EXHIBITIONS
Light Through Scars
June 20 – September 19, 2026
The Penticton Art Gallery is pleased to present Light Through Scars, a powerful group exhibition exploring themes of displacement, resilience, healing, and belonging through the work of four internationally recognized artists.
Guest curated by artist and Emily Carr University faculty member Parvin Peivandi, the exhibition brings together Solange Adum Abdala, Ghinwa Yassine, Oksana Zbrutska, and Peivandi herself, artists whose diverse cultural backgrounds and lived experiences inform deeply personal yet universally resonant practices. Working across painting, photography, film, performance, digital media, and ceramic sculpture, each artist examines the lasting impacts of conflict, migration, memory, and identity while offering reflections on renewal, connection, and hope.
Drawing inspiration from the words of the 13th-century Persian poet Rumi, “The wound is where the light enters you,” Light Through Scars explores how personal and collective experiences of hardship can serve as catalysts for transformation, empathy, and growth. Through distinct artistic voices and perspectives, the exhibition creates space for reflection on the ways art can foster understanding, bridge cultural divides, and illuminate pathways toward healing.
At a time when global conflicts continue to shape lives and communities across borders, Light Through Scars invites audiences to engage with stories of endurance and humanity, celebrating the capacity of creative practice to inspire connection, compassion, and belonging.
FOUND IN COLLECTION SERIES- The Big Picture
June 20 - August 8, 2026
The Big Picture presents a curated selection of works drawn from the Penticton Art Gallery's collection spaces, many of which may not have been exhibited since entering the Gallery's care. Hand-selected from shelves and drawers of the vault, these works were chosen not by artist, period, or thematics, but rather for their scale.
This first iteration of the series explores large-scale abstracted scenes, with a focus on mixed media approaches. Together, they demonstrate the impactful nature and presence of the artist’s body and movement visible in their creation at this size. The second iteration and companion exhibition Small Wonders, runs from June 27 – August 26th in The Channel Gallery with a focus on small-scale works.
The Found in Collection series title stems from a collections management term used to identify objects that have become partially or wholly disconnected from the records that once accompanied them. Whether through the passage of time, technological change, or institutional transitions, information about an artwork's maker, provenance, or materials can sometimes be lost. Assigning the designation Found in Collection marks the beginning of a process of rediscovery.
By bringing these works into the gallery space, Big Picture highlights not only the artworks themselves but also the ongoing work of collections staff and curators who research, catalogue, preserve, and care for them behind the scenes. It is a reminder that a collection is never static. Each artwork carries its own story, and sometimes the most compelling discoveries emerge from the objects that have waited patiently in the vault.
Feathers and Fur: Debbie Tougas
May 15 – June 20, 2026
As a part of the 2026 Penticton Meadowlark Nature Festival, PAG is hosting the exhibition of this year’s featured artist, Debbie Tougas. Her acrylic paintings create vibrant, magical worlds inspired by the natural environments that surround her. The exhibition, Feathers and Fur can be found in our Central Gallery.
In addition to the exhibition, Tougas will be conducting a mixed media feather workshop at the gallery on May 16th from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm, followed by an artist talk at 2:30 pm.
To register for the workshop and learn more about the artist, visit meadowlarkfestival.ca