Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art

The Bill Reid Gallery is a cultural treasure in the heart of downtown Vancouver. The space is beautifully curated, showcasing the incredible artistry and legacy of Bill Reid along with works from other contemporary Indigenous artists. Each piece tells a story, and the gallery does an excellent job of providing context that deepens appreciation for the art and the traditions it represents. The atmosphere is calm and reflective, making it easy to slow down and really take in the details. The exhibits are thoughtfully arranged, blending timeless pieces with modern interpretations, and the quality of the curation truly stands out. Staff are welcoming, knowledgeable, and happy to answer questions, which adds to the overall experience.

This place is incredible. The art just blows your mind with the beauty and quality. The admission price is cheap but the exhibits are priceless. Such a small price to pay to see such beautiful artwork. Bill Reid Gallery has to be in the top three things to do in Vancouver.

Went to the Bill Reid Gallery on the first Friday of the month. It is free from 2-5pm. I love the display and explanation of the traditional style of drawing with the symmetry. I would go again and explore once more when I visit Vancouver

This was an incredible museum! I had a great time learning about Bill Reid’s work. It was so inspiring! They had two levels with displays of art work. The day I went there, there was some work going on at the lower level and half of it was closed. So the tickets were lower-price tickets that day. I spent around 3 hours in total at this place to check out everything they had. I learnt a lot about different Haida stories through the artwork. On the second level, they show a half an hour movie of how a red cedar tree is transformed into a beautiful totem pole. They also have a space to read and sit and relax.

Small but powerful. The space is intimate, which lets you really focus on the details of Reid’s work and the broader Indigenous art showcased. Staff are friendly and knowledgeable, and the rotating exhibits often highlight emerging artists. Downsides? It’s compact—don’t expect to spend more than an hour—and the gift shop feels pricey. Still, it’s a meaningful stop if you’re into Haida art or want a quieter cultural experience downtown.

This is an amazing gallery. They have such great exhibits here. I only wish they had more space to show off the incredible Indigenous talent.

A reception at night (and staying at the Hyatt across the street) revealed this beautiful urban courtyard. A gift in a busy world, the art inside and honouring the first peoples of this land is 🧡

Stunning art gallery with a very cute gift shop. The art work is stunning and very educational for all ages.

The Bill Reid Gallery is the only public Gallery in Canada dedicated to the Indigenous Northwest Coast Art. It's a gorgeous 2-floor monument to the legendary Haida master artist, Bill Reid (1920 - 1998), and other established and upcoming artists. Before our visit, Gayle and I had never seen a museum like this. Outstanding! The museum space is full of natural light, great viewing angles, and compact enough to see it all and comprehensively in a relatively short period of time. We were overwhelmed with the sculptures, paintings, jewelry, and more, but not in a huge museum sort of way. The folks here know their art were more than happy to explain anything we asked. Their well curated gift shop is an extension of that. If you want a manageable deep dive into Haida and related art, and find yourself saying "Oh Wow!) at lot, this is your place.

Bill Reid was a unique, talented individual with a white European father and native Haida mother and, as such, was able to navigate between and mesh these highly disparate cultures. I was very drawn to the gallery's pieces, especially the sculptures and large-scale wood carvings. Highly recommended.

The best Haida artist of all. I have a book of his from U of Washington. Really captures the tribal spirit and ethos.

We absolutely LOVED this museum! I'd come back again for sure. The staff was very friendly. I loved the gift shop and spent way too much, lol.

Outstanding. Truly sets the bar in representing Indigenous NW art. Welcoming staff, helpful explanations, and a gorgeous gift shops. Explores the past and the future, celebrates young First Nations artists. I learned about this place in grad school but didn't have the chance to go until recently. But you should, if you can!

We planned to visit the Vancouver Art Museum but it was closed on Tuesday so we headed to Bill Reid Gallery. This gallery primarily featured the work of the namesake but also many works from up and coming and well known indigenous artists. Poles, wood and metal pieces as well as paintings are on exhibit. Works are based on oral tradition and the rich history of the Haida people is shared through these works. We spent about 1.5 hours in the gallery and browsed in the gift shop post visit and picked up a few items.

Thanks to Yelp reviews, I made a point to seek out this gallery after a visit to the art museum. What an inspiring collection it is. The displays are well designed for the space, very informative, and very moving. The craftmanship and designs are superb. The small gift shop has beautiful Haida design scarves, amazing leather purses, lovely jewelry, and sculptures.

Bill Reid was the guy who revived and mainstreamed the art of the aboriginal peoples of British Columbia and southern Alaska. His artistic accomplishments are impressive and on display at his eponymous gallery as well as the UBC Museum of Anthropology. This collection is some of his best work in several media. The wood work and monumental bronze are especially impressive. A must see for anyone who is interested in native art forms.

Very commercial. You won't find anything special here. If you're looking for something original, this is not the place. They have good books and overpriced tee shirts.

I was at the Bill Reid Gallery to see Sho Sho Esquiro a local fashion designer's current collection. I am sure Bill Reid would have loved anyway. Her work was Fantastic her Designs incorporate the colour and designs of Aboriginal Peoples within backdrop of modern couture fashion. Bill Reid Art looked down on models l walking runway like a talisman showing the world what this generation of Aboriginal Artist/Designer is expressing to both locally and globally. A special mention to the Models that were all great but two were fantastic, I hope they go to New York with Sho Sho Esquiro and present her collection to the world.

In a word Legendary .This man found his craft when he was 28. He discovered his hertitage and brought international acclaim to the art and culture of the west coast. The museum is packed with one master piece after another. His many disciplines are exhibited. Jewelery , totem carvings, mask making and more. Stop to see the Galaxy necklace. The birth of man , spirit of Haida. Another Vancouver treasure.

Bill Reid's prints, carvings, jewelry making, and even storytelling are collected in this compact gallery in the heart of downtown Vancouver. His most famous sculpures, Raven and the First Men and the Spirit of Haida Gwaii are still located at the Museum of Anthropology and at YVR, respectively, but forms of them are also included in this exhibit space. It's a small gallery but manages to explain the Bill Reid story from his origins to his legacy in Northwest Coast art. It's a beautiful and awe-inspiring body of work that's represented here. My major complaint, however, is that they've set up a number of videos throughout the gallery, and they're noisy and distracting. Headphones at each station would have been a good idea. I liked the interactive nature of the exhibit, though. You can sit on couches and listen to Bill Reid read one of his stories and poems, or get a 360 degree view of the Spirit of Haida Gwaii on the big video screen. My favourite thing was the picture of Reid, who died not too long ago, with his Raven and First Men sculpture. The legend looks so human, cuddling up with his work. Note: Pictures are allowed (no flash), except of the jewellery on display. I think this is for security reasons after the theft of some pieces from MOA at UBC.

I went to the Bill Reid Gallery a few weeks ago when I was visiting Vancouver. I was particularly interested in seeing their Indigenous Tattoo exhibit. I was ultimately disappointed with the size and the lay out of the gallery - it seemed like a widespread open empty room. They have great information, but even greater potential - just not there quite yet.

In a word...inspirational. This is a must see if you are in Vancouver and have any interest in Northwest Coastal Art. And don't miss his master work at the British Columbia Museum of Anthropology.

We discovered Bill Reid's work at the Museum of Anthropology and made a point of going directly to the Bill Reid Gallery afterwards. His art and craftsmanship alone are compelling. Learning about his life and impact on northwest arts was deeply moving, and reading about the works displayed at the gallery was as educational as it was inspiring.