ABOUT THE EXHIBITION

The Alberta Society of Artists presents our annual photography exhibition “The Artists Lens 2026.”

Every year, The Alberta Society of Artists (ASA) hosts a photography exhibition at the ASA Gallery called “Artists Lens.” In preparation, “Artists Lens”, ASA puts out a call for submissions that is open to all Albertan photographers. Submissions are juried through a blind jury process. Selected artists then exhibit their works at the gallery in January and February.

The theme for “The Artists Lens 2026” is “Families”. Artists were invited to explore and interpret the many definitions of “family.”

Families take many forms—whether among humans, mammals, or birds. The deep bonds within these families, and the instinct of parents to protect and teach their young, are powerful and universal traits found throughout the natural world. In the plant kingdom, families also exist—ferns, mosses, and trees each form unique lineages. For example, aspen trees grow in groves that are clones of a single parent tree, creating a living network that lights up the prairie with golden color each fall. These plant families are united by shared genetic and evolutionary traits. However, climate change is having a profound impact on them, altering their growth patterns and shifting their natural ranges across the globe.