Stan Douglas, Tales of Empire opens at McMichael
Published on 08/28/2026 at 16:16 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Stan Douglas anchors the new exhibition Tales of Empire at the McMichael Canadian Art Collection. According to the McMichael exhibition announcement, the focused survey opened in August 2026 and brings together five major photographic series on the legacy of empire. McMichael exhibition page
The exhibition Tales of Empire
The McMichael describes Stan Douglas: Tales of Empire as a concentrated overview of the Vancouver-based artist’s work on colonization, history, and memory. Curated by Sarah Milroy, the show assembles five photographic series that track imperial interventions across different regions and periods.
These series examine how empire inscribes itself into landscapes and lives, using Douglas’s hallmark large-format photographs and meticulous staging. The exhibition positions these works in relation to contemporary debates on decolonization, showing how historical narratives remain active in the present.
Stan Douglas in global exhibition programs
Alongside the McMichael show, Douglas is prominently on view in Europe with Bodies Never Lie at LUMA Arles in southern France, running from July 4, 2026 to January 10, 2027, as confirmed by the institution’s program. The Arles exhibition combines video installations and photography, including the new multi-channel work Exquisite Corpse shot in spring 2026.
Gallery information from David Zwirner and Victoria Miro underscores that Douglas’s work currently circulates simultaneously in institutional retrospectives and large-scale installations, from Arles to upcoming retrospectives at Jeu de Paume in Paris and MACBA in Barcelona.
All news and background on Stan Douglas
Further coverage on Stan Douglas’s exhibitions, installations and institutional projects can be found via the AD HOC NEWS archive search.
The work core and recurring themes
Douglas is known for lens-based works that weave together film, video, photography and installation, often reconstructing specific historical moments or overlooked narratives. Series such as 2011 ? 1848 and recent projects like Birth of a Nation use elaborate sets and casting to stage complex social and political situations.
Where the artist stands now
Stan Douglas is currently positioned with parallel institutional exhibitions including Tales of Empire at the McMichael Canadian Art Collection and Bodies Never Lie at LUMA Arles, underscoring his sustained international museum presence in mid-2026.
Key facts on Stan Douglas
- Artist: Stan Douglas
- Medium / Genre: Photography and video installation (conceptual)
- Born: 1960, Vancouver, Canada
- Place(s) of practice: Studio practice centered in Vancouver, with regular institutional projects in Europe and North America.
- Active since: Late 1980s, with significant recognition from the early 1990s onward.
- Key work groups: 2011 ? 1848, Birth of a Nation, ISDN, Exquisite Corpse
- Current/last exhibition: Stan Douglas: Tales of Empire, McMichael Canadian Art Collection, opened August 2026.
- Major collections: Works by Douglas are held in leading public collections including MOCA (Los Angeles) and institutions in Canada and Europe as evidenced by recent exhibitions and commissions.
- Awards: Represented Canada at the Venice Biennale in 2022 with the major video installation ISDN.
- Next date: Currently no announced date in the 30-day window beyond ongoing runs of Tales of Empire and Bodies Never Lie.
Frequently asked questions about Stan Douglas
Where is Stan Douglas currently on view?
In August 2026, Stan Douglas is on view with Tales of Empire at the McMichael Canadian Art Collection in Canada, and with Bodies Never Lie at LUMA Arles in France, both presenting extensive bodies of work.
What is shown in the exhibition Tales of Empire?
Tales of Empire brings together five major photographic series in which Douglas examines different colonization efforts globally, highlighting how empire shapes landscapes and individual lives over time, as described by the McMichael.
Which recent new work by Stan Douglas has been commissioned?
LUMA Arles commissioned Douglas’s multi-channel video installation Exquisite Corpse, filmed in spring 2026 and presented at the center of the exhibition Bodies Never Lie as part of the institution’s program.
This article was produced with a.i. support and editorially reviewed. All statements without guarantee; auction results, exhibition dates and awards may change at short notice.
