Find inspiration in the chaotic visual storytelling of Scott Sawtell’s intuitive, layered compositions and create your own work of art! Let your subconscious guide your process and create a mixed-media collage in the form of a three-panel comic strip that draws on pop culture, fantasy, and science fiction like Scott Sawtell does in his own […]
Par Nair uses a beautiful shade of pink as the background for her paintings of the views of the outdoor spaces around her childhood home in Kerala, India. The pink peaks through her brush strokes and brings a warm glow to her lush landscapes, capturing her warm feelings about the place. Experiment with creating your […]
Come create beautiful swirling paintings inspired by the flowing ribbons and shifting colours in Vicky Talwar’s artwork. Decorate your two-toned swirls with flowers and any other designs you can dream up, and experience for yourself the meditative effect of Vicky Talwar’s many-layered process.
Take your lunch break with us and join a free online talk with Scott Sawtell, featured artist from the Varley Art Gallery’s summer exhibition What holds us together. This session offers insight into Sawtell’s creative process and current work. Learn More
Inspired by the current exhibitions, visitors are invited to drop into an open studio focused on experimentation. Explore mark-making, layering, and abstraction without the pressure of a finished product, emphasizing intuition and creative process. All materials provided. Learn More
During the Markham Jazz Festival, the Varley Art Gallery will be open for visitors to enjoy self-guided tours. Step inside to explore our current exhibitions at your own pace in a welcoming, air-conditioned space, and take a moment to experience art alongside the vibrant energy of the festival. Learn More
Celebrate community and culture at the second annual One Love Festival. This vibrant weekend brings people together through music, art, and food in an inclusive and welcoming atmosphere. Enjoy live performances, creative activities, and opportunities to connect with artists, neighbours, and community partners. Suitable for all ages. Learn More
This hands-on embroidery workshop explores stitching as a painterly, expressive practice inspired by the Varley’s 2026 Summer Exhibitions. Participants will experiment with intuitive mark-making using needles and threads, including a floating embroidery technique that encourages freedom and spontaneity. Suitable for all levels; all materials provided. Participants will create a small, embroidered work inspired by the […]
Celebrate the official Group of Seven Day at the Varley Art Gallery in partnership with the Readings at Richvale Poetry Series. Explore the rich connection between visual art and poetry through an inspiring evening of poetry readings and creative exchange. Exhibitions will open at 6 PM with readings beginning at 7 PM. Learn More
Join our Gallery Animateurs for free 30-minute guided tours of the 2026 Summer Exhibitions, What holds us together and Sketching the Past. This program is funded by Canada Summer Jobs and the Varley-McKay Art Foundation of Markham. Learn More
