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In May 2025, the Owens Art Gallery at Mount Allison University will celebrate its 130th anniversary. Since its official opening on May 28, 1895, the Owens has played a central role in the cultural life of the University and is the oldest university art gallery in Canada. The Owens has been a place of learning, exhibition, and artistic development for generations of students, as well as a venue that has showcased the works of many notable artists, such as Lawren S. Harris, Garry Neill Kennedy, Thaddeus Holownia, and Anna Torma.

As part of its 130th anniversary celebrations, the Owens Art Gallery is currently hosting Hidden Blackness: Edward Mitchell Bannister (1828–1901), running until April 6, 2025. Organized in partnership with the Black Artists Network of Nova Scotia, this exhibition marks the first major presentation of Bannister’s work in Canada.

On May 28, to commemorate the Owens’ anniversary, there will be a special event celebrating its history, alongside the opening of its famous Salon Hanging, which will be displayed throughout Convocation-Reunion Weekend.  Also, as part of the anniversary event planned for later in May, Mount Allison alumnus Jon Sasaki (’97) will open Homage, a national touring  exhibition organized by the McMicheal Canadian Art Collection.

The Owens Art Gallery’s history traces back to the Owens Art Institution, which was founded in Saint John, NB in 1884. When the Owens was established in 1895, the Institution’s collection, which included 300 paintings and 30 plaster casts, came with artist and educator John Hammond  to the new facility at Mount Allison University. Hammond’s expertise helped shape the early educational and artistic direction of the gallery. He and his family were the original owners of the President’s current residence, now called Hammond House.  

Designed by Canadian architect Edmund Burke, the Owens is a prime example of Beaux-Arts style architecture. The building’s exterior, made from light olive sandstone, features intricate terra-cotta friezes that wrap around three sides of the building. These friezes depict cherubs and the names of classical artists such as Rembrandt and Michelangelo, but also French painter Rosa Bonheur, further reinforcing the connection to both the European traditions of art and the education of women artists. The main entryway, facing York St., is framed by a recessed aedicule, with a pediment supported by pillars, which emphasizes the classical influence of the design.

Intended for exhibitions but also as an instructional space for the Art Department at the Mount Allison Ladies' College, the original layout of the Owens Art Gallery included three connected atrium galleries and four smaller classrooms. The atriums were flooded with natural light through large skylights, providing an ideal environment for students to work, copying paintings and plaster casts. This dual function continued until 1965, when the Fine Arts program moved to a new facility. In 1972, the building underwent renovations, including the addition of an expanded entryway and changes to the gallery space to accommodate contemporary exhibitions. The Owens is now designated a “Category A” institution by the Department of Canadian Heritage.

Over the years, the Owens Art Gallery has helped train notable Mount Allison alumni who have gone on to achieve national and international recognition. Among the most notable is Alex Colville (’42, LLD ’68), one of Canada’s most influential and celebrated painters. He, along with other Fine Arts alumni like Mary Pratt (’57, LLD ’92), Christopher Pratt (’57, LLD ’72), and Tom Forrestall (’58, LLD ’87) have left an indelible mark on the country’s artistic landscape. Their time at Mount Allison and exposure to the Owens Art Gallery’s exhibitions and programs contributed to shaping their careers. In more recent years, the Owens has continued to play a significant role in the careers of successful Mount Allsion Fine Arts alumni including D’Arcy Wilson (’05), Melanie Colosimo (’06), and Amanda Fauteux (’06), all of whom were longlisted for the Sobey Art Award.

Throughout the Owens’ history, women have made significant contributions to its success. From 1916 to 1935, Elizabeth McLeod was Head of the Art Department and was responsible for initiating the BFA program. The Owens’ longest serving Director, Gemey Kelly, mentored a generation of artists and cultural workers and was named Director Emerita in 2019.

Today, the Owens Art Gallery is a professional art centre with a dual mandate as the university art gallery for Mount Allison University and the public art gallery and museum for the Municipality of Tantramar. While the Owens prioritizes artists from the Atlantic Provinces, its activities are national and international in scope. As a teaching museum, it is also a training ground for the next generation of museum professionals in Canada.