A Walk Through PG’s Art Scene
By Fernanda Salla
When I moved to Prince George from São Paulo, Brazil, almost nine years ago, it was the beginning of fall. Soon after, local art and craft fairs started to appear on the calendar. I remember being amazed by the number of vendors and the variety of creations — from knitting and crochet to ceramics, watercolors, jewelry, wood carvings, and so many unique works that showed me how this city was not only producing art, but also buying and supporting it.
Those fairs were always packed. One of them is the Farmer’s Market, held year-round in downtown. When the weather warms up, it spills outside from the building on 3rd Avenue into the streets every Saturday, filling them with music, food, and stalls. Alongside fresh vegetables, fruit, and meat, there are always tables showcasing artwork. Over time, I realized how talent and love for local art are nurtured here. PG is full of opportunities to experience, learn, and create art. For locals it might be easy to overlook, but as a newcomer, it caught my eye everywhere.
A short walk downtown is enough to feel inspired and see what the city has to offer. Prince George is located on the unceded territory of the Lheidli T’enneh First Nation, and right in front of City Hall there’s a powerful reminder of that connection: a canoe carved with scenes from a Lheidli T’enneh legend, set on a glass tile mosaic by artists Robert Frederick and Jennifer Annaïs Pighin. The mosaic features fish species native to the Nechako and Fraser Rivers.
Photo by Fernanda Salla: Lheidli T’enneh canoe and glass tile mosaic by Robert Frederick and Jennifer Annaïs Pighin, in front of Prince George City Hall.
Just a few steps from City Hall, at Canada Games Plaza, is one of my favorite places: the Nanguz ‘an Market, named in honor of the Lheidli T’enneh. It’s a container market with five colorful units surrounding the year-round skating rink. I love spending time there with my family, browsing the work of local artists, while my daughters Clarice (8) and Gabriela (5) skate. The main container features a beautiful mural by Theresa Sapergia, inspired by Northern BC’s wildlife and landscapes — flowers, moose, foxes, northern lights, and even Mr. PG, the city’s mascot. The site also includes a stage that hosts live music and performances during special events.
Photo by Fernanda Salla: Nanguz ‘an Market at Canada Games Plaza, featuring mural by Theresa Sapergia.
This spot is an important hub for the city, located right next to the Visitor Centre, the Public Library and Two Rivers Gallery — two key places for art, learning, and community. The many opportunities for children, teenagers and adults to learn, explore, and experiment with art in PG could easily deserve a text of their own, but I’ll mention just a bit here. The library, for example, offers film screenings, music sessions, and craft meetups. The gallery also runs extensive programs for schools, children, and adults, along with workshops on different styles and techniques.
In front of Two Rivers Gallery stands a 5-meter statue by Peter von Tiesenhausen — a human figure with a tree growing from its head, a constant reminder of how deeply connected we are to nature and imagination. Inside the building there are three exhibition spaces open to the public free of charge. The Main Gallery showcases artists from PG, other provinces, and beyond. The Galleria (hallway) often highlights young and emerging local talent. Upstairs, next to a family-friendly space filled with books and creative activities, there’s a vibrant mural by Madeline Kloepper and next to it there is the Sculpture Court.
Photo by Fernanda Salla: Two Rivers Gallery and Peter von Tiesenhausen’s sculpture outside, Prince George.
In the lobby, the gift shop is filled with art from across Western Canada. I’m fortunate to have some of my own work represented there, alongside pieces by inspiring local artists like Corey Hardeman, known for her oil paintings of northern landscapes; Métis artist Erin Stagg, who combines painting with beadwork; and ceramicist Alison Warner, whose work is both delicate and striking.
Beyond the gallery, you can also find local art at the Basecamp Boutique inside the Visitor Centre, located at the Prince George Conference and Civic Centre. One of the artists featured there is Diane Levesque, a Dzawada’enuxw member whose striking blue-and-black animal paintings I admire deeply. On 4th Avenue, there’s also a small gallery called Aesthete Fine Arts, inside the Ramada Hotel, representing more fine art from Canadian talent, including carving, sculpture, and paintings.
Another joy of mine is discovering hidden art treasures scattered across the city. Downtown is full of them — from the Spirit Bear statues painted by different artists, like the one on Brunswick Street in front of the Prince George Community Foundation, to unexpected murals tucked inside buildings and alleys. Inside the Canfor Leisure Pool, for example, there’s a mural created by Lheidli T’enneh artist Ray Desjarlais with their mother, Kym Gouchie. On 3rd Avenue, between Dominion and George Street, a back alley reveals colorful panels and walls painted by different artists — a little open-air gallery that sparks curiosity about the stories behind each piece.
Photo by Fernanda Salla: Prince George Community Foundation Spirit Bear
Beyond these, murals across downtown also tell important parts of the city’s identity: one on 2nd Avenue depicts the historic “Maison Talisman” furniture store, another by Kathryn Rohl honors the Chinese community in the area, Milan Basic’s work on the post office celebrates the 2015 Canada Winter Games, and art by Crystal Gibbs shows Lheidli T’enneh clan symbols at the House of Ancestors.
Photo by Fernanda Salla: Downtown murals, including Kathryn Rohl’s tribute to the Chinese community and Milan Basic’s Canada Winter Games piece.
Music also thrives here. Venues like Ignite Nightclub, the Legion, Knox Performance Centre, Nancy O’s, and Omineca Arts Centre host local musicians as well as touring bands. Many of them also organize open mic nights, giving anyone the chance to step onto the stage and share their talent — a reminder that creativity in Prince George is participatory, not just something to watch from a distance.
I couldn’t end this walk through downtown’s arts scene anywhere else but Omineca Arts Centre, on Victoria Street — easy to spot thanks to the colorful mural I co-painted with Jennifer Pighin on the building’s side wall. Omineca welcomes live music, offers free workshops, and runs an artist-in-residence program. I hold a special affection for this place, where I once worked as Arts Coordinator for over a year.
Photo by Fernanda Salla: Omineca Arts Centre on Victoria Street, featuring mural co-painted with Jennifer Pighin.
As you can see, the opportunities to connect with art in Prince George are countless — and here I’ve only mentioned downtown. In the mural I painted at Omineca, I chose to depict a bear to represent Prince George’s nature, watching over the city with playful energy and reflecting the vibrancy of its art scene. That’s how I feel about this town, which has welcomed me so warmly for almost nine years: embraced, inspired, and energized by its creativity. I’m grateful, and I wanted to share a bit of what I’ve discovered.
Learn more:
If you’d like to explore further, the resources below highlight Prince George’s vibrant arts and culture community. They include galleries, artist websites, community guides, and local venues mentioned in this article, offering great starting points for planning your own walk through the city’s creative scene or connecting directly with the artists and organizations featured.
https://www.pgpl.ca/sites/default/files/documents/Downtown-Walking-Tour-Jun-2013.pdf
https://indd.adobe.com/view/87ab8103-0dec-45f8-90df-67000fa8535a
https://downtownpg.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Downtown-PG-Guide-2019-2020.pdf
https://www.ominecaartscentre.com/
https://www.houseofancestors.ca/
https://www.farmersmarketpg.ca/
https://www.jenniferannaispighin.ca/
https://www.instagram.com/winningattheinternet/
https://www.madelinekloepper.com/
https://www.instagram.com/milanbasicart/
Author Biography:
Fernanda Salla is a Brazilian-born multidisciplinary artist who brings the vibrant culture of São Paulo, with its rich street art, into her work, inspired by the animals and landscapes of British Columbia. With a background in journalism focused on education and arts, she combines narrative, cultural awareness, and creative expression, advocating for accessible, diverse, and inclusive art in Prince George.
Instagram: @fesallaart
