Artists celebrate one-year anniversary of Halifax airport gallery’s reopening

An art gallery inside Halifax Stanfield International Airport features pieces inspired by Nova Scotia.

A small but vibrant art gallery tucked inside Halifax Stanfield International Airport is marking its first anniversary since reopening.

The ArtPort Gallery, located between the airport’s security and arrivals sections, measures just 14-by-20 feet, but every inch of wall space is covered in colour, texture and storytelling. It features original pieces from 12 local artists.

“We’re serving not only Canadian customers but also international,” said artist Ilze Lucis. “So we’re sharing our local art with the world.”

From bold portraits to abstract landscapes and coastal wildlife, the artwork is as varied as the passengers who pass by it. Artists take turns curating and selling their work in-person, something Jennifer Dingle says has brought her back to her roots.

“I trained originally as a biologist, and so I love animals and painting the local flora and fauna,” she said. “It’s given me a chance to learn about them again.”

The group behind the gallery operated in the terminal for more than a decade before COVID-19 shut it down. When it reopened last year, it marked a hopeful return for a community of creatives familiar with the space.

“It’s good to be back here,” said artist Marshal Burgess. “We were shut down for three years with COVID. We’re very glad to be here — it’s always busy, and you meet more people.”

Some, like Annabelle Caissie, have been involved for more than 20 years — from the days when the gallery was a small kiosk near the food court.

The artists are hoping the lease, currently set to expire in December, will be renewed so they can continue building on the gallery’s momentum.

“We just love to share our art with the world,” said Lucis.

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