Visual arts & new media

The Allied Arts Council of Pincher Creek is a non-profit community arts organization that makes our home in the beautiful historic Lebel Mansion in Southern Alberta. 

We are currently accepting submissions for our 2026 season. We invite solo and group artists to apply for the 2026 exhibition season.

​Please visit our website for all the details, including an updated gallery submission information packet which will guide you through the process. 

We strive to host thought-provoking exhibitions that appeal to a diverse audience in order to expand understanding of the visual arts in the community. Our art gallery exhibits working artists at all levels of their artistic careers and curates dynamic exhibitions that showcase strong, current Canadian art. We provide a yearly exhibition schedule balancing local artists and artists from throughout Canada working in all mediums.

The Allied Arts Council of Pincher Creek’s preference is for exhibitions that are for sale, however we will consider submissions that do not include works for sale. The AAC has a commission rate of 30% on all sales in addition to paying artist fees. All exhibitions will be curated and installed by the AAC's Executive Director, Kassandra Chancey and/or experienced volunteers in coordination with the artist or group. 

If you are applying as a solo artist and we see potential for a group show collaboration amongst submissions will be in contact with you. 

​The 2026 exhibitions run for 6-8 consecutive weeks and artists are paid $1000 for showcasing their work. 

Deadline for submissions: 11:59 pm, Friday August 1, 2025 
 

World Art Day

Each year, on 15 April, World Art Day celebrations help reinforce the links between artistic creations and society, encourage greater awareness of the diversity of artistic expressions and highlight the contribution of artists to sustainable development. It is also an occasion to shine a light on arts education in schools, as culture can pave the way for inclusive and equitable education.

Sharing Alberta's art

With over 9,000 artworks in the AFA Art Collection, there is always a need to find creative ways to share Alberta's art province wide. In any given year, the AFA has an incredible 20-25% of its collection in public circulation. This is achieved through exhibition loans, extended loans, and touring and art placement programs.

Through the TREX Curators/Managers in the TREX program, the AFA has been able to share art throughout the province bringing Albertan creativity to 187 venues in 95 communities, and reaching over 615,000 Albertans!

Publicly accessible art

Throughout the province you can find works from the AFA Art Collection on display in publicly accessible areas. Keep an eye on social media on World Art Day and see if your favourite and recognizable locations are sharing art from the Collection! 

TREX Exhibitions to keep an eye on:

• 40 is the new 20!
• Athletic Aesthetics
• Folk Memoirs
• Mysterious Forest Life
• Speculative Fiction

Speculative Fictions 

Location: Banff Public Library (April 19 - May 14)

Featured artwork

Jacques Rioux
Witness, Red Rock Coulee, Alberta, 1993
silver gelatin, selenium toned on paper
Collection of the Alberta Foundation for the Arts

About the exhibition

In today's society, where divisions can overshadow community connections, imaginative storytelling offers a beacon of hope. The Speculative Fictions exhibition draws inspiration from the literary genre of the same name, presenting artworks that encourage viewers to contemplate the transformative potential of wonder, awe, and mystery as we envision our collective futures.  

This exhibition invites audiences to journey into the realm of imagination, where the boundaries of possibility fade, and multiple paths open into the speculative edges of our shared consciousness. Approaching each visual composition with curiosity can offer glimpses into alternate realities, technological abstractions, and primordial possibilities, prompting reflection on our origins and where we are headed.  

Speculative Fictions features a curated selection of nineteen artworks from the Collection of the Alberta Foundation for the Arts, each encouraging the kind of regenerative curiosity needed in today's uncertain times. Viewers are invited to imagine each artist's vision and the potential stories behind mysterious landscapes, abstract forms, and playful compositions, many of which share aesthetic qualities with popular science fiction and fantasy worlds. 

Artists included in this exhibition are:

• Ernesto Bonato
• Janet Cardiff
• Wendy Ehlers
• Nathan Grimson
• Liz Ingram
• David Janzen
• Rodney Konopaki
• Calvin Kruk
• Amy Loewan
• James McDougall
• Leanne Olson
• Jacques Rioux
• Leonard Simpson
• Jim Westergard

About the artist

Calgary-based photographer Jacques Rioux has cultivated a distinguished career since graduating with a Diploma in Applied Photography in 1979. With experience spanning technical, commercial, and fine art photography, Rioux is best known for his thoughtful and extensive photographic series.

One of his most notable projects is The Calgary Picture Project (late 1980s-1990s), a black and white exploration of Calgary's urban and natural environments. This series blends documentary observation with a subjective perspective, often subtly including Rioux's own presence through shadows and reflections, adding a layer of self-awareness to his portrait of the city. He has also created the Western Badlands series, capturing the mystical qualities of Alberta's unique landscapes in striking black and white. Rioux's work has earned him recognition in permanent collections across Canada and Europe, including at institutions like the Glenbow Museum in Calgary and the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa.

About TREX

The AFA's Travelling Exhibition (TREX) program strives to ensure every Albertan is provided with an opportunity to enjoy fully developed exhibitions in schools, libraries, health care centres and smaller rural institutions and galleries throughout the province.

The TREX program assists in making both the AFA's extensive art collection and the work of contemporary Alberta artists available to Albertans.

Four regional organizations now coordinate the program for the Foundation:

• The Art Gallery of Grande Prairie - Northwest Alberta
• Art Gallery of Alberta - Northeast and North Central Alberta
• Alberta Society of Artists - Southwest Alberta
• Esplanade Arts & Heritage Centre - Southeast Alberta

These partners offer a wide range of exhibitions to communities from High Level in the north, to Milk River in the south, and virtually everywhere in between.

Athletic Aesthetics

Location: Gallery Foyer at the Esplanade Arts & Heritage Centre(April 19 - June 14)

Featured artwork

Craig Pelzer
Javelin: Studies 1 & 2, 1978 
acrylic, graphite and ink on paper
Collection of the Alberta Foundation for the Arts.

About the exhibition

Discover the surprising artistry within the world of sports! 

Athletic Aesthetics, a captivating exhibition featuring work from the AFA Art Collection, showcases 20 diverse artworks that beautifully blur the lines between art and athletics. Prepare to see iconic photographs from Edmonton's own 1978 Commonwealth Games by Don Mabie and Sylvain Voyer, offering a nostalgic glimpse into a significant local event. This exhibition uniquely explores the inherent grace and dedication found in both artistic expression and athletic endeavors.

Through a compelling collection of photography, video, prints, and paintings, Athletic Aesthetics showcases a wide range of activities, from familiar sports like football and cycling to the unexpected athleticism of ballet and bull riding. You'll gain a new appreciation for the shared skill, discipline, and even beauty that exists in these seemingly separate realms. Come and celebrate the power, elegance, and sheer joy of human movement, captured through the discerning eyes and hands of talented artists.

About the artist

Craig Pelzer was born in St. Francis, ON in 1952. Pelzer studied at the University of Saskatchewan (1970–72) before earning a BFA from the University of Alberta (1972–76). Pelzer also studied at the Banff School (now The Banff Centre) from 1976–77. Pelzer works primarily
in printmaking and painting. About his works on paper, he notes: “Paper provides me with a vehicle with which to research ideas and techniques for larger projects. Often they are within themselves finished pieces.”

About TREX

The AFA's Travelling Exhibition (TREX) program strives to ensure every Albertan is provided with an opportunity to enjoy fully developed exhibitions in schools, libraries, health care centres and smaller rural institutions and galleries throughout the province.

The TREX program assists in making both the AFA's extensive art collection and the work of contemporary Alberta artists available to Albertans.

Four regional organizations now coordinate the program for the Foundation:

• The Art Gallery of Grande Prairie - Northwest Alberta
• Art Gallery of Alberta - Northeast and North Central Alberta
• Alberta Society of Artists - Southwest Alberta
• Esplanade Arts & Heritage Centre - Southeast Alberta

These partners offer a wide range of exhibitions to communities from High Level in the north, to Milk River in the south, and virtually everywhere in between.

40 is the new 20!

Curated by Shane Golby from the Alberta Foundation for the Arts collection

Education Guide: www.youraga.ca

Featured Artwork:

Stan Phelps
Cold Night at the Yards, 1987
Colour etching on paper
Collection of the Alberta Foundation for the Arts

About the exhibition

It has been said that every picture tells a story. While true, the story told may not be a ‘story’ in the usual sense. Rather than presenting a complete narrative, most works of art tell their stories in a more opaque manner. Some, for example, might present just one event, character or setting from a larger narrative, leaving it to the viewer to ‘fill in the gaps’. Other artworks abandon this narrative altogether and direct attention to ‘stories’ about artistic styles, media and methods. Finally, there are many instances where art pieces, while complete in themselves, ‘work’ with other artworks in an exhibition to present larger ideas or more complex narratives. The TREX Region 2 exhibition 40 is the new 2O expresses each of these modes of visual story-telling; presenting art works with unique stories which, taken together, suggest a larger story of a place and visual art institutions and initiatives in that place.

The travelling exhibition 40 is the new 2O is a celebration. In 1972 the Alberta Art Foundation, now the Alberta Foundation for the Arts (AFA), established a provincial art collection; a unique representation of the history, development and achievements of Alberta’s visual arts community. Over the past fifty years this collection has grown to over 9000 artworks; profiling the careers of hundreds of Alberta’s artists, reflecting the history and development of Alberta and becoming an important cultural legacy for all Albertans. The exhibition 40 is the new 2O celebrates the fiftieth anniversary of the establishment of the AFA’s art collection and offers insights into stories of Alberta and artists from this place.

While celebrating the establishment of the AFA’s art collection, this exhibition also celebrates an important initiative of the Alberta Foundation for the Arts. Since 1981 the AFA has supported a provincial travelling exhibition program (TREX). The mandate of the program is to provide every Albertan with the opportunity to enjoy visual art exhibitions in their community. While exhibitions for the TREX program are curated from a variety of sources, a major part of the program assists in making the AFA’s art collection available to Albertans. In 2021 the TREX program celebrated its’ 40th anniversary and the TREX exhibition 40 is the new 2O recognizes this anniversary as well.

The TREX exhibition 40 is the new 2O celebrates both the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Alberta Foundation for the Arts art collection and the recent 40th anniversary of the Alberta Foundation for the Arts TREX program. Since 1986 the Art Gallery of Alberta (formerly the Edmonton Art Gallery) has been affiliated with the TREX program and so this exhibition, presenting twenty works from the AFA collection, celebrates these anniversaries by re-visiting TREX exhibitions produced by the Art Gallery of Alberta over the past twenty years. Exploring an eclectic mix of themes, genre, art styles and media this exhibition expresses the vitality of the visual arts in Alberta and the roles of the AFA and Art Gallery of Alberta in supporting the arts in the province.

About the artist

Stan Phelps was born and raised in Calgary, attending the University of Calgary (B.F.A.) majoring in painting and printmaking. Since 1978, Stan has worked as a painter, muralist, printmaker, freelance designer and co-proprietor of The Heart Studio in Calgary. The Heart Studio is a multi-disciplined art facility featuring art exhibitions and art programs including classes for adults and children.

Mr. Phelps has been an instructor for the Artist in Residency Program, Alberta Foundation for the Arts, since its inception in 1986. He is presently the co-director of the Loreburn Cultural Centre in Loreburn, Saskatchewan.

Stan is well known for the murals he has painted throughout Western Canada, particularly in Southern Alberta. Most notable are four murals at the Calgary Stampede, and a mural at Calgary City Hall entitled “A View of Calgary Bay, Scotland.”

During his extensive travels, Mr. Phelps has had the opportunity to work as a visiting artist at several internationally renowned studios including: “St Michael’s Printshop,” Newfoundland; “Escuela Nationale des Bellas Artes,” Murcia, Spain; “Taller de Grabado Tarasco,” Uruapan, Mexico; and “Atelier de L’Ile,” Val David, Québec.

His work can be found in private and corporate collections both nationally and internationally including The Alberta Foundation for the Arts and the Canada Council Art Bank in Ottawa.

Current location

Period 7, April 17 - May 15
Warburg School, 5412 50 St, Warburg, AB T0C 2T0

Next public locations

Period 9, June 26 - July 23
St. Albert Public Library, 5 St Anne St, St. Albert, AB T8N 2E8

Period 10, July 31 - August 27
Chuck MacLean Arts Centre, 5041 50 St, Camrose, AB T4V 1R3

About TREX

The AFA's Travelling Exhibition (TREX) program strives to ensure every Albertan is provided with an opportunity to enjoy fully developed exhibitions in schools, libraries, health care centres and smaller rural institutions and galleries throughout the province.

The TREX program assists in making both the AFA's extensive art collection and the work of contemporary Alberta artists available to Albertans.

Four regional organizations now coordinate the program for the Foundation:

• The Art Gallery of Grande Prairie - Northwest Alberta
• Art Gallery of Alberta - Northeast and North Central Alberta
• Alberta Society of Artists - Southwest Alberta
• Esplanade Arts & Heritage Centre - Southeast Alberta

These partners offer a wide range of exhibitions to communities from High Level in the north, to Milk River in the south, and virtually everywhere in between.

Folk Memoirs

Location: St. John Paul II High School, Grande Prairie (April 17 - May 14)

Featured artwork:

Hazel Litzgus
Canning Peaches, 1970
Watercolour on paper
Collection of the Alberta Foundation for the Arts

About the exhibition:

Folk Memoirs is a collection of visual narratives experienced while growing up on the Alberta prairies. Sourcing these rare historical moments from the Alberta Foundation for the Arts permanent collection, you will see paintings by Hazel Litzgus, Irene McCaugherty, William Panko and Doris Zaharichuk. The works are described as folk art, which is a unique style of art that reflects the cultural life of a community. Inspired by scenes from everyday life including: helping with housework, farm labor, playing outside, going to rodeos and more.

A memoir is a narrative composed from personal experience. The paintings in this show speak for themselves, taking you back in time to recall or learn the history of what life was like in the mid nineteen hundreds. Folk art takes on a very whimsical and colourful style of expression. This genre of artists are typically not concerned with making their subject look realistic. As you can see in William Panko’s paintings, he doesn’t worry about painting the scenes with the exact perspective or proportions – rather, he gives the paintings a more two dimensional or ‘flat’ appearance. More importantly, he depicted the story and what he remembered.

This group exhibition showcases simple everyday work-life balance. Hazel Litzgus’s work is a perfect example of this, from painting scenes of harvesting and cattle round up to dancing in the kitchen and rodeos. Enjoy finding hidden details of Irene McCaugherty and Doris Zaharichuk’s paintings as they draw the viewer in to enjoy how natural and simplistic life was. The works in this exhibition are a memoir of the artist’s life, savoring and reflecting on stories of the past.

About the Artist:

Hazel Litzgus continues to captivate the hearts of Albertans with her charming and nostalgic folk images of early Alberta life. Born on a farm near Lloydminister, Alberta, Hazel, through her paintings give us a glimpse of her early childhood and her many recollections of early rural and small town life on the Alberta Prairies.

Working in the unforgiving medium of watercolour, Hazel Litzgus narrates moments from her past in vivid detail with whimsy, in a naïve painting style. Whether it be the detailed wallpaper and patterned linoleum floor in a country farm house, or a school yard full of excited children playing various games, her art work is very reflective of her as a person. Hazel is a charming, soft spoken lady with a strong and determined character. She is full of life and stories and one feels right at ease as she tells of her experiences on the Prairies. Hazel’s book, Where the Meadow Lark Sang was published in 2003 and received great attention. In a review by CM Magazine, University of Manitoba, wrote: “In her use of bright colours and carefully detailed drawing, Litzgus created illustrations that are reminiscent of William Kurelek.”

About TREX

The AFA's Travelling Exhibition (TREX) program strives to ensure every Albertan is provided with an opportunity to enjoy fully developed exhibitions in schools, libraries, health care centres and smaller rural institutions and galleries throughout the province.

The TREX program assists in making both the AFA's extensive art collection and the work of contemporary Alberta artists available to Albertans.

Four regional organizations now coordinate the program for the Foundation:

• The Art Gallery of Grande Prairie - Northwest Alberta
• Art Gallery of Alberta - Northeast and North Central Alberta
• Alberta Society of Artists - Southwest Alberta
• Esplanade Arts & Heritage Centre - Southeast Alberta

These partners offer a wide range of exhibitions to communities from High Level in the north, to Milk River in the south, and virtually everywhere in between.

Mysterious Forest Life

Location : Northern Rockies Museum, Hinton (April 17 - May 14)

Artist : Sharon Krushel 

Featured Artwork : 
Mushrooms on Moss - Russula sp.
Photography:
Collection of the Artist

While exploring what I call the Enchanted Aspen Forest north of the town of Peace River, my daughter, Jessie, and I found this little fairy’s dining room, featuring a mushroom table on moss carpet. Imagine walking on such a soft floor. Jessie has been my best mushroom scout. She also found the fairy’s bathtub on page 10.  p. 9 in Mother Earth

About the Artist:

Sharon delights in collaboration and has been designing greeting cards since 2012, featuring her own images as well as those of other northern artists (DonaBonaCards.com).

Her pandemic project, the Mother Earth book, sprouted wings and took 31 fellow photographers on board. Beyond the 1st and 2nd printings, the Mother Earth project has taken on a life of its own with travelling exhibits, guided hikes, Mother Earth presentations in schools, galleries and libraries, music videos, and live-music slideshows.

Sharon’s favourite new word is BIOPHILIA - a deep desire to connect with other species of living things. This may inspire her to lie on her belly on the edge of a black spruce bog to photograph Big Red Stem moss through a macro lens, or to refrain from photography so she can be lost in the magic of staring into the curious eyes of a Canada Lynx for seven seconds before it shyly retreats from the path.

About TREX

The AFA's Travelling Exhibition (TREX) program strives to ensure every Albertan is provided with an opportunity to enjoy fully developed exhibitions in schools, libraries, health care centres and smaller rural institutions and galleries throughout the province.

The TREX program assists in making both the AFA's extensive art collection and the work of contemporary Alberta artists available to Albertans.

Four regional organizations now coordinate the program for the Foundation:

• The Art Gallery of Grande Prairie - Northwest Alberta
• Art Gallery of Alberta - Northeast and North Central Alberta
• Alberta Society of Artists - Southwest Alberta
• Esplanade Arts & Heritage Centre - Southeast Alberta

These partners offer a wide range of exhibitions to communities from High Level in the north, to Milk River in the south, and virtually everywhere in between.