Exhibitions

The Michael Wright Art Gallery (MWAG), Outlet Gallery, City Hall Gallery, and Port Coquitlam Community Centre feature a rotating program of exhibitions by local and regional artists. The exhibitions advance knowledge, appreciation and understanding of the visual arts by integrating art into community life and contributing significantly to the cultural landscape of Port Coquitlam.

Every Saturday families are invited to take part in Art in the Gallery from 10am- 12pm This free drop-in program is offered at the Michael Wright Art Gallery in Leigh Square. Enjoy the exhibition and make an art piece to take home. All supplies provided, no registration required!

Exhibition Opening Reception

Thursday, Oct 1
6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Michael Wright Art Gallery

Join us for the opening reception on Thurs. Oct 1 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Meet the artists while enjoying live music and refreshments sponsored by Patina Brewing. We look forward to welcoming you to this inspiring evening of art and reflection.

Tilden Webb is one of Canada’s most in-demand jazz pianists and a longtime fixture of Vancouver’s music scene. Originally from Regina, Tilden began studying piano at eight and went on to study jazz at McGill University before moving to Vancouver in 2000. He has performed and recorded with renowned musicians including Ray Brown, Jeff Hamilton, John Clayton, David Murray and Dave Young, and has performed at festivals and venues around the world. Known for his sophisticated musicianship and warm, expressive style, Tilden continues to be an integral part of Vancouver’s vibrant jazz community.

Cory Weeds is a Vancouver-based saxophonist, bandleader, record producer and one of the most influential advocates for jazz in Canada. Known for his warm, expressive sound and deep connection to the jazz tradition, Cory has performed with internationally renowned artists including Christian McBride, Joey DeFrancesco and Harold Mabern. He is the founder of Cellar Music Group and was the longtime owner of the celebrated Cellar Jazz Club in Vancouver. Today, he continues to perform, record and champion jazz through his work with Cellar Music, Frankie’s Jazz Club and the Vancouver Jazz Orchestra.

Vibrant Journeys by Marika Morissette

Michael Wright Art Gallery | #200-2253 Leigh Square
September 11, 2026 – January 7, 2027

The Michael Wright Art Gallery presents Vibrant Journeys by Marika Morissette. In this solo exhibition, Morissette explores movement, transformation, and the beauty of fluid art through bold colour and organic texture. Inspired by abstract expressionism and patterns found in nature, her acrylic pour paintings evoke coral reefs, water, and microscopic life. Through vibrant palettes and dynamic forms, Morissette invites viewers to experience abstraction as both energetic and reflective.

instagram.com/marikamorissette
etsy.com/MarikaFluidArt

Tell us a bit about yourself, what is your background and how did you begin your professional practice?

I’m a Burnaby-based visual artist, and creativity has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. As a child, I was drawn to many forms of expression — oil painting, choir, piano, and theatre — but my path to becoming an artist unfolded gradually. I studied Communication Studies at Concordia University and spent more than 20 years working as an executive assistant before feeling a strong pull to return to the creative part of myself with more intention, focus, and joy.

In 2019, I discovered acrylic fluid art techniques, and I fell completely in love with the process. There was something so freeing about the blend of colour, movement, surprise, and intuition. That discovery opened the door to my art practice, and I’ve now been creating and exhibiting as an artist for the past five years. Since then, I’ve continued to develop my work through experimentation, juried exhibitions, local arts organizations, and my solo exhibition, Vibrant Journeys, at the Michael Wright Art Gallery. It has been a wonderful journey of reconnecting with myself and sharing that energy with others.
What subject matter do you work with and why?

As an abstract expressionist artist, my subject matter is not representational in a traditional sense. I’m inspired by organic structures, natural movement, colourful cells, ocean-like surfaces, coral reefs, biological forms, and the sense of transformation that exists in nature. I love that abstraction leaves room for personal interpretation: one person might see something ethereal or spiritual, while another might respond to the work in a very sensory or emotional way.

Colour is central to that experience. I’m drawn to intense, vivid palettes because they feel energizing and alive. I often use saturated blues, reds, yellows, purples, greens, turquoise, and pinks, and I love the emotional shift that happens when one colour moves into another. For me, the subject is vitality and transformation — the beauty of things changing, unfolding, and becoming something unexpected.
How does the idea of community relate to your practice?

Community has become a very meaningful part of my practice. I’m a member of the Federation of Canadian Artists and several local arts organizations, and being connected to other artists has helped me grow, learn, and feel supported. The studio process can be quite solitary, but sharing the work brings it into conversation with others.

My art shows, exhibitions, and community art events remind me how powerful that connection can be. Visitors often share what they see and feel in my paintings, and those conversations about creativity, life, imagination, and change are incredibly special to me. I love when artwork becomes a meeting place — a way for people to pause, reflect, feel encouraged, and connect with one another.
What is your dream project?

In many ways, Vibrant Journeys is already a dream project for me. With this solo exhibition, I wanted to create a welcoming space filled with visual energy and emotional depth — a place where people of all ages could feel curious, uplifted, and connected through abstraction.

Creative dream project: Looking ahead, I would love to create a larger, more immersive exhibition filled with light, rhythm, and visual energy — something that invites visitors to feel as though they have stepped inside one of my paintings. I imagine a space with large-scale fluid compositions, close-up details of the cellular textures, and a natural progression carrying people from one piece to the next. I’m also drawn to including an interactive community element, such as inviting visitors to share what they see in the work or how certain palettes make them feel, adding another layer of meaning and connection to the experience.

Business dream project: Another dream project would be to expand my creative work into a professionally produced line of art-based merchandise and lifestyle products. I have already begun exploring this direction through items such as umbrellas, tote bags, clocks, travel pillows, art cards, and other everyday pieces that allow people to enjoy my designs beyond the wall. Long term, I would love to partner with a licensing, manufacturing, or print-on-demand company that could bring these products to a wider audience at scale, while allowing me to focus on creating new work rather than managing inventory and fulfillment.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given as an artist?

One of the best pieces of advice I’ve received as an artist is to “go with the flow.” That may sound simple, but it captures so much of what fluid art has taught me. I can prepare my colours, choose my technique, and guide the paint, but I also have to stay open to what happens naturally on the canvas. Some of the most beautiful moments come from releasing control, being fully present, and allowing the painting to reveal itself.

When I’m painting, I enter a creative state where I lose track of time. I become deeply focused, but in a calm and conscious way — aware of the colours, the surface, the movement of the paint, and the small decisions happening moment by moment. It feels meditative, but also alive and intuitive. I’m not forcing the outcome; I’m responding to what is unfolding in front of me.

That advice has also become meaningful beyond the studio. It reminds me to be flexible, curious, patient, and present with the unexpected turns in my life. Not everything works out the way I imagined, but when I stay conscious, open, and trusting, I often discover something more interesting than what I had planned.
Name three artists who’ve inspired you.

Three artists who have inspired me are Olga Soby, Molly Leach (Molly’s Artistry), and Veronika Mii (Mii Paintings). Each of them has helped shape the way I think about fluid art — not only as a technique, but as a joyful, experimental, and expressive creative practice.

I’m especially inspired by the way they share their knowledge so generously and make acrylic pouring feel accessible while still leaving room for personal style and discovery. Their work and teaching have encouraged me to keep experimenting, trust the movement of the paint, and embrace the beautiful surprises that happen throughout the process.

Ultimately, I hope my work offers people a moment of joy, wonder, and connection — a chance to pause, feel something, and see beauty in the unexpected. Fluid art has taught me to embrace change, spontaneity, and possibility, and I’m grateful for every opportunity to share that sense of colour, energy, and flow with others.

Inside Out - A Journey Through Culture, Nature & Self by Shivani Singhal

Outlet Gallery | #110-2248 McAllister Avenue
September 11, 2026 – January 7, 2027

The Outlet Gallery presents Inside Out - A Journey Through Culture, Nature & Self by Shivani Singhal. Singhal explores identity, emotion, and human connection through bold colour, layered texture, and symbolic imagery. Drawing on personal experience, travel, and multicultural influences, the work reflects themes of love, loss, hope, and transformation. Through an intuitive and evolving painting practice, the exhibition invites viewers into a vibrant, contemplative space shaped by reflection, resilience, and discovery.

instagram.com/articulturebyshivani

Tell us a bit about yourself, what is your background and how did you begin your professional practice?

I am a self-taught artist living in the Lower Mainland with a professional background as a seasoned HR advisor. Though corporate HR and fine art seem quite different, they share a core focus for me: touching people’s lives and making a positive impact.

Art began as a personal way for me to express my thoughts and feelings, and over time it naturally grew into a professional practice. I started sharing my work, participating in exhibitions, and becoming part of the local art community. I’m still learning and experimenting with every painting, which is what keeps it exciting for me.
What subject matter do you work with and why?

I always say, “I don’t paint pictures; I paint my heart”! I’m drawn to people, emotions, nature, culture, and everyday moments. My inspiration often comes from personal experiences, travel, and the different cultures that have shaped how I see the world.

I enjoy moving between realistic and imaginative work, but at the heart of it, I’m interested in emotions—love, hope, change, and connection.
How does the idea of community relate to your practice?

For me, art is about connection. A painting may start from a personal experience, but once it is shared, it can mean something completely different to each person who sees it.

Being part of the Lower Mainland art community has also given me opportunities to learn, share, and connect with other artists and art lovers. I love that art can bring people together through a shared feeling or experience.
What is your dream project?

My dream project is to create a large-scale community mural that celebrates multiculturalism and everyday life moments. I would love to collaborate with local residents to turn their stories of hope into vibrant public art, creating a joyful, accessible space that positively impacts the lives of everyone who sees it.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given as an artist?

Trust yourself and don’t be afraid to experiment.

As a self-taught artist, I’ve learned that there isn’t one “right” way to create. It’s okay to make mistakes, try something new, and change direction. I believe staying curious and continuing to learn is what keeps an artist growing.
Name three artists who’ve inspired you.

Michelangelo, Frida Kahlo, and Raja Ravi Varma.|

Michelangelo inspires me through his sheer dedication and ability to capture the emotional depth of the human spirit. Frida Kahlo is a massive inspiration for how bravely she painted her inner life, turning her personal experiences into bold, symbolic imagery. Finally, Raja Ravi Verma’s brilliant ability to fuse Indian traditions with academic techniques speaks directly to my own love for blending culture, folk art, and everyday storytelling.

Out & About in PoCo by Lynda Walker

City Hall Gallery | 2580 Shaughnessy St
September 11, 2026 – January 7, 2027

The City Hall Gallery presents Out & About in PoCo by Lynda Walker. In this exhibition, Walker explores the beauty of Port Coquitlam through expressive acrylic paintings inspired by local photographs, flowers, landscapes, and everyday scenes. Her work combines observation, experimentation, and emotion, using colour, texture, brushes, and palette knives to capture both place and feeling. Through each piece, Walker invites viewers to see familiar surroundings in a fresh and personal way.

instagram.com/walkerlynda

Tell us a bit about yourself, what is your background and how did you begin your professional practice?

Born in small town Manitoba, I grew up surrounded by the beauty of nature. Both my grandfather and my mother were artistic, so painting seemed a natural part of life. I loved to draw in pencil and charcoal and in my teens, I started learning to paint using oils. I dreamed of taking courses in commercial art but at that time classes were only available by correspondence in my area. I set art aside and worked for a couple of years doing drafting. For many of my adult years my focus was on my family and job. Paintings were few and far between. When I retired at age sixty nine, I had time to sit down, put my focus back onto art, and start to become informed on some of the new products and knowledge that I had missed along the way. I still do not consider myself a professional artist, but I now finally accept and call myself a practicing artist.
What subject matter do you work with and why?

You will find very few paintings of mine without some type of living thing either as the subject or in a supporting role of the composition. Nature is the main attraction. Flowers, animals, birds, scenery, people, are my main sources of inspiration. Abstracts, architecture and other inanimate objects are only occasional subjects and usually only hold my attention fleetingly.
How does the idea of community relate to your practice?

The support of a community of other artists has provided me with information and encouragement. They have shared their ideas, processes and finished products at all levels of skill. We support each other with understanding, and when asked, positive critique. The idea that art is a very personal journey, but we don’t have to go it alone, and there are many different roads to travel is a wonderful way to learn.
What is your dream project?

I don’t think I have a specific dream project. I only hope to be able to continue in good health long enough to paint many of the thousands of inspirational photographs I have stored, ready to go for the next, and many more paintings.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given as an artist?

Paint for yourself, from whatever inspires you, in a style that you love, not for what might inspire others to like or to make a sale.
Name three artists who’ve inspired you.

Georgia O’Keeffe, Nicholas Wilton, and Robert Bateman are artists with very different styles, but they all inspire me with their dedication to their particular style and how the basics of painting, colour, and composition apply across all.

Douglas Island, Pitt River and Boats by Yoshi (吉)

Port Coquitlam Community Centre | 2150 Wilson Ave
September 10, 2026 – January 6, 2027

The Port Coquitlam Community Centre gallery presents Douglas Island, Pitt River and Boats by Yoshi (吉). Yoshi captures the familiar landscapes and working waterways of Port Coquitlam through a series of oil paintings inspired by daily observation. Drawing on scenes along the Pitt River, Douglas Island, and the Port Mann Bridge, his work reflects the shifting light, seasonal colour, and human activity that shape the local environment. With particular attention to tugboats and river life, Yoshi invites viewers to appreciate the beauty, movement, and character of the place they call home.

Tell us a bit about yourself, what is your background and how did you begin your professional practice?

My profession was an IT professional. I liked to draw and paint since I was very small, so it was very natural for me to keep doing so on and off throughout my life, and since I retired 20 years ago, belonged to several art groups and the volume of paintings increased substantially.
What subject matter do you work with and why?

I worked on all kinds of subjects to enjoy drawing and painting, but human figures are my favourite subject as it has been the basic practice of learning drawing and painting.
How does the idea of community relate to your practice?

I belonged to community based art groups and and had chances to exhibit my paintings in the community facilities.
What is your dream project?

Keep working on portraits of ladies.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given as an artist?

Enjoy drawing and painting, and do so freely and without restraint.
Name three artists who’ve inspired you.

Renoir, Hokusai and Gogh.

Exhibitions

Exhibition Opening Reception

Vibrant Journeys by Marika Morissette

Inside Out - A Journey Through Culture, Nature & Self by Shivani Singhal

Out & About in PoCo by Lynda Walker

Douglas Island, Pitt River and Boats by Yoshi (吉)

Sponsors

Beverage Sponsor

Patina Brewing

Hours of Operation

Exhibitions

Exhibition Opening Reception

Vibrant Journeys by Marika Morissette

Artist Interview

Inside Out - A Journey Through Culture, Nature & Self by Shivani Singhal

Artist Interview

Out & About in PoCo by Lynda Walker

Artist Interview

Douglas Island, Pitt River and Boats by Yoshi (吉)

Artist Interview

Sponsors

Beverage Sponsor

Patina Brewing