LOOK26 Art Auction
April 3—May 2, 2026
Contemporary Calgary is pleased to present LOOK26, our signature annual exhibition and auction featuring works by many of Canada’s significant artistic talents. Generously supported by HEATHER EDWARDS, this highly anticipated exhibition is made possible by the extraordinary collective contributions of our friends and supporters who have shaped the success of our ever-growing contemporary art community here in Calgary and further afield.
From the first gala and art auction in 2014, which ensured the establishment of Contemporary Calgary at the Centennial Planetarium and its foundation as a prominent centre for art in Canada, LOOK has now gained recognition across the country for its artistic vision and outstanding fundraising success.
The LOOK exhibition sets the stage for the art auction that unfolds during the Gala event, which takes place on May 2nd this year, with both a live and a silent component offering guests the opportunity to support Contemporary Calgary while they grow or start their own art collections. With price points accessible to varying budgets and works by acclaimed artists, both established and emerging, the auctions offer something for everyone. Proceeds from the live and silent auctions support the artists directly as well as Contemporary Calgary’s extensive array of exhibitions and public programs.
We deeply thank the artists, gallerists, and community donors who make the art auction possible through their generosity, vision and leadership. We are also grateful to the collectors in our community for supporting the LOOK auction and, at the same time sustain the future of contemporary art in our city.
Auction Details
Silent Auction
Bidding opens April 2 at noon and closes at 12:00 AM on May 3, 2026. Register and place your bids through the Givergy platform.
How to Bid and Donate on Givergy:
From the home page, select Silent Items, Live Items, or Donate.
Bids can only be placed on Silent Auction items.
To bid, select an item from the Silent Auction, click on it, and click “make a bid” at the upper right.
Enter your bid and then click “Place Bid.” Use the “Max Bid” function, and the system will automatically bid for you up to the amount entered.
Register your details and then “Confirm Your Bid.”
Receive outbid text notifications and bid again!
If you are at the event, keep an eye on the leaderboard screens to see if you're still the leading bidder!
Don't want to lose out on your favourite piece? Click "Buy now" to purchase at twice the fair market value of a work. It's a win-win: you get the work and a tax receipt for the fair market value of the piece.
Live Auction
The live auction takes place on May 2 during the LOOK26 Gala in the Dome Theatre. To bid in person, a HOLT RENFREW VIP Dinner or Cabaret ticket is required. Limited seating is available and will be prioritized for participating bidders. We request that you register in advance to secure your paddle and place at the auction.
Not able to attend in person? No problem! Contemporary Calgary will accept absentee bids and live telephone bidding. Details on remote bidding are available here.
To learn more and register, contact us at donations@contemporarycalgary.com.
View the works in person
Beginning April 3, view both live and silent auction artworks at Contemporary Calgary.
Gallery hours: Wed–Sat: 12–7 PM / Sun: 12–5 PM
LOOK26 Gala: Off The Path, presented by MAWER, returns on May 2 for an unforgettable night of revelry. Brought to life by the talented minds of local artist duo DaveandJenn, Off The Path draws on their richly layered practice spanning painting, sculpture and moving image. Their work creates whimsical worlds filled with delight, enchantment and untamed life.
Honorary Chairs
Bruce Kuwabara, OC
Linda and Mike Shaikh, CM
Peter Tertzakian
LOOK26 Gala Curators
DaveandJenn
Art Auction Curators
Mona Filip
Kanika Anand
Muriel N. Kahwagi
Auctioneer
Stephen Ranger
Auction Contributors
Morris and Ann Dancyger
Cheryl Gottselig and Yves Trépanier
Dr. John Lacey, CM
Jenna and Chad Larson
The Kenneth Lochhead Estate
Tiller Wolf Art Consulting
Bruce and Cathy Williams
Private collections
Artists
Susanne Aaltonen, Jen Aitken, René Pierre Alain, Sara Angelucci, Chrissy Angliker, Eric Atkinson, Dick Averns, John Barkley, Alana Bartol, Maxwell Bates, Michael Batty, Nancy Boyd, Kevin Boyle, Billie Rae Busby, Nathan Eugene Carson, Michael Coyne, Chris Cran, Curtis Cutshaw, DaveandJenn, Robbin Deyo, Mark Dicey, Amy Dryer, Megan Dyck, Marcel Dzama, John K. Esler, Erica Eyres, Rhys Douglas Farrell, L.L. (Lionel LeMoine) FitzGerald, Chris Flodberg, Jonathan Forrest, Yechel Gagnon, JoAnn Godenir, Ted Godwin, John Adams Griefen, Angela Grossmann, Julya Hajnoczky, Maggie Hall, Marcia Harris, Faye HeavyShield, Fred Herzog, David Hoffos, Jennifer Hornyak, Geoffrey Hunter, Sharie Hunter, M.N. Hutchinson, Joshua Jensen-Nagle, Kablusiak, Illingworth Kerr, Neshka Krusche, Bryce Krynski, Anda Kubis, Paul Kuhn, Marie Lannoo, Kenneth Lochhead, James Lumsden, Rachel MacFarlane, Andy Mamgark, Robert Marchessault, Caroline Monnet, Mark Mullin, Jennifer Murphy, Erik Olson, Pascale Ouellet, Stu Oxley, Ed Pien, Paola Pivi, Nelly-Eve Rajotte, Sabrina Ratté, Anthony Redpath, Nick Rooney, John F. Ross, Marigold Santos, Michael Smith, Cassie Suche, Han Sungpil, Erdem Taşdelen, Peter Tertzakian, Corri-Lynn Tetz, David Thauberger, Louis Trautman, Winnie Truong, Carol Wainio, John Will, Mary Shannon Will, and Tiffany Wollman
