About Us

About GBG

Three people sit in front of a silk painting of oranges.
Corners: Nature sticks wrapped in color by Moneca-Sinclaire. Dye on silk picture is Arancio # 2 by Phil Brake.
Photo: Karen Asher.

Galerie Buhler Gallery (also known as GBG) is located within St. Boniface Hospital, a busy centre of healing in the heart of Winnipeg’s French Quarter. This contemporary art gallery provides an important oasis of contemplation, imagination, and rejuvenation for patients, their visitors, staff, physicians, and volunteers.

GBG exhibits work by artists at different stages in their careers, from emerging to internationally acclaimed. Founded in September 2007, GBG is one of a handful of professional galleries in the world that are permanently located in a healthcare setting. St Boniface Hospital champions the role art plays in health and well-being, and many art works from our Permanent Collection are displayed in patient, staff, visitor, and administrative areas.

The Gallery has a part-time Curator and a team of dedicated volunteers who greet visitors and protect the art works. The Gallery also relies on a volunteer governing board, the Art Advisory Council, which consists of members of the arts, medical, and professional communities. The Council meets three times per year to review the operation of the gallery and approve donations of works of art to the Permanent Collection. GBG falls under the umbrella of St. Boniface Hospital and receives funding in the form of grants from small endowments held at the St. Boniface Hospital Foundation, the Winnipeg Foundation and St. Boniface Hospital. Additional funds are acquired in the form of donations.

John and Bonnie Buhler funded the creation of Galerie Buhler Gallery through their visionary philanthropy. We would like to thank the Buhlers for their incredible gift, and also the St. Boniface Hospital Foundation and the Winnipeg Foundation, as well as our many donors for their continued support.

A portrait of supporters of GBG, including John and Bonnie Buhler who are second and third in from the right
Vince Barletta, former CEO St. Boniface Hospital Foundation; The Honourable Cathy Cox, Minister of Sport, Culture and Heritage. (2017-2022), The Honourable Pat Bovey, former Curator GBG; The Honourable Janice Clare Filman, C.M., O.M.; Bonnie Buhler, John Buhler; Leona Herzog, former Curator, GBG. Photo: Nigel Moore.

Art and Health Care

By taking the visionary step of including an art gallery within a hospital to assist with patient care beyond what a medical facility has traditionally offered, St. Boniface Hospital is part of a movement that has a holistic approach to healthcare. It is addressing physical, emotional and spiritual needs of not only the patient, but also hospital staff, caregivers and members of the community who visit this quiet gallery.

Further reading
World Health Organisation

Art and Healing: Galleries West special edition

Hospital Rooms

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital

Americans for the Arts

Land Acknowledgement

St. Boniface Hospital is located on the traditional territories of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota, and Dene peoples, and on the national homeland of the Red River Métis. We acknowledge that our water is sourced from Shoal Lake 40 First Nation. We respect the treaties that were made on these territories and we acknowledge the harms and mistakes of the past. Recognizing that we are all treaty people, we dedicate our efforts towards a more loving and compassionate world as we all move forward in a spirit of reconciliation and collaboration.