1080 Keewatin St,
Thunder Bay, ON, P7B 6T7

T: 807 577 6427
F: 807 577 3781

Upcoming events, classes & workshops

Ekphrastic Poetry with Armand Ruffo
Let’s get ekphrastic! An ekphrastic poem is a vivid and near-immediate description of a work of art. Participate in an ekphrastic writing workshop led by Armand Garnet Ruffo, one of Canada’s most celebrated names in the world of poetry, art and Woodland style. As the author of The Thunderbird Poems (2015), Norval Morrisseau: Man Changing Into Thunderbird (2018), and the newly-released The Dialogues: The Song of Francis Pegahmagabow (2024), Ruffo guides participants through experiences of encountering art in a new way. Bring your own journal or use the materials provided.
Travelling with the Shaman-Artist
The gallery is delighted to present a public talk by celebrated writer and poet Armand Garnet Ruffo. Join us as Ruffo shares his experience meeting artist Norval Morrisseau, and how this meeting inspires his singular literary voice that blends visual art, biography, fact and fiction. Ruffo guides us through Morrisseau’s work with readings. This event is FREE and open to the public.
how to write a poem: rhyme, rhythm, and repetition in the permanent collection
“how to write a poem” is an exhibition about finding poetry within artworks from our Permanent Collection. The work of Ahmoo Angeconeb, Benjamin Chee Chee, Jane Ash Poitras, Robert Houle, and Michael Belmore, among others.
Jim Oskineegish: Keep Yourself Alive
Jim Oskineegish: Keep Yourself Alive Jun 21 to Sep 15, 2024 Keep Yourself Alive is the debut exhibition by Jim Oskineegish, a second-generation Woodland artist from Eabametoong First Nation (Fort Hope). Curated by Caitlyn Bird, Jim’s paintings fuse personal stories with Woodland, Surrealism, and Pop Art. This exhibition of thirteen portraits is a love letter to his heroes.
LOoooNLOOONLOONN: Owls, Loons, and Thunderbirds in the work of Norval Morrisseau
A selection of works from the Permanent Collection looking at birds as motif in the work of Norval Morrisseau. This exhibition was inspired by The Thunderbird Poems (2015) of poet and writer Armand Garnet Ruffo.
Clay Jackalopes with Katie Lemieux
Join ceramic artist Katie Lemieux for a clay jackalope workshop at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery. Build alongside the artist as she guides participants through her process of creating animal forms out of ceramic clay. In this workshop you will learn how to work with clay bodies, utilize attachment methods, apply anatomy theory, and express your creativity through form and gesture. Katie will prepare your work for firing in her kiln, and you will be emailed when your raw fired clay piece is ready for pickup at the Gallery.
September PA Day
September PA Day Friday, September 27th 9:30 am - 4:30 pm Spend your PA Day discovering the Gallery’s exhibitions, learning new skills, and sharing your creativity! Experience a new set of lessons each visit, including: printmaking, painting, sculpting and more. Engage in learning outside the classroom and inspire your critical thinking skills with exhibitions and exploring the outdoors! Ages 7 - 11 Refund/Cancellation Policy: No refunds for cancellations made less than one week prior to the start date. Refunds subject to 10% administration fee. The Thunder Bay Art Gallery reserves the right to cancel any workshop, art camp or class at their discretion, in this instance a full refund will be applied.
Bundle Dyeing Workshop with Sister Mollusk
Learn to use both dried and fresh flowers to dye a silk scarf using the bundle dye technique. Textile artist Sister Mollusk will walk you through the process of creating beautiful abstract patterns on cloth using flowers, offering an overview of natural dye methods, materials, and more. Participants will receive a pre-mordanted silk scarf and flower kit to create a unique design of their own. This 2-hour workshop includes a 20-minute waiting period while the bundles are steaming during which questions can be asked.
Eco-Printed Paper with Tuija Hansen
Gain an understanding of rust-dyeing paper and take home your own leaf-printed and dyed paper. Follow textile artist Tuija Hansen with your own foraging basket as she guides a walk around the Gallery to collect leaves and plants. Reflect on your foraging experience and free-write on your paper before layering the plants for the dye process. While waiting for the results, prepare greeting cards to feature sections of your dyed paper or save some to use for another project.
Clay Building Techniques (ages 11-15)
Clay Building Techniques (ages 8-12) Wednesdays: September 18- October 23 (6 classes) 6:00 - 7:30 pm, Give your ideas shape with clay. Learn handbuilding techniques including pinching, slab construction, and coil construction to craft functional and sculptural works. Bring home your own glazed and bisque fired works.
Comic Drawing Skills (ages 11-15)
Comic Drawing Skills (ages 11-15) Thursdays: September 19 - October 24 (6 classes) 6:00 - 7:30 pm Improve your drawing skills through an exploration of comic book art. Practice drawing dynamic poses, dramatic foreshortening, and expressive faces. Celebrate the characters you love and create your own.
Art in Bloom (ages 5-7)
Art in Bloom (ages 5-7) Saturdays September 21-October 26 (6 classes) 12:30-2:00 Step into a studio blooming with creativity! Dig into artworks made with paint, pastels, and petals inspired by the charm and colour of everything floral. Let your artistic vision bloom as you explore nature, art history, and our exhibitions.
Green Gallery (ages 8-12)
Green Gallery (ages 8-12)  Saturdays: September 21-October 26 (6 classes) 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm. Discover a world where art meets plants. Cultivate skills in printing, painting, drawing, and using natural materials as you create artworks inspired by art history, the beauty of plants, and our exhibitions. Explore with us and watch your skills grow!
Pâte de Verre Glass Bowls with Gayle Chruch
Working with local artist Gayle Chruch to make a pâte de verre bowl, you will get a snapshot of the lengthy production in which powdered glass of various hues is mixed, blended, and fused. You will be guided through combining colours and the technique required to pack the powdered glass into a mold. Projects will be taken away to be fused in the artist’s kiln. After cooling you can join the artist at the Gallery on Wednesday November 6th at 6:00pm for the reveal or pick up your bowl at the Gallery anytime after.
November PA Day
November PA Day Friday, November 15th 9:30 am - 4:30 pm Ages 7 - 11. Spend your PA Day discovering the Gallery’s exhibitions, learning new skills, and sharing your creativity! Experience a new set of lessons each visit, including: printmaking, painting, sculpting, and more. Engage in learning outside the classroom and inspire your critical thinking skills with exhibitions and exploring the outdoors!
Floral Beaded Earrings with Annette Klement
Beading is one of the defining mediums of contemporary Indigenous art on this continent and an art form our region is renown for. If you love the beauty and tactile quality of beads, join local Indigenous artist Annette Klement as she teaches how to create beaded earrings or a pendant using the brick stitch method. This workshop is an excellent introduction to beading, no previous experience is required.
Clay Surface Finishes (ages 11-15)
Clay Surface Finishes (ages 11-15) Wednesdays: November 6 - December 11 (6 classes) 6:00 - 7:30 pm Explore the art of tactile clay decoration. Learn techniques to create textured surfaces using slips including sgraffito, inlays, and transfers. Bring home your own glazed and bisque fired works.
Printmaking Sampler (ages 11-15)
Printmaking Sampler (ages 11-15) Thursdays: November 7 - December 12 (6 classes) 6:00 - 7:30 pm Discover a sample of printmaking techniques including linocut, monoprinting, and silk screening. Develop your sense of composition and design as you learn new skills and create your own unique prints.
Fairytales & Fables (ages 5-7)
Fairytales & Fables (ages 5-7) Saturdays: November 9 - December 14 (6 classes) 12:30 - 2:00 pm. Immerse yourself in the enchanting world of fairytales and storybooks! Find inspiration in your favorite stories and the talented artists and illustrators who bring them to life. Paint, collage, and draw to create your own whimsical worlds and characters.
Myths & Magic (ages 8-12)
Myths & Magic (ages 8-12) Saturdays: November 9 - December 14 (6 classes) 3:00 - 4:30 pm. Embark on a fantastical journey through kingdoms and forests. Explore how tales and myths appear in art and illustration. Bring characters and creatures to life using painting, drawing, and collage. Adventure awaits!
Colin Davis: Steel, Grease, Gasoline
Steel, Grease, Gasoline is the debut solo exhibition by Colin Davis. In a series of oil paintings, he invites viewers to explore the complexities of rural life, the nuances of Northern masculinity, and the allure of the fantastic. Wielding brand imagery and influences from Heavy Metal Magazine and Dungeons and Dragons, Davis' paintings evoke childhood memories and narratives and ask the viewer to reflect on the modern role of men.
petal, clay, berry, leaf: natural inks, dyes, and pigments of Northern Ontario
An exhibition that wanders off the beaten path. This group exhibition presents new expressions and experiments with natural inks, dyes and, pigments in Northern Ontario by four women artists at different stages of their careers.

Upcoming events, classes & workshops