Mary E. Black Gallery

The Mary E. Black Gallery Is Reopening — and the Future of Craft Is on Display

We’re proud to announce that the Mary E. Black Gallery has officially reopened with Figments of the Imagination — a bold new exhibition featuring ceramic works by students and recent graduates from NSCAD University.

This vibrant, collaborative exhibition is curated by ceramic artist and educator Rachel de Condé and marks more than just a reopening. It represents a renewed commitment to what Craft Nova Scotia stands for: supporting emerging artists, fostering meaningful partnerships, and creating space for contemporary fine craft to be seen, celebrated, and shared.

Why We’re Reopening With Clay

Figments of the Imagination was developed in partnership with NSCAD University as a way to reintroduce the public to the gallery and the makers shaping the future of craft in Nova Scotia. The exhibition features 14 ceramic artists exploring form, tradition, and experimentation — and gives them a professional platform in one of the province’s most visible public craft spaces.

This exhibition is not only a celebration of ceramic excellence — it’s also a sign of where we’re going as an organization: toward deeper collaboration, greater opportunity for artists, and a more inclusive, community-rooted vision of what craft can be.

Visit the Gallery

Exhibition: Figments of the Imagination

Dates: July 15, 2025 - August 2025
Location: Mary E. Black Gallery, 1061 Marginal Road, Halifax, NS
Hours: 10:00 am - 6:00 pm (Closed Monday)
Admission: Free and open to the public

Located on the Halifax waterfront, the Mary E. Black Gallery is the only public gallery in Nova Scotia dedicated to contemporary fine craft. We invite you to come experience the work, meet the makers, and be part of this new chapter in Nova Scotia’s craft story.

Special Thanks

This exhibition would not have been possible without the dedication and vision of so many contributors. We’d especially like to thank:

The artists and students of NSCAD University
Curator Rachel de Condé
Graphic designer Audrey McNeil
The faculty and staff at NSCAD and the Anna Leonowens Gallery
Our community of members, partners, and supporters

And a special thank you to Marc Braithwaite for his leadership in bringing this project to life and guiding the gallery’s reopening with care, energy, and intention.

We respectfully acknowledge that The Mary E. Black Gallery and the Centre For Craft Nova Scotia are situated within Mi’kma’ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq People.

This territory is covered by the “Treaties of Peace and Friendship”.

We acknowledge and honour the Mi’kmaq people who have cared for and continue to care for this land.