Griffin Art Projects celebrates its 10th anniversary
with a rare look at the collectors behind its programming
Two special exhibitions and a panel series will showcase the
philanthropists that help nurture the ecology of art within Vancouver
Griffin Art Projects is thrilled to announce its 10th anniversary program, which offers audiences a unique glimpse into the lives of the private collectors at the heart of the gallery’s programming. Kicking things off is the summer exhibition TENXTEN, on view from May 31–Sept. 7, 2025, which features artworks from the vaults of 10 Vancouver-based collectors. A companion exhibition titled Christos Dikeakos: The Collectors, on view from Sept. 20–Dec. 14, 2025, will feature intimate portraits by Dikeakos, an eminent photographer who has captured lush images of collectors pictured amongst the artworks they have devoted their lives to collecting.
“Griffin Art Projects’s 10th anniversary is a moment to recognize the remarkable individuals who have shaped our journey,” says Lisa Baldissera, director of the gallery. “Their contributions—from vital loans to their unwavering patronage—have been essential to the success of the gallery. More than supporters of our institution, they are beacons of inspiration for the art community as a whole, radiating a genuine and infectious passion for art. Their steadfast commitment to the artists they champion and their selfless urge to give back to the community is not only life-affirming, but profound.”
TENXTEN will feature works from the collections of: Bruce Munro Wright; Claudia Beck and Andrew Gruft; Jane Irwin and Ross Hill; Laing and Kathleen Brown; Drs. Wallace and Madeline Chung; Gerd Metzdorff (via Grant Mann and David Birdsall); Inna and Michael O’Brian; Michael Audain and Yoshiko Karasawa; Cathy Busby and Garry Neill Kennedy; and Michael Prout and Leonardo Lara; with archival elements including The Prop House, a film by Paul Wong documenting the Mount Pleasant Furniture collection.
Baldissera worked closely with each collector to select the artworks on view, which represent a wide range of artistic movements from the 1980s Dusseldorf School of Photography to Mexican Modernism and Post-Punk. In addition to striking works by renowned artists like Thomas Ruff and Cindy Sherman, and archival documents by Joseph Beuys, the exhibition will feature pieces by artists critical to Canadian art canon. Paintings by Katharina Grosse, Lawrence Paul Yuxweluptun and Jack Shadbolt are featured next to works by Marcelle Ferron, an early contributor to the Quebec Automatiste movement, and Tammi Campbell from Saskatchewan, who reframed modernism in a feminist lens. Ceramics by eminent Vancouver artists Wayne Ngan, Charmian Johnson and Glenn Lewis, among others, will be featured along with photography by Stephen Waddell, Yucho Chow, and Cecil Bow Wand.
In September, The Collectors exhibition will feature selections from the ongoing portrait series by Christos Dikeakos that pictures philanthropists in their homes and studios. The exhibition will include new portraits of Michael Audain and Yoshiko Karasawa, Claudia Beck, Jane Irwin, Bob Rennie, Terri-Lynn Williams-Davidson and Dr. Wallace Chung.
From June to September, Griffin Art Projects will continue its “Conversations on Collecting” series, with special events co-presented in collaboration with Contemporary Art Society of Vancouver, in partnership with the Vancouver Art Gallery. The in-person talks and reception will further explore art world ecologies by bringing together influential artists, curators, and collectors to discuss the lasting impact collections have on individuals and institutions.
Additionally, an international online Conversations on Collecting series as well as a roundtable on Indigenous approaches to collecting and collections will be presented, while a curated film series reflecting on art collections and art ecologies will take place in partnership with The Cinematheque this fall. Details on these programs will be released in August.
For more information, visit www.griffinartprojects.ca/exhibitions/tenxten.
Public programs
Opening reception: TENXTEN
Friday, May 30, 6–8pm
Griffin Art Projects (1174 Welch St)
Join us for the opening reception of TENXTEN, curated by Lisa Baldissera.
Curator tour: TENXTEN
Sunday, June 1, 1pm
Griffin Art Projects (1174 Welch St)
Join us for a tour of the exhibition with curator Lisa Baldissera.
Conversations on Collecting: Nurturing the Artistic Talent of Tomorrow
Thursday, June 12, 6pm
Griffin Art Projects (1174 Welch Street)
Panel talk featuring Jane Irwin and Ross Hill, Shawn Hunt, Inna O’Brian, and more will discuss investment and belief in early career talent, mentorship, and crucial financial support.
Conversations on Collecting: Collecting to Build Community
Thursday, July 24 at 6pm
Vancouver Art Gallery | Courtroom 302 (750 Hornby St)
**This talk will take place in Courtroom 302. Please enter the gallery through the Hornby door entrance. RSVP is required as space is limited.
Cathy Busby, Lisa Baldissera, Melissa Lee (Chung Collection), Karen Tam, Pantea Haghighi and others discuss how collections support material and immaterial practices, histories, and memories. The event will look at how patronage supports communities through celebration and inspiration, resilience and legacy.
Opening reception: The Collectors
Friday, Sept. 19, 6–8pm
Griffin Art Projects (1174 Welch St)
Join us for the opening reception of The Collectors by Christos Dikeakos, curated by Lisa Baldissera.
Conversations on Collecting: Transformational Legacies
Saturday, Sep. 27 at 2pm
Vancouver Art Gallery (750 Hornby St)
Influential collectors come together to discuss the infrastructure of collections and how resiliency can be fostered within the art scene through future planning.
Artist talk: The Collectors
Sunday, Oct. 5, 1pm
Griffin Art Projects (1174 Welch St)
Join us for a tour of the exhibition with the artist, facilitated by curator Lisa Baldissera.
Additional online events will be presented over Zoom during the fall 2025, providing a platform for international philanthropists, arts organizations, collectors, and more.
TENXTEN is generously supported by Acera Insurance.
About Griffin Art Projects
Established in 2015, Griffin Art Projects is a non-profit art space located in North Vancouver with a mandate to share private collections with the public. With its combination of public outreach, support for new research by artists and curators, and the featuring of work from private, public, and corporate collections and collectors, there is no other organization like it in Canada. Griffin is a non-collecting institution that considers the methodologies, thematics, and narratives that shape and direct visual culture, creative work, and collecting practices. Griffin’s exhibitions and events are always free, courtesy of founders Brigitte and Henning Freybe, who began collecting art in the early 1970s.
Address and hours
Griffin Art Projects
1174 Welch Street
North Vancouver, BC V7P 1B2
Fridays–Sundays, from 12–5pm
Social media
Facebook: @GriffinArtProjects
Instagram: @GriffinArtProjects
YouTube: bit.ly/GriffinYouTube
Media release and image provided by Ines Min, Ines Min PR. Image: Uno Langmann in His Study. Photo credit: Christos Dikeakos
