GALLERY SCENE

When exploring downtown , visit Glenbow gallery and museum to check out the extensive collection of historical and contemporary art and artifact exhibits that detail Western Canadian history . Then stop by Gainsborough Galleries — it ' s Calgary ' s oldest gallery .

If you ’ re roaming through Inglewood , stop into the Esker Foundation ( admission is free ) for immersive contemporary and installation art displays .

PUBLIC ART

Bow Passage Overlook Black pillars are scattered like Jenga pieces across a series of terraces , including a grotto-like seating area , on the banks of the Bow River in this interactive , environmental artwork .

Do Re Me Fa Sol La Si Do Eight steel horses are frozen in motion across the courthouse park downtown in this stampede artwork , with each horse containing multiple cut-out images of symbols iconic to Canada .

Stroll down 11th Avenue , known as The Design District , where there are an abundance of galleries including Herringer Kiss Gallery , Newzones , Gerry Thomas Gallery , and Paul Kuhn Gallery .

Students of the renowned Alberta College of Art and Design run the Marion Nicoll Gallery located within the school itself . This gallery is accessible via the SAIT- ACAD-Jubilee CTrain station and on the Trans Canada Highway . Their artwork can also be found in a + 15 window space gallery in Arts Commons .

If you ' re interested in glass art , visit Bee Kingdom — it ' s the studio of three glassblowing artists who create stunning works of art . Then head to Passion for Glass to view and buy glass jewellery , home decor , and other work by local artists . Check out Circa Vintage Art Glass to see and shop an exclusive collection of mid-century modern art glass — the only other gallery of its kind in North America is in New York City .

The Family of Man Since 1968 , the ten 6.5-metre tall figures of this sculptural installation have loomed over passersby at the corner of 1st Street and 6th Avenue SE — arranged in a circle , they resemble a family playing together .

Wonderland This spectacular 12 metertall 3D wire sculpture of a young girl ’ s head by sculptor Jaume Plensa is an iconic piece of Calgary art and is located downtown in front of The Bow Building , who commissioned the piece .

Chinook Arc Designed by Joe O ’ Connell , this cloud-like sculpture is meant to reflect Calgary ’ s Chinook weather phenomenon and can be found in Barb Scott Park in the Beltline district . The sculpture is responsive and changes colours and patterns based on how users interact with it .

Visit maps . calgary . ca for a complete list of , and maps to , public art .

PHOTOGRAPHS : ( TOP TO BOTTOM ) BY JOHN DEAN , COURTESY ESKER FOUNDATION ; COURTESY CIRCA VINTAGE ART GLASS ; BY SAKIB PRATYAY

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