An Eclectic Contemporary Gallery
Review by Arshdeep Kaur
Peter Robertson Gallery is a commercial contemporary gallery in the Wîhkwêntôwin (Oliver) area that has the kind of art that makes you feel. The kind of art that makes you stop, stare, and maybe even question your entire emotional range. This contemporary gallery features abstract, realistic, photographic, and sculptural works by Canadian artists. The gallery was originally founded as the Vanderleelie Gallery in 1969, and Peter Robertson, after working there for years, bought it in 2004. The gallery recently moved to a new location at 10332 124 St, Edmonton. They bought this space so they wouldn’t have to rent anymore.
When I asked Robertson to describe the personality of the gallery, he said “eclectic.” That honestly feels spot on. I visited the gallery after the opening of the new space and there was a mix of beautiful works from different artists. It’s like a stunning visual buffet of Canadian creativity inside a clean, bright, airy space. The layout of the gallery itself added to the experience. The east wing has tall ceilings and big windows, light-filled and open. You walk in and you breathe. The pieces in this section of the gallery felt more connected with nature.
Then you move into the west side with low ceilings – painted black, barely any natural light. Suddenly it feels moody, edgy, more intense. The art follows that vibe – the city, the man made vibe. It’s genius to put apocalyptic painting in this section. The perception shifts when moving with the space.
Every painting had a magnetic pull and on top of it, every artwork is by Canadian artist. Peter Robertson looked proud to say this, “We didn’t feel the need to go outside of Canada. We found the quality and originality that we were looking for right here.” Quality and originality is what the gallery looks for in the works they want to represent.
The abstract art pieces by Chanel Desroches are incredible. Her painting Unthread (2023, Oil, Oil Stick, Paster, Graphite on Canvas) feels like a big exhale. It’s a large, layered piece that pulls you in with bursts of deep navy, buttery yellow, electric blue, and fiery orange. Scribbled white lines loop and stretch like thoughts unravelling. There’s a sense of movement of letting go and falling apart. My friend and I stood there and interpreting shapes. We didn’t know for sure but we felt it. It’s wild that someone can paint a feeling and make you feel it.
Kristy Templeton’s Abeyance (2024, Acrylic and Oil on Canvas) is a hyper realistic painting of a women’s torso wearing black dress with white polka dots. Her left hand gently clasps the right hand resting on a glass table. Behind her black graffiti peeks out on a soft white wall. From a far, it seems like photo shot in bright lit board room accidentally made in a back alley which is uncanny to be real. But, a few steps closer – centimetres away from the canvas, you realize – this isn’t a photo. It’s a painting. The jaw drops right away.
The detail is unreal- the way the fabric moves across her body, the subtle veins under her skin, the soft reflection on the glass table. Even the finglenails and the graffiti in the background have depth. You can feel the time, talent and precision it took to bring this image to life. Every brushstroke says: look again and be surprised by the detail again.
Gregory Hardy’s cloud paintings made me fall in love with clouds all over again. There was something sublime about them – so big, so full of life, so so Canadian. In Wild Sky, Great Day in August (2023, Acrylic on Canvas) shows the the dramatic clouds unfold above a dense treeline hugging the edge of a lake. The clouds are massive, moody, and alive with texture. The thick brushstrokes and layered colours swirl with motion – purples, oranges, whites, blues – all stand out like a sky on the brink of exploding. The stillness of the lake and the landscape below is quietly holding the storm. It’s painting of a weather and the emotion that this weather brings.
There are cozy seats around the gallery so you can slow down and really sit with the art. What I loved most was how Peter and Camille Robertson would come around to chat, answer questions, and genuinely listen to our interpretations. It felt like we weren’t just visitors but part of the art conversation.
The paintings looked completely different in person than they did in photos. You have to interact with them. See them from different angles. Feel what changes when you move around, closer and far. Peter and Camille Robertson have created a space where art feels accessible, alive, and truly seen.
I found a hidden gem, and I already know I’ll be back for every exhibition. You should be too. This gallery made me want to talk to every artist, learn their stories, and engage more deeply with their work.
Peter Robertson Gallery is a place where art breathes and people are invited to breathe with it.
They’ve just opened up, so now’s the perfect time to visit. Currently, they’re showcasing a variety of Canadian artists, but from April 17 to May 10, 2025, they’ll be hosting an exhibition by Steve Driscoll. The opening night is April 17, from 7 – 9 PM and the artist will be there too.
Peter Robertson Gallery
10332 124 St, Edmonton
780-455-7479
website
