“Not only does The Avenue Gallery present the art for the artists that are fortunate to secure a showing in the best art gallery in Greater Victoria, the artists themselves can do so with confidence knowing their art will be professionally handled, well presented, and advertised effectively. Thus, local residents and visitors looking for the best art can find satisfaction at The Avenue Gallery.”
– ANONYMOUS
TESTIMONIAL
“We are so very pleased with our new Mary-Jean Butler painting! We love that it brings beautiful colours to our home and it is such a wonderful iconic west coast scene which we feel is perfect for our BC space. Thank you to the knowledgeable and helpful folks at your gallery for their assistance and guidance.”
– DEBBIE
TESTIMONIAL
“Thank you for being such an outstanding gallery and for offering such friendly, informed service. I always find it a pleasure to support and patronize an excellent small business, especially in the very difficult world of the arts. Long may you thrive.”
– NANCY
TESTIMONIAL
“We gave the three raku vessels by Geoff Searle to the three women who made our wedding day so special. I had seen Geoff’s work on the gallery’s website and was astonished by its beauty and the peaceful energy that you feel while touching them. I have not seen any Raku pieces so beautiful. Each recipient was delighted and in awe by their beauty. Thank you for gift-wrapping them and for your kind words and warm wishes!”
– FRANCINE TRUDEAU
TESTIMONIAL
“I recently walked into The Avenue Gallery and was met with courteous, discreet, knowledgeable and helpful staff. I was able to browse without interruption, but information and assistance was instantly available without having to ask. The art is really very wonderfully curated, and the quality of paintings, bronzes, glass, ceramic, and jewelry are top-notch. I did purchase a stunning work in glass and asked that it be shipped, which posed no problem at all. The work arrived today (intact!) and the packaging to ensure its safe transit was most remarkable. Anyone looking for a lovely art experience would be well served by visiting The Avenue Gallery.”
– LYNNE DUNSMUIR
TESTIMONIAL
“This is I think our 4th purchase from your Gallery. We know we can trust you and like your store, so ordering online was easy for us to decide on.”
– BRYAN EDE
TESTIMONIAL
“Each day, in this hard time, pictures from you raise our spirits.”
– ANONYMOUS
TESTIMONIAL
“It’s always a great experience purchasing items from your shop and I appreciate the effort you make every time I order something. Thanks again for all of your help.”
– SCOTT BISHOP
TESTIMONIAL
“I love your gallery and I have made several purchases over the years, both in person and online. I am so glad that I am on your email list. When I opened your email that showcased the Pearl Bulb by Bill Boyd, I immediately fell in love with it. I was so impressed to discover that you have your website set up for instant shopping, it was super convenient. Your gallery is always my first stop when I visit Victoria.”
– SHEILA M.
TESTIMONIAL
“My wife and I very much enjoyed visiting your wonderful gallery. Visiting you was part of a perfect vacation day, and our 41st wedding anniversary! Thank you and good luck with your economic recovery. We will keep our fingers crossed, because you are one of the places we always look forward to visiting when we come to Victoria and Oak Bay particularly. I’ll tell all my friends to visit you when they’re over on Vancouver Island! For us, The Avenue Gallery is one of the most exciting and best curated galleries in BC, and a ‘must visit’ location for visitors to Victoria. Every high street should have one!”
– JIM LEGGOTT
VANCOUVER, BC
“Just wanted to let you know how thrilled I am with Philip’s painting. It has transformed my living room with its warm, calming and grounding colours and effect — and such depth. It’s mesmerizing and has become the focus of the room.
When I realized where I wanted to hang Temple Mount, I spent the day moving around other pieces to clear wall space for it. And as a result, Kimberly Kiel’s is now in a far better spot, as are several others.
I am forever grateful and incredibly honoured to have his fantastic piece of art. Thank you and please thank Philip again.”
– DIANA K.
TESTIMONIAL
“I have been living with William Liao’s exquisite painting, Mountain #1, for a few days now and feel compelled to tell you how much I love it. Actually, I loved it as soon as I saw the image you emailed. However, having it here with me is more than being able to look at something pretty from time to time. It is both an intellectual and emotional experience. I pass by several times a day and each time I view the painting I see something new – and this causes me to have new thoughts and feelings. Truly, it touches my mind and heart. The colour, depth, and contained energy continue to amaze me. Clearly, William is an exceptional artist and I feel so fortunate to have one of his fine works. Please pass along my heartfelt thanks and appreciation. I adore this painting and am excited about the next one.”
– LLOY FALCONER
TESTIMONIAL
“I received the parcel today, thank you for expediting it. The bracelet exceeded my expectations – it is beautiful! Thanks also for the thoughtful gift wrapping which allowed me to extricate the bracelet to see it first hand, then put it back together basically untouched. What an extraordinary, client-centred gallery / business you have.”
– BRUCE A.
“Your website is better than any I have ever seen. I feel I know your artists personally. Know this is from the heart and from someone who knows that a life without art and culture is not a life at all.”
– TANIS HALL
HAMILTON, ONTARIO
“The Avenue Gallery is one of the best boutique galleries in the world. The staff are my ‘go to gals’ when seeking art that brings the west coast alive in my home. They have a remarkable eye for emerging talent and an equally remarkable dedication to providing world class service, be it getting a painting to Johannesburg or a sculpture to London. I particularly appreciate their ability to keep an eye out for new pieces that appeal to my interests. I value my relationship with The Avenue Gallery and would not hesitate to recommend them to any collector of west coast art, be it for a few contemporary pieces for personal enjoyment or for more serious investments in Canadian art.”
– DR. DAVID J. BATE
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA
“The Avenue Gallery has been a great source for many clients, and as I always say, ‘a home isn’t finished if you don’t have a real piece of art in it’. The diversity of art in their catalogue is amazing; you can always find a piece to fit your personal style. One of the advantages of The Avenue is their shipping services as they truly have tailored their services to clients from out of town.”
– IVAN MEADE
PRINCIPAL DESIGNER, MEADE DESIGN GROUP INC.
“I do not live in Victoria or even in British Columbia, but visit at least two or three times a year. My first port of call (after visiting the relatives) is always Oak Bay and in particular The Avenue Gallery. The Avenue Gallery is my favorite gallery on Vancouver Island, if not in the world. I love its wonderful collection of top quality British Columbian artists, not just painters, but jewelers, basket weavers, potters, sculptors, carvers and glass artists. The gallery is spacious and very well laid out giving every artist adequate room to display their work to advantage. I find visiting this gallery very uplifting and the staff informative and very friendly.”
– CAROLINE CARROLL
“The self-described “gallerinas” at The Avenue Gallery have been a pleasure to work with. Their untiring encouragement, incisive reviews and suggestions, and finely managed promotional abilities reassure me that I can focus on my work while they look after what they do best, showing my work to best advantage, to the right customers.”
– DEREK KASPER
GALLERY ARTIST
“Our thanks for hosting a really pleasant show of Bi Yuan Cheng’s marvelous works. So nice to get better acquainted with each of you, Bi’s creative works, and the wine and cheese were top notch! The Avenue exudes a friendly ambiance – and so much artistic variety under one roof.”
– LORNA BUTLER
NORTH SAANICH, BC
“I love hearing about customers stories, feedback, where they come from. Communication with everyone at the gallery has been flawless over the years which is so crucial to establish a trusting and successful relationship between the artist and the Gallery.”
– ANDREA ROBERTS
GALLERY ARTIST
“It has always been my privilege to tour your gallery and enjoy the artwork. You and your entire staff always make me, and my sisters, feel so welcome – the experience is always a real treat.”
– DR. RICHARD CROW
VICTORIA, BC
“I am very grateful to The Avenue Gallery for representing my work in Victoria. The wonderful staff have so much joy for the new pieces, which will surely inspire many visitors. I feel honoured to be part of this professional team of art lovers.”
– BAYOT HEER
GALLERY ARTIST
“It’s time to tell you how much we appreciate your newsletter and website. Both are extremely well done which is a reflection of your gallery which we enjoy every time we come to Victoria. One of the highlights of every trip is visiting The Avenue Gallery and we pass this along to all of our friends. Keep it up!”
– JERRY & BARBARA WOODS
SALEM, OREGON
“I feel privileged to display my art in The Avenue Gallery in Victoria. The staff are friendly and professional, and I have always received a sincere welcome for my new pieces that I bring to the gallery.”
– PAVEL BARTA
GALLERY ARTIST
“The Avenue Gallery is our favourite place to purchase original art. The team are very friendly and approachable, and extremely knowledgeable and passionate about the artists’ work they represent. We always enjoy our gallery experience and treasure the amazing paintings we have acquired over the years.”
– DWAYNE & SHELLEY DYSON
OAK BAY, BC
“We have been represented by The Avenue Gallery for the past 10 years. The staff there have been lovely and have always treated us professionally and with respect. We are happy to have our work shown with so many talented artists from BC and beyond. We look forward to growing our relationship with them and are excited to share our newest work with their clients.”
– NEIL PRAKASH & HIROKO KOBAYASHI, HK+NP STUDIO
GALLERY ARTISTS
“The Avenue Gallery in Oak Bay is a forefront enterprise in an ever-increasing destination of all interested in art. There, beautifully displayed, is a worthy selection of excellent art pieces— represented passionately and honestly by the knowledgeable staff. Besides, it is always a fun place to visit.”
– BOB & ELEANOR DILTS
OAK BAY, BC
“A friendly, welcoming place, and no intimidating know-it-all staff! I can’t forget the experience of standing (second and third) in line on the Avenue in the early morning chill waiting for the doors to open for one of the earliest Small Works sales so my sister and I could come in and bring home the Parker paintings she wanted. What am I doing, I thought, I’m freezing! All well in the end, and bonus: Rob Owen’s “Arbutus” has a special place on our wall.”
– ANONYMOUS
“I am so pleased to be represented by The Avenue Gallery. They have created a wonderfully supportive environment to work within as an artist. I feel very confident in saying that both clients and artists are treated with an equal level of respect, and it’s a joy to be part of the gallery.”
– MARY-JEAN BUTLER, SFCA
GALLERY ARTIST
“We have made several purchases at the Gallery—always something new in, lots of talented artists. The staff are knowledgeable and extremely friendly.”
– KEN & GAIL MANN
VICTORIA, BC
“My artistic muse has taken me on many side routes, some more viable than others. For over seventeen years, Heather was always there to do coffee and gently nudge my spontaneity into practical avenues; it’s the kind of support few artists ever experience with a gallery and frankly, I wonder where I would be without the patient encouragement. The Avenue is an amazing success story because its backstory is about linking the artist to their community, and caring deeply for both.”
– PHILIP MIX
FORMER GALLERY ARTIST
“We have been clients of The Avenue Gallery for the past 20 years. It continues to be one of our greatest pleasures to visit this gallery with its inspiring display of contemporary Canadian artists from a variety of artistic disciplines. The ever-helpful staff always greet us with a warm welcome, and there is invariably something new to entice and delight.”
– YVONNE RORISON
OAK BAY, BC
“The Avenue Gallery was the first gallery to support me and my work. Their respectful, personal and considerate support has enabled my growth and engagement as a local sculptor. My local source material – Big Leaf Maple – is a much loved medium for many professions and without the support of The Avenue Gallery I would not have been able to introduce it as sculptural medium to collectors who know have it homes across North America.”
– BRUCE EDMUNDSON
GALLERY ARTIST
“We have always enjoyed all of our dealings with The Avenue Gallery. Over the past 15 years we have purchased numerous pieces of art that decorate our home from The Avenue Gallery. The team are always great to deal with and seem to really enjoy and appreciate all of the beautiful items they have for sale in their Gallery. If you love art, local artists and beautiful creations like ourselves, going into The Avenue Gallery is always something we look forward to. We find the surroundings with all their wares inviting and breathtaking. The staff always seem to know the artist and the art on a personal level, and have a lot of knowledge and contacts in this field. The Avenue Gallery is where we look when we think of beautiful art, unique jewellery, and a great place to view some of the best local and non-local artists in and around Victoria.”
– JIM & BONNIE
VICTORIA, BC
“We have dealt with The Avenue Gallery for quite some time. Through them we have been introduced to artists previously unknown to us who have since become favourites. As we walk through our home and business we receive the pleasure of a few works from these artists continually, and for that we are grateful.”
– DON & CAROLE CHALMERS
VICTORIA, BC
“Thrilled to be represented by The Avenue Gallery. Clients and artists can be assured of their professionalism. Love that their website is kept current as new works arrive and sales are posted as soon as they occur. And a timely newsletter also announces new arrivals. Truly appreciate how much they do to promote their artists.”
– LORNA DOCKSTADER, SFCA
GALLERY ARTIST
“I bought my first painting from The Avenue Gallery in 2004: “Over the Bridge” by Russ Willms. Soon others from his “bird collection” followed, and over the next 10 years, 91 (yes, 91) others by 31 outstanding artists covered all my walls, and then some. I stood outside in December every year for their Small Sale but it was fun and well worth it. You always get a warm smile and greeting from the very knowledgeable sales ladies, never any pressure, just friendliness. It is a perfect place to treat yourself to something special to enjoy.”
– ANONYMOUS
“The Avenue Gallery encourages their artists to present their best work. Their feedback is very helpful; therefore motivating. In a word, my impression of The Avenue Gallery is “professional”. I am very happy to be a part of The Avenue Gallery.”
– EUNMI CONACHER, BFA, AFCA
GALLERY ARTIST
“I’ve always considered The Avenue Gallery to be an important part of the Oak Bay Village community. Whether you are dropping in to contemplate purchasing a piece, or just stopping by to have a look, the girls are always welcoming, informative, and just absolutely lovely.”