Winnipeg Art Gallery

The Winnipeg Art Gallery (WAG), located in downtown Winnipeg, is one of Canada’s oldest and most distinguished public art galleries, established in 1912. The gallery is renowned for its vast collection of artwork, with a particular emphasis on Canadian and Indigenous art, especially Inuit art.

The WAG’s permanent collection boasts over 27,000 pieces of art, including paintings, sculptures, photographs, decorative arts, and contemporary works. It has an international scope, but the gallery is especially celebrated for its significant holdings of Inuit art, the largest public collection in the world. This focus on Inuit art is showcased in Qaumajuq, a stunning new Inuit Art Centre that opened in 2021, attached to the main WAG building. Qaumajuq features more than 14,000 Inuit artworks, ranging from carvings and prints to textiles and contemporary pieces, offering a profound insight into the artistic traditions and evolving stories of the Inuit people. WAG also features European and American artworks, as well as pieces from Africa and Asia, ensuring a diverse array of artistic styles and mediums.

The building itself is an architectural landmark, designed by Gustavo da Roza and opened in 1971. Its modernist structure, with a striking angular design, adds to the cultural landscape of Winnipeg.

With its rich collection and community engagement, the WAG is an essential destination for art lovers and a beacon of cultural life in Manitoba.