Public Art
Art helps us tell the story of who we are, and who we want to be. Burnaby regularly commissions new artworks for public spaces to mark important milestones, gateways, places and passages. As part of an expansive and vibrant network of artistic expression, public art harnesses new ideas, generates discussion about the past, present, and future, and translates experiences between residents. Burnaby’s Civic public art program enhances the community by reflecting the myriad perspectives and traditions of those who visit and reside here.
Find public art across the city using our Public Art Map
Learn more about each work in our extensive online database, the Public Art Registry
Temporary public art
Public Art produces a range of temporary installations and activations with a community focus, explore our current and recent initiatives.
Art in the Open
Discover the beauty of art right in your community with Art in the Open. This innovative public art project showcases a selection of 12 stunning artworks from the City of Burnaby’s Permanent Art Collection. These large-scale reproductions will be displayed in community centres and public spaces until the end of 2026.
Curtains of Blooming Narrative at James Cowan Theatre
As construction starts for the new James Cowan Theatre redevelopment project, a temporary public art project by Karl Mata Hipol will be on display at the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts. Interweaving tradition and contemporary expression, drawing from the Ilocano 'abel' (weaving) tradition in the Philippines, the artwork reimagines theatre curtains as decorative veils, incorporating patterns like the double star, matamata (diamond), and kusikus (whirlpool), alongside local elements such as cedar leaves and rhododendrons.
Public art commissions: Civic and private
Burnaby has a growing collection of public art created through unique commissioning opportunities. Civic artworks are part of the City of Burnaby Public Art Collection managed through the Burnaby Art Gallery.
Zachary George, Swim Together, 2025
This Coast Salish design pays respect to the work of Burnaby Fire Services. Symbolic colours are chosen for elements encountered during lifesaving work: red and yellow crescents and trigons represent fire, and blue trigons represent water that is used to put out fires. These are overlaid on the black background of the building to represent smoke and the strength of the firefighters. Repeating salmon reflects the people who work in Fire Services, symbolizing the importance of working as a team and being brave throughout their journey to overcome any obstacle.
Nathan Lee, Hak Chu/Pak Chu, 2021
In the 1990s, during a renovation designed to preserve heritage at Deer Lake Park, several artifacts were discovered. Among them was a single white "Pak Chu". These tiny game pieces and their black counterparts, "Hak Chu", were used by early Chinese labourers in games of chance.
Chase Gray, xʷəlməxʷ Embrace, 2025
xʷəlməxʷ Embrace is a Coast Salish design sandblasted into coloured concrete along a 150-meter pathway in Deer Lake Park. The concept for this design comes from the tradition of goat horn bracelet carving among xʷməθkʷəy̓əm xʷəlməxʷ (Musqueam people).
Upcoming civic public art commissions
- Adad Hannah, TimeLine at Burnaby Lake Recreation Complex
- Susan Point and Jonas Jones at Cameron Community Centre & Library
Our active private sector public art program supports commissions initiated through private sector development. Projects by artists from around the world activate and enhance Burnaby’s urban environment. All completed private sector artworks are catalogued in the City’s Public Art Registry.
Nancy Rubins, Winnie’s Pleasure, 2025
Winnie’s Pleasure is a site-specific permanent sculpture composed of found canoes and reflects the surrounding Brentwood community and the region, as well as nearby Burnaby Lake, that is home to a canoe and kayaking club and rowing club. With multiple vantage points, pedestrians may gaze up into the work as if it were a great tree, or experience it as a dynamic punctation of colour on the streetscape as seen from the Skytrain.
Xwalacktun, Eshlhihkw'iws (Making Connections), 2024
There are four Coast Salish eyes outlined in this design: thunderbird, salmon, bear and eagle. The number four represents the four directions, the four elements, the four stages of life and the four seasons. This piece beautifully shares the message to look after all the connected elements of Mother Earth.
Myfanwy Macleod, Cosmos (I am as constant as the northern star), 2022
A mural executed in mosaic tiles, located at a building on the corner of Imperial and Dunblane Avenue. The tile mosaic presents the location of the stars as seen on January 18, 2018, the date the construction on this building began. Set in a prominent location on the outside of the building, the artwork transforms the building’s corner plaza into a celestial cornerstone.
Upcoming private sector public art commissions:
Brentwood
- Maskull Lasserre, The Visitors, commissioned by Aoyuan International
- Eva Rothschild, Open Arms, commissioned by Onni Group
- Kambiz Sharif, Growth, commissioned by Beedie Living
- James Harry, Breach, commissioned by Shape Properties
- David Robinson, Title to be determined, commissioned by Millenium Group
Edmonds
- Susan Point, Salish Spirit, commission by Open Road Properties
- Illarion Gallant, Title to be determined, commissioned by Ledingham McAllister
- Rusna Kaur, Title to be determined, commissioned by Square Nine Developments Inc.
Metrotown
- Eli Bornowsky, Title to be determined, commissioned by Artillery Developments Ltd.
- Marian Penner Bancroft, WindWaveWeave, commissioned by Rize Alliance Properties
- Thomas Cannell, Sacred Belongings, commissioned by Keltic Development
- Victoria Fard, Title to be determined, commissioned by Concord Pacific
- James Harry, All My Relations, commissioned by Kingborn Properties
- Tsēmā & Jonathan Igharas, Fenhaven, commissioned by Reliance Properties
- Objects of Common Interest (Eleni Petaloti and Leonidas Trampoukis), Title to be determined, commissioned by Bosa Properties
- Soo Sunny Park, Title to be determined, commissioned by Anthem Properties Group Ltd.
- Debra Sparrow, Weaving the Wind, commissioned by Westland Living
- Khan Lee, Reflection, commissioned by Anthem Wilson Developments Ltd.
- Lyse Lemieux, Skirted Herons, commissioned by Concord Pacific
- Ken Lum, Title to be determined, Commissioned by Polygon Onyx Homes Ltd.
- Luke Marston, Title to be determined, commissioned by IDS Group
- Rachelle Sawatsky, Each rainbow droplet, crashing down a waterfall, makes a light spectrum, commissioned by Beijing Shokai Vancouver Metrotown Project Ltd.
- Brandon Vickerd, Title to be determined, commissioned by Concord Pacific
All completed private sector artworks are catalogued in the City’s Public Art Registry.
Resources
The City of Burnaby Public Art Policy documents provide guidance for the acquisition, installation, interpretation, maintenance and lifecycle planning of artworks in public areas.