On the heels of Coast Salish artist Susan Point’s major retrospective, Susan Point: Spindle Whorl, the Vancouver Art Gallery recently announced a new acquisition of significant contemporary works.

The addition includes artworks by Vancouver-based artists Point and Rodney Graham, among many others.

Two contemporary cedar carvings—Up Stream Quest (2016) and Birth of a Star (2016)—by  Coast Salish artist  Point are both currently on view at the Vancouver Art Gallery. They were acquired for the permanent collection through funds donated by Michael and Inna O’Brian and are part of a larger effort by the gallery to increase its holdings of work by contemporary indigenous artists.

A major acquisition by internationally-recognized artist  Graham, who received the Order of Canada in 2016, was also made. The photo triptych Paddler, Mouth of the Seymour (2012-13), presenting a single image across three monumental lightboxes, was acquired through funds from Rogers’ vice chairman and gallery trustee Phil Lind, as well as the Vancouver Art Gallery Acquisition Fund.

Other acquisitions include works by Vancouver artist Stephen Waddell; Hornby Island-based Jerry Pethick; Beijing artist Wang Dongling; Montreal artist Sorel Cohen;  Metis/Cree and Tsimshian/Gitksan artist Skeena Reece; and Vancouver Special exhibition standouts Allison Hrabluik, Tamara Henderson, Eli Bornowsky.