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 July 27 - September 6, 2025

In The Sunroom: Cornerstones by Sara Russell

A case for convenience. The corner shops, food markets, groceterias, and convenience stores of North End Halifax.

This exhibition shines a spotlight on often overlooked community-serving spaces, convenience stores past and present across North End Halifax, and positions them as community fixtures crucial to the landscape of Nova Scotian built heritage.

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Alderney Gate Public Library

Information on next display coming soon.

Cole Harbour Public Library

On display July 16 to August 31, 2025

Art by father/daughter duo, David Kenney and Krista Kenney

David Kenney

David primarily works with oil paints, his preferred medium, though he occasionally incorporates acrylics into his pieces. He began painting later in life, taking it up recreationally shortly after he retired from a career in accounting and management, that spanned both private and public service.

David's journey into art began around 2014. For the most part, he is self-taught. He eventually enrolled in classes on basic oil painting techniques. He would like to thank the artists who led these classes for their support as he developed his skills and gained more experience.

David's work usually highlights landscapes, with a focus on mountain scenes, coastal vistas, and riverscapes. He tries to create peaceful compositions that invite the viewer to look deeper into the composition and appreciate the scene as presented. The natural beauty encountered in his travels around the world serve as a source of inspiration.

David is an active member of the Dartmouth Visual Arts Society (DVAS). He enjoys participating in studio group sessions with fellow artists. He has also exhibited his work at the Craig Gallery.

Krista Kenney

A local of Cole Harbour, Krista has been involved with the arts since childhood. She has had instruction from local artists in the community, NSCAD University, and has taken advantage of the wealth of shared techniques and knowledge in books and online.

A dabbler in various media, Krista always returns to painting. Oil paint has a look and feel that appeals to her and is her preferred medium to use. Light and movement combines with flora and fauna to make up the body of her works.

As a member of the Dartmouth Visual Arts Society, Krista has participated in the society’s group show in Alderney Landing’s Craig Gallery. She is now excited to have the opportunity to show her work alongside those of her father at the Cole Harbour Library.

J.D. Shatford Memorial Public Library

On display August 2025

Art by Mary Leslie Pelham

THE SEA, the SKY, and ELEMENTS

FISHING BOATS, SAILING BOATS, MARINE SCENES, LANDSCAPES

PEOPLE and PET PORTRAITS

"I am inspired by my passion for the sea. I love painting in oils, but also find watercolours, acrylics and oil pastels very satisfying. It depends on the mood of the elements surrounding the subject."

"I am an active member of a very inspiring group. The Aspotogan Arts and Crafts Association."

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Keshen Goodman Public Library

Information on next display coming soon.

Musquodoboit Harbour Public Library

On display May 23 to August 29, 2025

Art by Elizabeth Ingraham

Elizabeth Ingraham is a self-taught painter based in Musquodoboit Harbour, where she has long been a dedicated member of the local Library community.

Though she dabbled with paints for years, it wasn’t until after retirement that her passion for art truly took shape. Inspired by a copy of Leisure Painter magazine she picked up from the Library, Elizabeth began exploring painting more seriously, using the magazine’s pages as both a learning tool and creative springboard.

The works on display are drawn directly from Leisure Painter, reflecting her journey of discovery, practice, and personal expression through art.

Sackville Public Library

Information on next display coming soon.

Tantallon Public Library

On display August 2025

Art by Abbie Walsh

Abbie Walsh is a 20-year-old artist, born in Halifax and raised in Tantallon. She has enjoyed creating art since she could pick up a pencil, but her passion for portraiture has grown over the last five to six years.  Painting in acrylic, gouache, oil pastel and charcoal, her work is a collection of various experiences. She paints realistic portraits that are representative of significant time periods or people in her life, whether they were good or bad. Each piece captures still imagery of memories as an expression of interconnected stories.  

Abbie is inspired by the artwork of Mark Tennant, Chloe Chlumecky, and Esther Fyall. She studied drawing and acrylic painting in NSCAD's youth extended study courses taught by Kyle Bridget and Jack Ross from 2017-2020.

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."

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