The Art Gallery was founded in 1931. In 1983 the Art Gallery moved to its current location, the former provincial courthouse. This 165,000 square-foot building, originally designed by Francis Rattenbury in 1906, was redesigned by the architect Arthur Erickson.
Plans to expand the Art Gallery were announced in 2003, with the winning architect and design team to be announced in early 2004. The expansion will increase the space the gallery has to exhibit contemporary works and add meeting room space.