Discovering Connection Through Canadian Art
There is a particular hush that greets you when you step through the door of an elegant art gallery — a silence that feels alive. Light softens, footsteps fade, and the world outside dissolves. It is the beginning of a quiet adventure, one that invites you to slow down, look closely, and enter into a private dialogue with art. This is the atmosphere that Michael Warren has crafted at Madrona Gallery in Victoria, a space designed to welcome everyone — from the first-time visitor drawn by curiosity to the seasoned collector shaping a family legacy.
Situated in the heart of the city, Madrona Gallery showcases an exceptional range of Canadian art, from the enduring influence of Emily Carr and the Group of Seven to emerging contemporary voices and world-class Inuit carvings and drawings by artists such as Shuvinai Ashoona, Ningiukulu Teevee, and Oviloo Tunnillie. Warren’s academic foundation in the History of Art, paired with his experience across institutional and commercial sectors, forms the backbone of a gallery that is as refined as it is inviting.
When asked how Madrona maintains this balance, Warren explains, “It comes down to the team’s genuine love of art… they have a distinct lens they bring that is rooted in that love of art and a pursuit of knowledge around it. It creates a starting point of curiosity and enthusiasm”
This thoughtful approach extends to introducing new collectors. “I look at this through a generational perspective. All of the famous artists we know like Emily Carr were emerging artists at some point,” he notes. Pairing historic and contemporary work “connects lines of influence between artists and opens the door for a wider range of collectors.”
For Warren, collecting is innate. “Connection with art is so personal. Art that stays with collectors for decades or generations often carries a significance that goes beyond the object — it comes to symbolize a moment or memory in addition to being an object of beauty.” He encourages individuals to build collections slowly and meaningfully: “Building a meaningful collection should take a lifetime… Collecting art should be based around the joy of discovery, discernment of quality, and finding things that you irrationally connect with.”
He adds that while the artworks Madrona exhibits are rare, culturally significant, and one of a kind, “there is always more art out there, and your taste will change over time.” The strongest collections balance instinct with intention, perhaps through a focus — such as oil paintings by BC artists between 1900 and 1945 — while still leaving room for evolution. Warren offers one final personal gauge: “I ask myself, could I let anyone else live with this? And if I immediately answer no, then I know it is meant for me.”