a Vivarium is
 a CONTAINER FOR LIFE... a SPACE FOR ART...
a CONCEPTUAL PLAYGROUND
...taking contemporary art wherever it wants to go.

The VIVARIUM GALLERY offers a large window space backed by a 12' x 12' rear projection screen. We exhibit all traditional art mediums, plus new media, film/video and online streaming performance.  All exhibitions are archived on our website and can remain for sale even after the exhibition closes.

Established in the summer of 2008, our mission is to provide exhibition space to both established and emerging local artists, at low cost. We encourage our artists to think of the Vivarium as an experimental conceptual playground. We also support artists wishing to incorporate new technologies into their existing art practices and can provide technical expertise, consultation and training via workshops held in our studio/media lab. 

The VIVARIUM GALLERY was co-founded by artists jamie griffiths and Christopher Rodrigues as a window front gallery in the Kitsilano neighborhood of Vancouver, BC, Canada.  In the summer of 2010, Emilio Rojas joined the Vivarium curatorial team further broadening our programming to include performance and short term installations between the monthly exhibitions. Emilio is a performance artist and member of the Board of Directors of the Live Biennale, Vancouver, Canada as well as acting Assistant Curator at VIVO Media Arts Centre.

The VIVARIUM GALLERY has developed a community based patronage, promoting our artists through private invitation and word of mouth. Our mission is to continue to provide exhibition opportunities for local artists, while fostering a meeting place for the Arts and Culture community of Vancouver.

The Vivarium curatorial team has a strong interest in developing networks with other window galleries for simultaneous international streaming exhibits & arts events.

Free & low cost workshops are held regularly on topics of interest to our community, such as blogging, new media, technology art, Linux programming, Photoshop techniques etc. We are open to hearing your proposals for small workshops (maximum of 8 people/workshop).

Film Screenings can accommodate approx 35 people. Let us know if you are an independent filmmaker with a film you would like to screen for feedback from community.


Opening receptions are normally held on the second Saturday of each month.
Please check the calendar page for details.


'The Burial of St Lucy' by Jay Senetchko
Workshop with Emilio Rojas, Oct 2010
Vivarium Gallery Sidewalk Spring Blossoms
Vivarium...
-  a container for life - (Latin, literally for "place of life"; plural: vivaria or vivariums) is a usually enclosed area for keeping and raising animals or plants for observation or research. Often, a portion of the ecosystem for a particular species is simulated on a smaller scale, with controls for environmental conditions.
- an ancient monastery for study founded by Roman Abbott and latin scholar, Cassiodorus, in the town of Squillace in the 6th century AD for the study and preservation of classical learning and devotional study by monks.