Art Displays
Curious about local art? We are too!
When it comes to the arts, Nova Scotia is spoiled for talent, and we're pleased to feature local art in many of our Library spaces.
From The Sunroom at Central Library to art displayed in our branches, we want to give local artists space to connect with our community and share their vision.
Current exhibits
The Sunroom at Central Library
On display September 14 through October 25, 2025
Conquest, Identity, and the Violence of Belonging, by Uriel Guerrero-Aconcha
"This work explores Latin America's history, marked by conquest, forced encounters, and the violent merging of worlds. As descendants of the colonized and colonizers, we are the illegitimate children of history, born from plunder and brutality, denied by the fatherland. This wound of non-belonging persists today, deepened by postcolonial realities and the ongoing violence of capitalist imperialism."
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Alderney Gate Public Library
Information on next display coming soon.
Cole Harbour Public Library
On display September 2 through October 15, 2025
Art by Joanne MacDonald
Having retired in April 2017 after a work life (pharmacist) for 36 years, she is now able to pursue other interests. She has rekindled her interest in art, and it has become her passion. Since 2018, she has taken lessons with local teaching artists and attended many arts related workshops. She finds inspiration not only in our beautiful province and country, but also from her travels abroad.
She has sold art at Karl Penton Gallery (Sunnyside Mall, Bedford) from Oct 2020 to Nov 2022. She is a member of local groups and has sold work at shows with l’Arche, Halifax NS, the Association of Atlantic Area Artists (AAAA), the Contemporary Art Society-(CAS), Dartmouth Visual Arts Society (DVAS), Dal Riada Art Group, and Gallery 215. And of course, privately. She is also a member of Painter’s Palette
She received an Honourable Mention for her work, Prince’s Lodge at Dawn, at the 2024 CAS Show at the Chase Gallery, Nova Scotia Archives. She is francophone (nee LeBlanc), originally from the Acadian village of Abram’s River, Yarmouth County, Nova Scotia. She now resides in Halifax.
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J.D. Shatford Memorial Public Library
On display October 2025
Art by Community Members
Keshen Goodman Public Library
On display October 2025
Korean Newcomers Art Show: Exploring Beauty and Identity
This art show features a group of talented Korean artists who are sharing their unique journeys through art. As newcomers to a new land, each artist reflects on the beauty they have discovered, how they see themselves in this new place, and how their art helps them understand who they are.
The exhibition includes the works of Yewon Min, Helen Mi-sook Lee, Jessica Moon, Binda Choi, Jeehye Choi, and Inae Kim. Each artist shows a different way of exploring themes like identity, culture, and personal transformation, blending traditional Korean styles with fresh, contemporary approaches.
Their art tells stories of change, connection, and self-reflection, offering a glimpse into the process of finding beauty in new experiences while staying true to one’s roots.
Come experience this beautiful collection of works that speak to the journey of self-discovery and the search for meaning in an ever-changing world.
Musquodoboit Harbour Public Library
On display September through October 2025
Art by Jude Major
Sackville Public Library
Information on next display coming soon.
Tantallon Public Library
On display October 2025
Art by Bryan Ashwood
"I'm Bryan Ashwood. I was born in Toronto and grew up in southern Ontario. I joined the military at 18 and have recently retired after 19+ years in the Canadian Forces. What's next? Still working on it."
"Since a very young age—think marker on carpet— I have always been passionate about art. That said, I was never really any good (my brother was the gifted one). I started this journey during the COVID-19 pandemic with my spouse. Paint nights became a regular thing. I carried this hobby onwards and translated it into what you see here now."
"I am always learning, I am always inspired, I am always looking to grow. I am self-taught, and I am certain I have more than a few bad habits on display. All said, not only does my art insist that I stay focused—it has also become my escapism without repercussion."
Woodlawn Public Library
On display July through October 2025
Art by Cathy McKelvey
"I am a non-representational painter living in Atlantic Canada. I had thought about what I do as abstraction, but non-representational painting is a better description. I'm not abstracting from the world around me. I'm making my invisible interior being, visible. I'm influenced by my experience in nature, but I paint from within. Although I spent my early years swimming in Lake Banook, you are more likely to find me now, on or near the St. John River. I began painting at the Saidye Bronfman School of Fine Arts in Montreal in the 1990’s. There I was exposed to the work of Les Automatistes (Paul-Émile Borduas, Marcelle Ferron, Jean-Paul Riopelle) part of the surrealist movement of the last century. Painting which incorporates the subconscious is tremendously creative and satisfying."
"My work is a reflection of my psychological state at any given time. I paint intuitively, which means I follow my gut and then respond to what happens. Because everyone is unique, my response is unique to me at that time. I wouldn't be able to copy my own work if I tried because, as time passes, I also change, and my impulses and responses change. I have spent many years learning techniques and rules. The trick now is letting all of that go and trusting myself."
"I am represented by The Prow Gallery, Halifax, NS."
