National Gallery of Canada to Mount Largest Circumpolar Arctic Art Exhibition
The National Gallery of Canada (NGC) will present 'Qillaniq' from June 12 to September 20, 2026, the largest-ever exhibition dedicated to contemporary art from the circumpolar Arctic region. Featuring over 80 works by more than 70 artists, the show aims to redefine global contemporary art. The title, an Inuktitut word describing light shimmering on water, serves as a metaphor for Indigenous resilience and connection to land. Director Jean-François Bélisle stated that the exhibition counters the typical crisis-focused global gaze on the Arctic.
Key facts
- Exhibition runs June 12 to September 20, 2026
- Over 80 works by more than 70 artists
- Largest circumpolar exhibition ever assembled
- Title 'Qillaniq' is Inuktitut for light shimmering on water
- Metaphor for Indigenous Peoples resisting colonization
- Presented at the National Gallery of Canada (NGC)
- Director Jean-François Bélisle commented on the exhibition
- Focuses on contemporary artists from the circumpolar Arctic region
Entities
Institutions
Locations
- Canada