Curious about local art? We are too!

When it comes to the arts, Nova Scotia is spoiled for talent, and we're pleased to feature local art in many of our Library spaces.

From The Sunroom at Central Library to art displayed in our branches, we want to give local artists space to connect with our community and share their vision.

Current exhibits

The Sunroom at Central Library

On display May 21 – June 27, 2026

In The Sunroom: Out of Bounds

On the periphery of the basketball court is a supportive spectator, an injured player, a proud parent, an intense coach. A reflection of ongoing conversations between multi-disciplinary artist and designer Duane Jones (Art Pays Me) and textile/quilt artist Andrea Tsang Jackson  (3rd Story Workshop), Out of Bounds looks at passion, tenacity, discipline, risk-taking and creativity in both art practice and commitment to sport.

Through their works, Duane and Andrea recognize the dynamic nature of “baller” as an identity, the soft boundaries of a game that has hard rules, and the role of improvisational decision-making inside and outside of the game. These ideas are all heightened through their roles as parents—being on the sidelines while having skin in the game.

Somewhere between graphic design, craft, painting, and sculpture, the diversity of media in this exhibition speaks to the tensions within themselves: raw and rough, delicate and strong, planned, and improvised.

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Alderney Gate Public Library

Information on next display coming soon.

Captain William Spry Public Library

On display May through June 2026

McIntosh Run Trail System Photographs by Graeme Coxon

Graeme is a Halifax-based photographer with a special interest in landscapes of the wilder parts of Nova Scotia, from stormy coasts to coastal barrens.  

A separate but complementary interest is still-life work with plant subjects in emulation of the botanical illustrations of earlier eras. 

He has also been drawn more recently to photograph scenes of discomforting urban development. 

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Cole Harbour Public Library

On display April through June 2026

Art by Matthew Mongraw

Matthew Mongraw is a self-taught artist from Dartmouth who works primarily in acrylic paints, pencil and pen. Born in 1984, Matthew has been artistic throughout his life, and has worked in mediums including acrylics, pen, pencil, charcoal, pastel, and watercolour.

Matthew's works consist of Landscapes and portraits reflecting the people and places around him with a focus on a representational yet impressionistic style. He has completed commissions for portraits and landscapes for private commissions, as well as album artwork and concert posters.

Matthew's work has been commissioned by the Nova Scotia Legislative Assembly, to be included in the permanent collection and Gallery at the Nova Scotia Province House. His work has been exhibited at Argyle Fine Art, The Craig Gallery, The Teichert Gallery, The Dart Gallery, Woodlawn Public Library, Lawrencetown Beach Cafe, Zatzman Sportsplex, included in the Mosaic for Mental Health through the Canadian Mental Health Association, and featured on CTV Morning Live. Matthew has participated in group and solo exhibits at galleries throughout Nova Scotia.

Follow Matthew on his artistic journey:

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J.D. Shatford Memorial Public Library

On display June 2026

Art by George Theoret

George Theoret's keen interest in drawing started in his early years, and in 1965, he developed an interest in portraits, soliciting passers-by to sit for him in 1966, doing charcoal portraits in an art store window. In his senior high school year, George won 1st prize in the art contest for a coloured pencil drawing of a Chinese pagoda. In 1967, the regional school board commissioned George to paint a large oil portrait of his high school's founding directress to dedicate the chapel in her name.

Working in the art store led to a long career in the picture framing industry: production, sales and management. George worked eight years in marine cargo surveying and five years managing ISO Quality Management Systems (QMS), drafting policy, procedural and instructional documents and developing a QMS relational database.

George quit painting for 13 years, but began again in 1983, doing approximately 40 watercolours of local people and village scenes while living in the U.K.

After a further lapse of five years, George started painting with members of the Aspotogan Arts group when he and his wife, Julie, returned to the Maritimes to take up permanent residence in Fox Point, NS. In 2013, George decided to pursue painting full-time.

Keshen Goodman Public Library

On display June 2026

Art by The Library Loopers

The Library Loopers are a group of rug hookers that meet with the combined group, Crafting With Fibres,, opens a new window at the Keshen Goodman Public Library every Friday morning.

Originally begun in the early 2000s, the group was led by Ann Smith, who was a teacher of the MacGowan style of traditional rug hooking. Women and men sat in the central area of the Library with their hoops, frames, many wool cloth strips and yarns, creating colourful rugs, sharing, and teaching the craft to all who wandered into their midst. That is how I found myself to become a rug hooker 10 years ago, circling an event in the Keshen Goodman monthly activities; Rug Hooking, come learn the traditional art of hooking mats and rugs....

Keshen Goodman Public Library has not only provided a space for us to socialize. hook, and grow in our craft—they are displaying a selection of our works for June. 

The hooked mats represent a changing style from durable floor mats made with burlap bags and worn-out clothing and yarn to works of art made with 100% wool strips on linen backing, to many, many different fibres and yarns.

 Rug hooking provides an outlet to create, recreate and express artistic talents. Thanks to the Rug Hooking Guild of Nova Scotia, the Hooked Rug Museum of North America in Queensland, many shops dedicated to rug hooking, and many local events showcasing rug hooking, the craft is still growing.

Musquodoboit Harbour Public Library

Information on next display coming soon.

Sackville Public Library

Information on next display coming soon.

Tantallon Public Library

On display June 2026

Art by Fabien Lutz-Barabé

Fabien Lutz-Barabé is an artist and cartoonist based in Tantallon, Nova Scotia, Canada, working primarily in watercolour. His work is inspired by the world around him—ranging from familiar local landmarks and coastal scenes to animals, florals, and moments that capture his attention in everyday life. Largely self-taught, Fabien has developed a style that blends realism with an expressive sensitivity to light, colour, and atmosphere. While his earlier work focused on landscapes and seascapes, his practice has evolved to embrace a wider range of subjects, guided by curiosity and creative instinct.

In November 2016, following a diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma, Fabien made the decision to pursue art full-time—transforming a lifelong passion into a dedicated career. His work often reflects themes of resilience, presence, and a deep appreciation for the beauty found in both grand vistas and quieter, more intimate subjects. A member of the Peggy’s Cove Festival of the Arts for over 14 years, Fabien has participated in numerous exhibitions and fostered meaningful connections within the local arts community. He also accepts commissioned work, creating personalized pieces that reflect the unique vision and experiences of his clients.

In addition to his painting practice, Fabien occasionally works as a life model for various art groups, offering him a unique perspective on the creative process. Through his work, Fabien seeks to evoke a sense of connection and reflection—capturing not just what is seen, but what is felt in the moment of inspiration.

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Woodlawn Public Library

On display March through June 2026

Art by Briana Scott

Briana is an author and artist who lives near Peggy's Cove, Nova Scotia. Her world is filled with islands, wild horses, seals, birds, tangled weeds, fog, oddly shaped trees, and the sea. She paints from life, and as she walks along the Atlantic coast near her home. She takes these sketchbooks full of words and images, and returns to her studio to write the stories that turn into poems, picture books, animations, patterns and paintings. The subject of her works is an exploration of images that she pulls from her “happy island,” a place in her mind where she goes to finalize her images and stories.