The Gallery Shop is always stocked with an unparalleled selection of unique, gorgeous and thought-provoking gifts, but in December it is a sight to be seen! The shop is now fully decked-out for the holiday season with the most whimsical hand-made ornaments and decorations, and brimming with gift-giving inspiration. Among the usual plentiful offerings you’ll discover our ever-growing collection of cards and prints by local artists, stunning hand-crafted jewellery, stimulating and beautiful books for adults, youth and children, and the latest array of 2024 calendars and planners.
HOT TIP: FEEL FREE to join us on Thursday evenings for free admission from 5pm-9pm, the perfect time to shop til’ you drop… into our current exhibitions!
Check out our Holiday Gift Guide below for some inspiration:
#1 – Jewelry by Nikita Auchter / Smoll Raven (Haida Nation and Victoria, BC)
Under the design name of Smoll Raven, Haida artist Nikita Auchter creates whimsical, vibrant, and powerful earrings which combine her playful design sensibility with imagery and influences from her Haida Gwaii upbringing. Nikita loves to work with lightweight materials including wood and acrylic.Smoll Raven earrings are the perfect gift for anyone in your life who appreciates artistry and style.
#2 – Pure Lovin’ Chocolates (Victoria, BC)
If you’ve visited us recently you’ve probably noticed the gold tray of temptation located conveniently near the shop till. These delicious artisanal treats (which happen to be vegan, gluten free, organic and fair trade!) are an amazing way to shop local this season.
#3 – Londji Temporary Tattoo Sets
A fun nod to new AGGV exhibition Tender Touch, which opened on November 25. Unlike the tattoos featured in the exhibition, these ones are temporary and you can follow your whims from pirate to ballerina to forest animal and beyond!
#4 – Arbutus Arts by Ron Bazar (Cortes Island, BC)
A gifting season favourite! Ron Bazar lives and works on Cortes Island in Desolation Sound. He carves his creations out of recovered fallen arbutus branches including servers, salad hands, letter openers, cheese knives, and spreaders.
#5 – Krystyna Glass by Jan Benda (Sechelt, BC)
When you come to the Gallery Shop and fall in love with one of Jan’s creations, make sure you act quickly! The styles, colours, and shapes we have available are always changing, which make them all unique and highly sought after as gifts.
#6 – Pottery by Ester Strijbos (Victoria, BC)
Ester’s pottery is sophisticated, joyful, and of course functional. We carry bowls and cups in three lines of her work: Rainbow, Matte Blue, and Black & White. We just restocked and they are a surefire hit this season!
#7 – Little You by Richard van Camp (Dene Nation and Vancouver BC), Illustrations by Julie Flett (Cree-Métis and Vancouver, BC)
Little You is one of our bestselling children’s books. It is a beautifully illustrated and written board book about welcoming new souls into the world. It is one of the many wonderful Indigenous children’s titles that we carry.
#8 – Fair-Trade Ornaments by Pokoloko (Ecuador and Peru), Craftspring (India and Kyrgyzstan) and Ten Thousand Villages (multiple international artisans)
When you walk into the shop, look to your right and you will be greeted by a tree full of Fair-Trade ornaments. We have a very broad selection this year: pints of blueberries, dumplings, sea creatures, llamas and more. There’s something for everyone!
Our helpful and knowledgeable staff are always happy to make your shopping experience easy, fun and memorable. Come visit us soon!
Entrance to the Gallery Shop is always free. Please visit our website for our hours of operation and note our holiday hours here
Feature Image: 2024 Calendar and planners, courtesy of the AGGV.
