One of Canada’s most influential photographers, Greg Girard, is featured in the first-ever survey of his work, on view at The Polygon Gallery from July 10–Oct. 25.
Tracing Girard’s evolution from a budding photographer to an internationally renowned artist, the exhibition presents more than 160 photographs shot between 1972 and 2026, including never-before-seen outtakes from his iconic photobooks and new images from the Lower Mainland. The exhibition will open at the same time as the launch of his new photobook, Greg Girard – Photographs 1972–2026.
“When people think of Greg Girard, they often call to mind images of urban settings at night, long exposures, empty streets, and neon lights,” says Elliott Ramsey, who co-curated the exhibition with gallery director Reid Shier. “His reputation for photographing cities in transition is so established that what often gets left out of the conversation is how excellent he is as a portraitist. He is masterful at photographing people and portraying a city through its inhabitants. In this exhibition, visitors will be able to not only experience the honing of his vision, but also get a sense of how he moved through the world.”
Greg Girard unfolds chronologically, an intentional foil to the artist’s collection of published photobooks organized by city. The earliest photographs in the exhibition were taken in Vancouver by Girard in the 1970s as a teenager. Inspired by an assignment from his high school teacher, Girard checked himself into a hotel in the Downtown Eastside and embedded himself as a photographer. These black-and-white documentary images, paired with shots taken from across Vancouver and even from the historic Mission Raceway Park, offer a nostalgic look back at an earlier time.
With travels down the West Coast and the Pacific Rim; Thailand to Japan, Hong Kong to Shanghai and back to Metro Vancouver Girard developed his signature style of poetic and vivid urban photography.
Now mentoring the next generation of photographers, many of whom discover Girard’s work through his prolific Instagram account that has amassed over 240,000 followers.
“Working on this project has been an eye-opening experience,” says Girard. “Knowing that you’ve had a 50-plus year career is one thing. Trying to make sense of it, and in particular dealing with such an immense physical archive of film, is another. Revisiting all the places I’ve traveled, lived, and explored through the exhibition and the publication has been exciting and a bit overwhelming, in a good way.”
The exhibition, Greg Girard opens July 9, 2026 with the book launch for Greg Girard – Photographs 1972–2026, then is on display July 10 to October 25, 2026 at The Polygon Gallery, 101 Carrie Cates Court, North Vancouver. Visit thepolygon.ca/exhibition/greg-girard for more information.