Madrona Gallery

Colourful Uluk Owl is a delightful new work by Susie Seeta Saila, from Kinngait, Nunavut. Combining two of her signature subjects—owls and everyday objects—Saila transforms an ulu (a traditional, crescent-shaped knife) into a whimsical owl, brought to life with vibrant, rainbow-coloured linework and her unmistakable sense of play.

Madrona Gallery presented Saila’s first solo exhibition in September 2024. Her imaginative drawings blend Inuit culture, humour, and surrealism, creating joyful compositions that continue to captivate collectors with their originality and charm.

Image: Colourful Uluk Owl, 23 x 30 inches, Coloured Pencil and Ink.

There are just two days left of Sean Yelland’s exhibition Don’t Look Now running until June 20th.

Madrona Gallery is also featuring a special selection of major works by Sean Yelland, highlighting key moments from the past 15 years.

Be sure to visit the back room to see these exceptional paintings before they leave.

Sean Yelland is celebrated for his expressive, richly layered paintings that transform everyday scenes into emotionally resonant narratives.

Qavavau Manumie’s Untitled (Bird Bear Seal Whale Transformation) is a playful and imaginative example of the artist’s distinctive approach to Inuit storytelling. Blending human, animal, and spirit forms into a single composition, Manumie creates a world where transformation feels natural and full of possibility. Rendered in coloured pencil and ink, the work balances bold simplicity with a sense of humor and wonder that invites close looking.

His work is held in major collections including the National Gallery of Canada, the Canadian Museum of History, and the McMichael Canadian Art Collection. Alongside his drawing practice, he is a master printmaker who has spent decades helping create Kinngait’s renowned annual print collections.

Image: Untitled (Bird Bear Seal Whale Transformation), 23 x 30 inches, Coloured Pencil and Ink, no. 072-3116

There is a lot to notice in the pieces of Sean Yelland’s upcoming exhibition: Don’t Look Now. The name itself, almost a dare, invites a closer look.

He notes : “It’s a playful title that, I think, makes people want to look. They are supposed to look. It’s also something someone would say, if there was something odd happening, or they see someone they may not want to see. It’s rarely anything good.”

In “Your Breaking Up” a solitary figure moves through a corridor of construction barriers and directional signs. Yelland offers a lens through the title, and invites viewers to find their own meaning within the scene.

Join us this Saturday, June 6, from 1–3 PM for the opening reception of Don’t Look Now. Sean Yelland will be in attendance.

Image: You’re Breaking Up, 12 × 24 Inches, Oil on Canvas