Splash 2025 Art Auction Returns with Public Exhibition at the Pendulum Gallery and Early Online Bidding
Arts Umbrella’s iconic Splash Art Auction – presented by Nicola Wealth and co-chaired by Christie Garofalo and Bruce Munro Wright, O.B.C. – returns for its 43rd year on October 4, continuing its legacy of changing young lives through the power of art. As excitement builds for one of Vancouver’s most anticipated cultural events, the public is invited to engage through a free preview exhibition at the Pendulum Gallery and advance bidding in the online auction, both starting September 8.
Experience Art, Champion Young Creatives
From September 8 to October 2, the Pendulum Gallery (885 W. Georgia Street) will showcase the Splash 2025 Art Collection, featuring 92 captivating pieces of artwork donated by acclaimed and emerging Canadian and international artists. This rare public preview is an invitation to connect with the bold, thought-provoking creativity that defines Splash – an impactful expression of how art can inspire and uplift communities. The Pendulum Gallery is open Monday to Wednesday, 9am - 6pm; Thursday to Friday 9am to 9pm; and Saturdays 9am to 5pm; walk-ins are welcome.
“We are thrilled to work with the Pendulum Gallery to preview the amazing art pieces that have been so generously donated by artists from across Canada,” said Paul Larocque, president and CEO of Arts Umbrella.
At the same time, art lovers and supporters can start placing bids on the Splash 2025 Art Collection online at splashartauction.com, ahead of the live event.
Spotlight of Featured Artists
This year’s collection features works by some of today’s most compelling voices in art, including:
Moses Salihou, a Cameroonian artist who blends abstraction with portraiture, confronting questions of identity and the human experience.
Maggie Hall, a painter whose pop culture-influenced, hyperrealist works fuse saturated colour and playful materiality.
Cole Speck, a Kwakwaka’wakw artist who carries forward Northwest Coast carving traditions while infusing them with contemporary narratives and cultural resurgence.
Kim Dorland, who takes inspiration from Canadian landscapes to explore memory, material, nostalgia, identity, and place.
Russna Kaur, who creates complex compositions through digital sketches and mixed media experimentation.
Jonathan Syme, whose sculptural and painterly works emphasize materiality and colour, engages with abstraction and the traditions of painting presentation to explore movement, process and form.
Ian Wallace, a conceptual artist and Vancouver School pioneer who blends photography and painting.
Charlene Vickers, an Anishinaabe artist whose mixed media works explore identity, reclamation, and ancestral roots.
The Big Night: 2025 Splash Art Auction, October 4 at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver
The excitement culminates on Saturday, October 4, when Splash 2025 takes over the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver. Hosted by Fred Lee and Gloria Macarenko, the gala features an elegant reception and dinner, performances by Arts Umbrella students, including the Arts Umbrella Dance Company and Pre-Professional Musical Theatre Troupe, and a live auction led by Hank Bull. A simultaneous livestream will broadcast the energy of the evening to audiences across Canada and beyond – ensuring people everywhere can be part of the moment.
With over 600 guests expected to attend, each artwork purchased helps ensure all young people – regardless of their financial circumstances – can access high-quality, life-enriching arts education.
“Splash is more than our flagship fundraiser – it’s a vital gateway for thousands of young people to access the transformative power of the arts. With donor support, we’re able to help students from all backgrounds build confidence, creativity, and a path to succeed," said Paul Larocque.
Tickets to the Splash 2025 Art Auction are still available and can be purchased online at artsumbrella.com/events/splash-2025.
Make an Impact
Proceeds from Splash 2025 will fund Arts Umbrella’s programming for young people ages 2 to 22, including free outreach classes, scholarships, and bursaries. With nearly 75 percent of students accessing programming at no cost, every donation and bid makes a lasting impact.
To donate, get involved, or stay informed, visit artsumbrella.com.