Faye Heavyshield to Create Major New Artwork for Glenbow

×

Expand

Faye Heavyshield scopes the location of her new sculpture in Glenbow (photo by George Webber)

Glenbow in Calgary has announced that Alberta artist Faye HeavyShield has been commissioned to create a monumental new artwork. 

It will be on view in Glenbow’s new vertical gallery and will be unveiled in 2026 when the museum reopens at the JR Shaw Centre for Arts & Culture.

The new work will draw on inspiration from the new building’s architecture, Glenbow collections and traditional beadworks from Treaty 7 artists, HeavyShield said in a news release. 

“My vision is to create large DNA strands made from specially created beads,” she said. “This piece will be at the core of the building, and DNA is at the core of existence.”

A Kainai artist from southern Alberta, HeavyShield is internationally renowned for her site-specific installations and minimalist sculptures. She holds a bachelor of fine arts from the University of Calgary and her work is found across North America, including the National Gallery of Canada.

Her new Glenbow work was made possible thanks to a gift from the Fischer-Cuthbertson family. 

The commission is the first of many, says the Glenbow team. Glenbow will launch three open calls for artist submissions on Oct. 15 for art for the interior entryway, the new theatre and the atrium facing the corner of Stephen Avenue and 1 Street SE. 

Source: Glenbow

PS: Worried you missed something? See previous Galleries West stories here or sign up for our free biweekly newsletter.