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 March 2 through April 12, 2025

we don’t have much in common anymore

Christie Melville is a multicultural artist, with an upbringing in Hong Kong and Taiwan. As a multidisciplinary artist, she has explored a wide range of mediums, from music and photography, to printmaking and jewelry. She is currently living and working in Kjipuktuk (Halifax), pursuing a BFA in Interdisciplinary arts, with a minor in jewelry at NSCAD University. This exhibit showcases her photography work through a narrative and experimental lens.

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The Living Room at Central Library

On display March 2 through April 19, 2025

Art by Tom Richards

Tom Richards is a musician with a kaleidoscopic range of work. A singer, low-brass specialist, pianist, composer, conductor, and producer, Tom performs with dozens of active projects. 

Tom's newest offering, Monophilia, is a triptych of records in breathtaking mono, designed to be played individually or simultaneously. The interactive art installation gives listeners an opportunity to mix the music in real time, creating their own sonic landscape. Songs are arranged like sculptures in a garden, with vines and leaves framing, obscuring, and overgrowing the lyrics. The three records tell a shared story from different points of view – songs of love and loss in a non-binary world.

For the online experience and for more info, visit the Monophilia website, opens a new window. The installation was crafted by Torin Buzek of the Fountain School of Performing Arts.  Nicholas Buligan designed the custom electronics.

 Thanks to The Halifax Central Library, Arts Nova Scotia, The Canada Council for the Arts, and Cecilia Concerts for supporting this project. 

Alderney Gate Public Library

Information on next display coming soon.

Cole Harbour Public Library

On display March 1 through April 15, 2025

Art by Beatrice Milner 

Beatrice grew up in Edmonton and studied Fine Arts at the University of Alberta, focusing on the history of art and photography. Although Beatrice was introduced to painting in the introductory years at the University of Alberta, she did not pursue it until she started taking painting lessons with her two teenage daughters in the 1990s.

After retirement, Beatrice and her husband moved from Alberta to Nova Scotia to be closer to their grandchildren. With more free time and a lovely workspace, she has enjoyed painting more actively in acrylics, oils and watercolours. Beatrice is an avid gardener and takes inspiration from nature.

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J.D. Shatford Memorial Public Library

On display March 2025

Art by Susan Lord

Susan lives on the beautiful South Shore of NS and is a retired system analyst from Bell Aliant.  When she first joined AA&C she was working solely in fibre, rug hooking her own designs which were inspired by her photography. Her love of fibre arts led her to a needle felting workshop in 2009 and from there she discovered 3-dimensional needle felting. She has been creating her unique felted birds on driftwood ever since.

Susan is interested in creating mixed-media artwork using image transfer, collage techniques, rust printing and assemblage.  Her artwork is continually evolving as she explores new ways to express her creativity. Photography, especially the beauty of nature, has been a life-long passion. She has been a member of the Aspotogan Arts and Crafts group since 2004 and is their current Treasurer and Webmaster.

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Keshen Goodman Public Library

On display March 2025

Art by Matt Marquette

Matt Marquette is an emerging artist born and raised in Brampton, Ontario, now based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He discovered his passion for painting at a young age and has since developed a unique style specializing in oil paints. Inspired by the Impressionist era, Matt uses bright, vibrant colors and rich textures to bring his artistic vision to life. His work captures the world around him, from evocative landscapes to dynamic urban scenes, familiar places into expressive, immersive experiences.

Musquodoboit Harbour Public Library

Information on next display coming soon.

Sackville Public Library

Information on next display coming soon.

Tantallon Public Library

On display March 2025

Art by Fabien Lutz-Barabé

Fabien and his husband moved to Nova Scotia in 1997, where he started to paint with watercolours and then moved on to acrylics. His love of Nova Scotia and its surroundings is the source of many of his inspired works. Fabien’s imagination shows no bounds when it comes to materials he uses to create unique pieces. Fabien has been a member of the Peggy’s Cove Area Festival of the Arts for the past twelve years.

In 2018, he was published in a comic compilation, entitled Rainbow Reflections about Gay Men and Body Image, and earlier this year, Queer Compassion In 15 Comics. In May of last year, Fabien was part of a Group Show at the Prow Gallery in Halifax, where his work was well received.

He had his first published cartoon strip, The Spice of Life, in two Montreal papers from 1994 to 1996. He is a cancer survivor, and art became his form of therapy as he has since returned to his first love of cartooning.

His three graphic novels titled Matias have been well received. His memoir about his start in cartooning is called The Spice of Life: A Memoir in Pictures, and is currently available on Amazon Canada.

Woodlawn Public Library

On display March 2025

Art by Frank Forrestall

Frank Forrestall is a globally recognized artist and the recipient of multiple awards. His work has garnered widespread acclaim for its unique fusion of Surrealism and Classical elements. Based in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Frank is the youngest son of renowned Canadian painter Tom Forrestall and the esteemed Forrestall family of artists.

Deeply influenced by world mythology, folklore, and mysticism, Frank’s figurative work serves as a visual exploration of the human experience. His paintings, initially conceived as meditative and cathartic expression, have resonated with audiences who find deep emotional connections within his layered compositions. Each piece invites viewers to uncover new meanings with every glance, offering a dynamic and evolving narrative that captures the spectrum of human emotion—from elation to catharsis.

A lifelong artist, Frank has been painting professionally since 2016, steadily building a reputation for his intricate storytelling and masterful technique. His work continues to captivate collectors and art enthusiasts, affirming his place in the contemporary art world.

"My work explores various forms of imagery that resonate on multiple levels of consciousness, drawing from a lifelong fascination with mythology and folklore. I am particularly intrigued by the endurance of myths – how their archetypes remain deeply rooted in the human psyche, continuously reemerging in art and storytelling. These myths hold timeless truths, shaping cultural cohesion and personal transformation."

"Narrative is central to my practice. Each painting, like every myth, requires meditation, allowing me to bridge my inner dream world with the collective unconscious. Through a fusion of organic and automatic drawing, I seek to create visual pathways where personal and universal stories converge. If successful, the viewer is invited to cross that bridge – transforming private vision into shared myth."