Whistler's rich collection of public art is displayed throughout Whistler Village, Whistler's parks, the Valley Trail and more.
The public art program was established in 1996, and today includes a total of 55 public and private art pieces showcased throughout the community.
Explore Whistler's public art collection
Other ways to learn about Whistler's public art:
- Take a virtual tour of the Public Art in Whistler Village.
- Download the Whistler Village Tour Map and Whistler Valley Tour Map.
- View interpretive signage on site that briefly describes each piece.
- Access an audio application at 604-935-8215 and listen to a description about each piece using its three-digit ID number..
The public art program issues periodic calls to artists to submit proposals for specific projects, including the Poet’s Pause poetry competition and the Street Banner Art program.
Featured art: Quartz-Chromatic by Dave Petko
A multi-coloured, large scale mural was painted on the public washroom facility at Whistler Olympic Plaza in Spring 2021. The mural spans all three sections of the backside of the building, each standing at 4.3 meters tall.
Entitled Quartz-Chromatic, the piece was created by Whistler-based artist Dave Petko based on the idea of light refraction and dispersion from quartz, a mineral found in the Sea to Sky corridor. The mural features an acrylic gradient of warm to cool tones that wash over iconic flora and fauna from the area, including a Douglas fir, hemlock, cedar, lupine flowers, black bear, lynx, grey jay and raven. Learn more.
Featured art: A Timeless Circle by Susan Point
A Timeless Circle by internationally renowned artist Susan Point was unveiled in Whistler Village in March 2016.
A Timeless Circle is a multifaceted bronze sculpture that was awarded through a public competition by the community’s Public Art Committee to celebrate Whistler’s involvement in the 2010 Winter Games.
A Timeless Circle is on display beside the Maury Young Arts Centre (formerly Millennium Place) at 4335 Blackcomb Way.
Featured art: Thunderbird
Public art piece, Thunderbird, was created by Squamish Nation artist Sinámkin – Jody Broomfield. It is located at the east end of the Upper Village Stroll at Chateau Boulevard and acts as a landmark to draw visitors through the Upper Village to the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre (SLCC) and beyond onto the rest of the Cultural Connector route.
Sinámkin constructed Thunderbird using high-grade durable aluminum. The sculpture sits atop a three-metre high cylinder and illuminates at night. The piece pays homage to the Squamish Nation legend of Black Tusk Mountain and how it became what it is today.