, Mori McCrae, Marzi Alimo, Melani Pyke, Alexandra Sandison, Jon Shaw, and Jennifer Toby.
Downtown Storefronts
Half-Breed by Marvin Dale
On View: Ontario Street Garage, 8 Ontario St., St. Catharines
Artist Statement:
"Half-Breed is a self portrait that shows the way I grew up. This picture captures what it felt like being stuck in two worlds and not being accepted by either. I was treated by white society the same way I was treated by the Indigenous community. As a young kid, growing up in the bush in Thunder Bay where the Indigenous population is higher than Niagara, racism and poverty was really bad. I felt torn between two worlds. I endured a lot of violence, and now face a battle to reclaim my own identity. I am a full blooded native but the government put a wedge by taking my status when my great grandfather joined the Canadian Military. I don't feel accepted by my own band due to government interference."
Culvert by Erin Greenizan
On View: Mahtay Cafe & Lounge, 241 St. Paul St., St. Catharines
Artist Statement:
"I am drawn to the flux of seasonal change through our Canadian landscapes. I seek to grasp why our human nature is in conflict with 'actual' nature and wonder where does this separation begin and end and if more cooperation can be achieved. My work does not depict any violent destruction of nature and does not have a cynical appearance. I try to paint the shape, flow and cycles of these ideas to garner realistic compositions of our nature and the impact our daily lives have on the landscape around us."
Stronger Now by Wayne Moore
On View: 53 St. Paul St., St. Catharines
Artist Statement:
"Part of my Tool of Tools series, Stronger Now reflects on the quiet yet powerful ways we shape one another’s lives. Hands repeat like heartbeats in the background, speaking without words and weaving comfort and connection. They hold, guide, and build tools of both creation and care. Within the silhouettes lies a shared strength, lives intertwined and journeys carried together. This is resilience shaped by touch, love multiplied, and the truth that we rise stronger when we rise for each other."
Shadow Puppet by Quinn Oberlein
On View: The Hobby Shop, 401 St. Paul St., St. Catharines
Artist Statement:
Quinn Oberlein is an interdisciplinary artist located in St. Catharines, Ontario. Her practice is inspired by intrapersonal exploration and the nuances of love and grief. Her work focuses on repurposing and reclaiming materials to create more sustainably within painting, textile sculptural pieces and garments.
Trickster by Christian Chapman
On View: NPAAMB Indigenous Education and Training, 39 Geneva Street, St. Catharines
Artist Statement:
Trickster explores contemporary life through the lens of traditional Anishinaabe storytelling. By bringing traditional narratives into present-day contexts, Christian Chapman highlights the continued relevance of Indigenous stories and perspectives in the modern world.
Christian Chapman is an Anishinaabe artist from Fort William First Nation whose painting and printmaking practice is rooted in storytelling, identity, and culture.
Exhibit Locations
Some exhibits are permanent or installed on a temporary basis and can be found throughout City buildings, parks and property, and in the community, while others are displayed on a rotating basis and can be found at:
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