Classes are back in session this fall, and so is Calgary’s buzzing art scene. This September, tuition is waived to immerse yourself in a rich lineup of events on campus. Don’t miss out on these must-attend shows!
THUNDERSTORM: AUARTS SUMMER RESIDENCY EXHIBITION 2025
This exhibition reflects the evolving journey of artists, highlighting their creative growth and transformation. Thunderstorm is the result of the 2025 Alberta University of the Arts Summer Residency, a program that offers artists the opportunity to fully immerse themselves in their craft with full access to AUArts studio spaces and materials. This year, 29 artists joined the program for a 10-week-long creative journey. While they each brought their own unique backgrounds and had the opportunity to experiment with a wide range of media, they shared one common thread: all the materials the artists used, such as canvas, clay, paper, fabric, or even living plants, reflect a strong sense of “liveliness.” Thunderstorm captures a spark, a collective artistic surge that doesn’t just transform materials, but the space itself.
See Thunderstorm before September 6 in AUArts Room 371, 1407 14 Ave N.W. Visit auarts.ca for more information on the program.
REMNANT: 2025 MFA GRADUATION EXHIBITION
The annual Remnant MFA Graduation Exhibition celebrates the creative achievements of graduating fine arts students from the University of Calgary. This year’s show features an exciting range of art from six different artists. Through drawing, painting, photography, 3D art, and mixed media, the artists showcase their powerful perspectives, shaped by both academic inquiry and personal experience. The event is organized by the Department of Art and Art History and is hosted by the Nickle Galleries at the University of Calgary. One example of raw artistry and creativity is Worn Lines: Healing Through the Marked Body by Ryanna Kizan. Kizan’s figurative oil paintings explore the female body through themes of care, resistance, and personal narrative. Her recent work focuses on tattoos as a means to reclaim autonomy from beauty standards and cultural expectations surrounding femininity.
Catch the exhibition before it’s over on September 13 at the Nickle Galleries, located in the Taylor Family Digital Library on the UCalgary campus, 410 University Ct. N.W.. Visit nickle.ucalgary.ca for a full list of participating artists.
FACES AND PLACES EXHIBITION
Visit Faces and Places, a multimedia exhibition at AUArts that dives into the rich history of Calgary’s art scene. This exhibition draws from local archives and personal stories to showcase the city’s vibrant creative history, dating back to the 1970s. The exhibition pays homage to all the artists and creatives — including AUArts alumni — who have helped shape Calgary’s artistic identity. Artists utilize a variety of media to illustrate how they celebrate themselves and their communities, while creating meaningful connections across generations and backgrounds. The show isn’t just about revisiting history, but a celebration of all the artists at the core of Calgary’s art scene. The exhibition is organized by the Illingworth Kerr Gallery in celebration of Alberta University of the Arts’ 100th Anniversary in 2026.
Faces and Places runs from September 19 to November 1, with an opening reception on September 18, at the Illingworth Kerr Gallery. 1407 14 Ave N.W.. Visit auarts.ca for more information.
UCALGARY STRING QUARTET
Catch a powerful performance by the UCalgary String Quartet. This masterful group has been the University of Calgary’s string quartet-in-residence for the past 30 years and boasts a long résumé of national, international, and radio performances. They’ve had many collaborations with distinguished guest artists, including solo pianist Anton Kuerti, who won multiple Juno awards for classical album of the year. Get swept up in the energy of this troupe of performers, whether tackling classical music like Beethoven, Shostakovich, and Bartók’s string quartets, or flexing their skills performing works by Canadian composers and other underrepresented artists.
Enjoy the quartet’s scintillating tunes on September 26 at the Eckhardt-Gramatté Hall in the Rozsa Centre on the UCalgary campus. 206 University Ct N.W.. Online ticket booking opens at 12 p.m. on September 2 at theatre-tickets.ucalgary.ca.
