Announcing the 2026 Festival Artist: Robert Gagnon’s And His Bold New Direction

For years, the Fort Langley Jazz & Arts Festival has celebrated the creativity of artists from across the region, showcasing their work throughout the Festival grounds and beyond through our annual ‘Call for Artists’. From banners and posters to digital platforms and merchandise, the selected artwork each year becomes a defining visual expression of the Festival experience.

For the 2026 Festival, that honour goes to local artist, Robert Gagnon.

Robert’s selected piece stands out for its energy, colour and movement, capturing the spirit of jazz in a way that feels both vibrant and expressive. But for Robert, this work represents something more personal, a step outside of his usual artistic focus and into new territory.

“I normally paint wildlife,” Robert shares. “The piece selected for the Festival was a little out of my comfort zone.”

Robert has been creating art for nearly 50 years, exploring a wide range of mediums and styles. From carving soapstone and wood to airbrushing detailed designs onto motorcycles, his artistic journey has been driven by curiosity and a willingness to try something new.

That openness is exactly what led him to submit a piece for this year’s Festival. After seeing an online call for artists, he decided to take on the challenge, embracing the opportunity to create something completely different.

Exploring a new subject

Robert’s work often focuses on animals, particularly close-up wildlife portraits. “I have a fascination with animals,” says Robert, who is often commissioned for portraits of people’s pets. He adds, “I did a lot of work years ago in Harrison Mills. If you ever go up there, especially in the fall, there's hundreds of Eagles. I've spent hours sitting by the river just watching. That's my love.”

For Robert, the most difficult part of the Festival piece was the shift to painting people. Despite the challenge, Robert leaned into the process, beginning with sketches and refining his ideas through repetition and experimentation.

“I thought about what jazz is, and I did a little sketch. There’s a lot of erasing and redoing. When I get something I like, I start applying the paint and see where it goes.”

The final piece combines paint and ink, applied to create depth and vibrancy. Using an airbrush, Robert worked to create bold colour and movement, capturing the improvisational spirit that defines jazz.

A lifelong connection to creativity

Although this piece marks a departure from his usual subject matter, Robert’s connection to the piece is rooted in his love of music. 

“I’m a really big music lover,” he says. “I’ve played guitar myself and used to play in a band when I was very, very young.” That connection helped guide his interpretation!

When he’s not creating art, Robert works in construction through a family business. But his passion for art remains constant, shaped by decades of experimentation and a genuine love for the creative process.

Looking ahead

Seeing his artwork featured across the Festival will be a new experience for Robert, and one he’s looking forward to.

“That’ll be different,” he says. “It’s certainly exciting that it was chosen.”

For Robert, the experience reinforces a message he shares with other artists.

“Try everything. You never know. Don’t be afraid and don’t listen to what people say. Do it because you love to do it.”

We’re proud to showcase Robert Gagnon’s work as part of this year’s Festival and to celebrate the creativity, curiosity and courage that brought it to life.

Read more about Robert here → https://robertgagnonart.com/bio/