The Sweetest Little Thing 2026

All images are details from larger works. Top row (left to right): Anna Torma, Roses, 2026; Suzie Smith, Fireweed (after the forest fires), 2026; Evergon (made in complicity with Jean-Jacques Ringuette), Church, Near Curitiba, Brazil, 1976 Homage to Emily Carr’s Church in Yuquot Village, 1926, 2024. Bottom row (left to right): Aleya Michaud, la patience pis une prière, 2026; Kris Gunn, An Eft, 2024; Angela Thibodeau, Okay Used Cars, 2026.

The Owens Art Gallery and Struts Gallery present:

The Sweetest Little Thing 2026
Fundraising Art Auction

Celebrate art and community at the 27th annual Sweetest Little Thing! Start bidding today on artworks donated by artists from across the country and beyond!

Live event: Valentine’s Day
Saturday, February 14, 2026 @ 7:00pm AT
Owens Art Gallery
Sackville, New Brunswick
Admission by donation

Featuring artworks from: Bruce Barber, Amanda Balestreri, Alan Barbour, Jennifer Bélanger, Rémi Belliveau, Laylia Bennett, Chris Boyne, Natt Cann, Magali Charron, Braden Chetwynd, Snack Witch Joni Cheung, Herménégilde Chiasson, Rotchild Choisy, Amanda Dawn Christie, Jon Claytor, Melanie Colosimo, Kaeli Cook, Gabrielle Cormier, Paula Jean Cowan, Janet Crawford, Bre Darlison, Andrea deBruijn, Tonia Di Risio, Linda Rae Dornan, Christopher Down, Jen Doyle, Erik Edson, Evergon, Michael Fernandes, Delaney Fletcher, Roo Forstall, Leah Garnett, Dawn George, Greta Grip, Kris Gunn, Avalon Hamilton, Laurell Hamilton, John Haney, Theodore Harris, Emma Hassencahl-Perley, Ashley Hemmings, Lee Henderson, Paul Henderson, Thaddeus Holownia, Merlin Homer, Keely Hopkins, Barb Hunt, Lesley Johnson, Adriana Kuiper, Kurtis Kitagawa, Alexandre Larose, Sophia Lawrence, Louisette “LeBlank” LeBlanc, Susan Lindsay, Kamaya Lindquist, Patrick Lundeen, Peter Manchester, Deborah Margo, Nathalie Martin, C.L. McLaughlin, Kevin Melanson, Sonali Menezes, Aleya Michaud, Lucas Morneau, Alana Morouney, Melissa Morris, Andrea Mortson, John Murchie, Tanya Murphy, Emma Neilson, Annie France Noël, Sharon Owttrim-Fraser, Sora Park, Roula Partheniou, Graeme Patterson, Mélanie Paulin, Abigail Poirier, Jacob Puffer, Donna Rawlins Sharpe, Kerri Reid, Angie Richard, Jerry Ropson, Racquel Rowe, Vicky Sabourin, Jon Sasaki, Sage Sidley, Yvonne Singer, Suzie Smith, Ryan Statz, Dan Steeves, Ryan Suter, Amy Switzer, Angela Thibodeau, Rachel Thornton, Louisa Thürler, Anna Torma, Karen Trask, Stuart Trenholm, Émilie Turmel, Elizabeth Vanderleelie, Indu Varma, Susie Vokey, Laura Watson, Tara Wells, Mitchell Wiebe, Jane Edey Wood, Veronica Wry, and Istvan Zsako.

The Sweetest Little Thing is the most important annual fundraising event for the Owens Art Gallery and Struts Gallery. Every dollar raised goes directly to support programming at both galleries. In the spotlight at this year’s event will be the Building Fund for Struts Gallery, which aims to raise $75,000 for renovations to their 7 Lorne Street location by April 30, 2026.

Emceed by Freddy Hyun Smith and Tolkien Merrigan, this year’s event will feature karaoke with Graeme Patterson, a scavenger hunt, a raffle for an epic cake donated by Cranewood on Main Bakery and Café, and a new artist multiple… plus a few other surprises! Gather in your fanciest dress, snap a photo at the Instant Lovin’ Photo Booth, and get ready to partake in some dancing! This event is made possible thanks to the generosity of local, national, and internationally recognized artists who have established connections with our galleries and who are part of our community.

Bidding takes place entirely online, ending on Saturday, February 14 at 10:00pm AST. Artworks will be available to preview in-person beginning Saturday, February 7 at the Owens.

The Sweetest Little Thing 2026 graphics designed by Emma Hassencahl-Perley.

As you look forward to this year’s event, listen to the 2026 Sweetest Little Thing Jingle SLT (Flipping Rocks) by Snake Noise, and relive Sweetest Little Thing memories of years past through the video scrapbook.

Follow us on social media for behind-the-scenes access, live event updates, and to share The Sweetest Little Thing love from near or far.

We would like to acknowledge that the Owens Art Gallery, Mount Allison University, and Struts Gallery are located within the Sikniktewaq district of the traditional territory of Mi’kma’ki, the unceded ancestral homelands of the Mi’kmaq. Our relationship and our privilege to live on this territory was agreed upon in the Peace and Friendship Treaties of 1725 to 1752. Because of this treaty relationship, it is to be acknowledged that we are all Treaty People and have a responsibility to respect this territory.

Struts Gallery
7 Lorne Street, Sackville, NB E4L 3Z6
506-536-1211
info@strutsgallery.ca
www.strutsgallery.ca

Owens Art Gallery
Mount Allison University
61 York Street, Sackville, NB E4L 1E1
506-364-2574
owens@mta.ca
www.owensartgallery.com

Monday to Friday, 10:00am – 5:00pm
Saturday and Sunday, 1:00pm – 5:00pm
Admission is Free

The Owens is partially accessible. The stairs from the entrance nearest the University Chapel have a handrail. There is also ramp access at this entrance, however, the ramp is steep. The stairs to the entrance off York Street have a handrail, but no ramp, and are covered with temporary wood treads. The main floor of the Owens is wheelchair accessible. Our second-floor gallery and gendered bathrooms are located in the basement and are not accessible. Two flights of stairs lead to each of these floors. LED lights are used throughout the building. The Owens welcomes guide dogs and other service animals. The closest accessible parking spaces are located on York Street across from the Owens. For detailed information on venue access, please visit our Accessibility page.

If you have any questions about your visit, please email owens@mta.ca or call (506) 364-2574.