A new hub for arts and culture to open at SFU

This September, a bold new space for art, learning, and community opens its doors at Simon Fraser University atop Burnaby Mountain. The Marianne and Edward Gibson Art Museum—affectionately known as the Gibson—will officially launch on September 20, 2025, marking a transformative moment for both the university and broader arts landscape of British Columbia.

More than a gallery, the Gibson is also a teaching museum, gathering place, and testament to the power of art to connect people and communities across disciplines, generations, and cultures.

With its award-winning design that blends seamlessly into the natural surroundings of SFU’s Burnaby campus, the Gibson invites everyone—from students and scholars to families and first-time visitors—to explore, question, and connect through art.

"Rooted in the vision of the late Dr. Edward Gibson, who was an SFU charter faculty member and former director of SFU Gallery, this museum reflects his belief that visual art can break down disciplinary silos," says Kimberly Phillips, Director of the Gibson. "Whether students are studying biology, history, or engineering, art encourages critical thinking and helps uncover deeper, more integrated insights."

Representing a consolidation of SFU Galleries’ three locations into one purpose-built facility, the Gibson will also house the university’s growing SFU Art Collection, a vital archive of over 5,900 works that trace the cultural and social life of the region.

All of this is made possible through a generous gift from Marianne Gibson, Edward’s wife, and the Gibson Family Trust, as well as the leadership and generosity of SFU’s donor community, whose passion and enthusiasm have sustained the many stages of the museum’s development.  

Inaugural exhibition: “Edge Effects”

Happening form September 20, 2025 – February 15, 2026, the inaugural exhibition, “Edge Effects,” will set the tone for what the Gibson aims to be: an inclusive, dynamic space for contemporary art, learning, and community connection.

Curated by Kimberly Phillips with assistance from Susanna Browne and Joshua Segun-Lean, the exhibition will bring together 12 remarkable artists to explore “edge effects,” an ecological term to describe the unique conditions that arise when and where two ecosystems meet—like forest and farmland, or river and sea. These zones often support a rich diversity of life. The Gibson imagines itself as such a space: a place where disciplines, communities, and ideas converge to create something vibrant and new.

Each artist featured in the exhibition engages with this idea in compelling ways—some by reimagining SFU’s own archives, others by exploring inheritance, identity, and the thresholds of belonging. Many works are newly commissioned or being shown in Canada for the first time.

After opening day, the Gibson’s regular operating hours will be Wednesday through Sunday from 12  - 5 p.m. With free admission and a strong focus on accessibility, the Gibson Art Museum is set to become a vibrant cultural landmark for Burnaby, Metro Vancouver, and beyond.

To learn more about the Gibson and this exciting new chapter in the arts at SFU, visit: gibson.sfu.ca