Keerat Kaur explores migration and language at Surrey Art Gallery

Surrey Art Gallery presents "If Gardens Could Dream," a solo exhibition by multidisciplinary artist Keerat Kaur, opening July 4 and running through August 30. A launch party takes place July 11 from 6 to 9 p.m. as part of the Gallery's summer exhibition opening.

Kaur's work spans painting, sculpture, digital media, embroidery, poetry, and architectural forms, examining how cultural knowledge is carried, transformed, and sustained across generations within the South Asian diaspora. Drawing from Sikh philosophies, Punjabi language traditions, and broader South Asian literary and visual histories, she explores connections between land, migration, language, and identity.

The exhibition considers how movement shapes cultural life. For Kaur, migration extends beyond crossing borders to encompass the circulation of stories, agricultural practices, South Asian traditions, and ways of understanding the world. Her work traces how these forms of knowledge travel across geographies, adapt to new conditions, and remain connected to ancestral lineages.

At the Seeds of Imagination Art Party on July 11, visitors can enjoy an evening of music, poetry, and art. Kaur joins associate curator Suvi Bains for a discussion and live reading of her poetry. Attendees can create their own artworks inspired by Kaur's love of the Gurmukhi language, view the juried ARTS 2026 exhibition, and hear the announcement of the People's Choice award. The event is free; RSVP is recommended to guarantee a seat.

Additional programming includes family drop-in art-making on July 18 with an interactive story time and poetry reading by Kaur in the studio theatre. A Family Art Jam on August 8 offers a guided tour of the exhibition followed by an artmaking activity (to register, call 604-501-5566, dial 0, or email gallerytours@surrey.ca). Kaur will lead an exhibition tour in Punjabi on July 30. All events are free.