There are plenty of reasons Castlegar gets to call itself “The Sculpture Capital of Canada,” and they are soaring, sitting, standing, and occasionally staring at you from sidewalks throughout the city.
Now in its 16th year, Sculpturewalk has grown from an ambitious public art project into one of Canada’s most recognized outdoor sculpture exhibitions. The 2026 Castlegar Sculpturewalk is showcasing 28 new sculptures from artists around British Columbia, Alberta, and Washington State. And, as in years past, you can vote for your favourite before October 31.
Meet the 2026 Sculptures
This year’s collection features everything from whimsical animals to abstract forms created from such materials as bronze, concrete, steel, glass, and even scrapped chrome truck bumpers.
Local and regional artists are represented including Lisa Huth who created “Forging Light for Mitochondrial Disease,” a sculpture inspired by her niece’s battle with the affliction. Made from new and recycled steel, the work is both a tribute to resilience and a call for greater awareness and research.
Another Castlegar artist, Peter Wulowka, created “Eye Flower, a colourful wood sculpture dedicated to his late sculpture partner Geoff Verigin. Wulowka, a previous People’s Choice winner, took his work in a new direction with layers of brightly painted wood.
Then there’s “Majyk Chicken” by High River, Alberta artist Sophia DePaoli, a wonderfully strange creature that’s part poultry, part mythical beast made from recycled steel. “On the Watch” by Delta, BC artist Don Francis depicts a steel eagle surveying its surroundings, while Burnaby artist Ron Simmer turned smashed chrome truck bumpers into a piece named “Canadian Woman”. And those are only a few of the 28 pieces waiting to be discovered.
Take a Walk, Then Cast Your Vote
The best way to experience Sculpturewalk is also the simplest: go for a walk downtown.
Grab a 2026 Sculpturewalk brochure and ballot, then follow the route to see the sculptures in person. Brochures are available around the city, including at Castlegar City Hall, the Castlegar & District Visitor Centre, and participating local businesses. You can also download the 2026 map, ballot and brochure from Castlegar Sculpturewalk.
Once you’ve found your favourite, cast your ballot for the People’s Choice Award before October 31. The sculpture receiving the most votes will be purchased by the City of Castlegar and added to its permanent public art collection.
That means your vote has a lasting impact on what Castlegar looks like. Past winners include “Voice of My People” by Louis Boyd in 2025, “Van Gogh’s Cat”by Peter Vogelaar in 2024, “Rufous” by Nathan and Sabian Smith in 2023 and “Murmuration” by Peter Vogelaar in 2022.
An Art Gallery Without Walls
Part of the fun of Sculpturewalk is that the exhibition changes every year, while winning and purchased pieces become part of the city’s ever-growing collection. Permanent sculptures can now be found at parks, schools, businesses, the airport ,and other public spaces throughout Castlegar.
So before October 31, grab a coffee, take a stroll through downtown and see all 28 sculptures for yourself. You might love one. You might dislike another. You might spend far longer than expected debating a giant metal chicken-like creature.
That’s kind of the point.
To learn more about the annual Sculpture Walk and to download a map and a voting ballot, visit sculpturewalkcastlegar.com.