Art Displays

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 September 14 through October 25, 2025

Conquest, Identity, and the Violence of Belonging, by Uriel Guerrero-Aconcha

"This work explores Latin America's history, marked by conquest, forced encounters, and the violent merging of worlds. As descendants of the colonized and colonizers, we are the illegitimate children of history, born from plunder and brutality, denied by the fatherland. This wound of non-belonging persists today, deepened by postcolonial realities and the ongoing violence of capitalist imperialism."

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Alderney Gate Public Library

Information on next display coming soon.

Cole Harbour Public Library

On display October 16 through November 30, 2025

Art by Beverley Lynn Kelly

Two blue herons.

Bev’s original paintings explore the amazing natural treasures found throughout the Atlantic Provinces of Canada, but also the awe-inspiring beauty discovered during her travel adventures. Oceans, Marine Life, Forests, Lakes, Flora, and Fauna! Inspired by masters of post-impressionism, Van Gogh and Cezanne, Bev uses a subjective approach to painting, choosing symbolic colours, bold gestural strokes, and optical effects to evoke a thought-provoking narrative or an emotional response.

The Artist works mainly in acrylics but also engages in a variety of art media and forms. Since childhood, Bev has expressed her view of the world through art. An award-winning artist, she studied Visual Art, Drama and Education at the University of Saskatchewan, the University of Calgary, and the Elam School of Art, the University of Auckland (A Conceptual Art School). Over the years, she has taught in her home and in educational settings in Canada and overseas. Bev especially enjoys teaching classes for students with varying needs and from culturally diverse backgrounds. She enjoys painting theatre sets, murals, and engaging in public art and art shows.

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J.D. Shatford Memorial Public Library

On display October 2025

Art by Community Members

The works on display for the month of October are made by the talented crafters who attend the JD Shatford Library’s Needle Niche program every Thursday evening. Special thanks go to Ken Mason, Merissa Jennex and “the two Lindas” – Linda Mason and Linda O’Toole, for organizing this display. New members are always welcome. Drop in anytime between 6:30pm and 8:30pm on Thursdays with your needlecraft project.

Keshen Goodman Public Library

On display October 2025

Korean Newcomers Art Show: Exploring Beauty and Identity

This art show features a group of talented Korean artists who are sharing their unique journeys through art. As newcomers to a new land, each artist reflects on the beauty they have discovered, how they see themselves in this new place, and how their art helps them understand who they are.

The exhibition includes the works of Yewon Min, Helen Mi-sook Lee, Jessica Moon, Binda Choi, Jeehye Choi, and Inae Kim. Each artist shows a different way of exploring themes like identity, culture, and personal transformation, blending traditional Korean styles with fresh, contemporary approaches.

Their art tells stories of change, connection, and self-reflection, offering a glimpse into the process of finding beauty in new experiences while staying true to one’s roots.

Come experience this beautiful collection of works that speak to the journey of self-discovery and the search for meaning in an ever-changing world.

Musquodoboit Harbour Public Library

On display September through October 2025

Art by Jude Major

Sackville Public Library

Information on next display coming soon.

Tantallon Public Library

On display October 2025

Art by Bryan Ashwood

"I'm Bryan Ashwood. I was born in Toronto and grew up in southern Ontario. I joined the military at 18 and have recently retired after 19+ years in the Canadian Forces. What's next? Still working on it."

"Since a very young age—think marker on carpet— I have always been passionate about art. That said, I was never really any good (my brother was the gifted one). I started this journey during the COVID-19 pandemic with my spouse. Paint nights became a regular thing. I carried this hobby onwards and translated it into what you see here now."

"I am always learning, I am always inspired, I am always looking to grow. I am self-taught, and I am certain I have more than a few bad habits on display. All said, not only does my art insist that I stay focused—it has also become my escapism without repercussion."

Woodlawn Public Library

On display July through October 2025

Art by Cathy McKelvey

"I am a non-representational painter living in Atlantic Canada. I had thought about what I do as abstraction, but non-representational painting is a better description. I'm not abstracting from the world around me. I'm making my invisible interior being, visible. I'm influenced by my experience in nature, but I paint from within. Although I spent my early years swimming in Lake Banook, you are more likely to find me now, on or near the St. John River. I began painting at the Saidye Bronfman School of Fine Arts in Montreal in the 1990’s. There I was exposed to the work of Les Automatistes (Paul-Émile Borduas, Marcelle Ferron, Jean-Paul Riopelle) part of the surrealist movement of the last century. Painting which incorporates the subconscious is tremendously creative and satisfying."

"My work is a reflection of my psychological state at any given time. I paint intuitively, which means I follow my gut and then respond to what happens. Because everyone is unique, my response is unique to me at that time. I wouldn't be able to copy my own work if I tried because, as time passes, I also change, and my impulses and responses change. I have spent many years learning techniques and rules. The trick now is letting all of that go and trusting myself."

"I am represented by The Prow Gallery, Halifax, NS."