Burnaby Art Gallery is proud to present its latest exhibition: RESIST!, on display from September 11 to November 15, 2026. Bringing together works by Rawan Hassan روان حسن, Gord Hill, Laurence Hyde and Elizabeth MacKenzie, the exhibition explores how artists have used analog techniques such as printmaking and drawing to document lived experiences, confront injustice and inspire social change.
Since its inception, print has served as a powerful tool for sharing information and ideas. From newspapers and books to posters, flyers and zines, printed media has played a vital role in educating audiences and mobilizing communities. RESIST! examines the role of artists in recording and responding to the world around them through artistic practices that challenge dominant narratives and encourage critical dialogue.
About the artists
The exhibition features the work of Rawan Hassan روان حسن, an interdisciplinary visual artist whose textile-based artworks and drawings explore the preservation and evolution of Palestinian craft traditions, including tatreez embroidery. Hassan's practice engages questions of identity, resilience, grief and resistance while envisioning possible futures for Palestinian culture and community.
Also featured is the work of Gord Hill (Kwakwaka'wakw Nation), an artist, author and political activist whose graphic novels have become influential works in conversations surrounding Indigenous resistance, decolonization, anti-capitalism and anti-fascism. Through bold visual storytelling, Hill’s work documents historical and contemporary movements for social and political change.
A highlight of the exhibition is Southern Cross (1951) by Laurence Hyde, presented from the City of Burnaby Permanent Art Collection. This rare 118-part wordless novel chronicles the devastating impact of nuclear testing in the Pacific Islands. Created in response to United States-led atomic testing at Bikini Atoll, Hyde's powerful woodblock series remains a poignant reflection on the human cost of warfare and environmental destruction. One of only two known copies in existence, the work offers a significant opportunity for public viewing.
The exhibition also includes Cleave (2023-ongoing) by Vancouver-based artist Elizabeth MacKenzie. Composed of hundreds of intimate works on paper layered together, the project reflects on the ongoing genocide in Gaza and serves as an act of witnessing. Through an accumulation of images and marks, Cleave creates space to acknowledge profound loss while drawing attention to the experiences of civilians affected by violence and conflict.
In partnership with the Burnaby Public Library, The RESIST! Reading Nook is presented alongside this exhibition as a space to explore themes of resistance from a variety of cultural perspectives and vantage points.
Together, these artists demonstrate the enduring power of art and print culture as vehicles for resistance, education and collective memory. Spanning generations and diverse cultural perspectives, their works invite visitors to consider the role artists play in documenting history, challenging oppression and imagining more just futures.
Programs
The public is welcome to join us for the following activities:
- Storytelling with Julian Brave NoiseCat: Sunday, September 20, 2 pm
Join us for a storytelling event by national bestselling author Julian Brave NoiseCat. This event invites deeper reflection on the exhibition’s themes of resistance and creative practice on view in the current exhibition. - In the BAG: RESIST!: Sunday, September 27 and Sunday, October 25, 1-4 pm
Get inspired by a visit to the Gallery, then head into the BARN studio for a free drop-in activity for all ages! - Fireside Chat with Gord Hill: Thursday, October 22, 2 pm
Cozy up in the Fireside room, sip some coffee and tea, and listen to renowned Kwakwaka'wakw artist and author Gord Hill discuss his artwork and practice. - Artists in Conversation: Sunday Nov 15, 2 pm.
Rawan Hassan روان and Elizabeth MacKenzie in conversation with curators Jennifer Cane and Emily Dundas Oke.
Since 1967, the Burnaby Art Gallery has collected, preserved and presented visual art by local, national, and internationally recognized artists. As Canada’s only public art museum dedicated to works on paper, it represents a variety of techniques and practices from artists of diverse backgrounds. The gallery manages over 7,100 works in the City of Burnaby Permanent Art Collection as well as the City’s Public Art Collection.
Learn more: burnabyartgallery.ca