By Beth Stewart
(Pictured: Designer’s rendition of exterior Westland Gallery façade. Photo courtesy of Al Stewart.)
Westland Gallery has settled into its new/old location at 247 Wortley Road. The site, once known as The Art Exchange and then Westland South, has been rechristened Westland Gallery. While the new sign has yet to go up, the old one has come down.
Located in Wortley Village, Westland Gallery offers original artwork by Canadian artists from within Ontario and mounts a new show every four to five weeks. Westland has twice been voted best art gallery in London, and this year, it won a People’s Choice Award for favourite businesses in Wortley Village.
Westland Gallery came into being when, in 2007, Al Stewart’s friend Eugene Lamont asked him to be the “caretaker,” so to speak, of the latter’s historic building at 156 Wortley Road. It was just a few blocks north of Stewart’s original business, The Art Exchange.
For the next four years, the two shared the building; Lamont continued selling antiques, and Stewart began selling art at the second location.
Finally, in 2013, Westland Gallery was born. While Stewart made extensive renovations, he remained true to the building’s history.
Built in 1886, the building had housed a painting and decorating store called Westland, two pharmacies, and an antique store. The last two were owned and run by Lamont.
(Pictured: Westland Gallery proprietors, Karen and Al Stewart.)
Prompted by their 65th birthdays in 2025, Westland Gallery owners Al and Karen Stewart decided it was time to “dial things back.” Al Stewart says, “This is what we needed to do for ourselves at this time.”
While they were ready to let the building go, they sought a buyer who would continue to celebrate Lamont’s legacy.
Al Stewart says, “We have taken care of her, and now it is time to let someone else have the honour.”
Now, in a best-case scenario, the old building has been sold to Purdy Naturals, a storefront business that fits well into the fabric of Wortley Village.
Although the location of Westland Gallery has changed, the quality and service haven’t. Westland Gallery will still deliver exceptional artworks in a range of styles and mediums, as well as services such as art consultation and secure international shipping.
While they will miss the old building, the Stewarts are excited to have a home-based business once again.
(Photo: Courtesy of Al Stewart.)
Extensive renovations have been done to 247 Wortley Road, and more are planned. Shelving has been removed. New flooring has been installed from the front of the gallery through to the back of the Stewart’s living space to create greater continuity.
(Photo: Courtesy of Al Stewart.)
The “new” location is more compressed, but Al Stewart is rising to the challenge and making use of every inch. There is less storage space, which will necessitate a faster turnover of overstock and greater website presence.
He sees it as an opportunity to put the fun back into selling art.
(Photo: Courtesy of Al Stewart.)
Westland Gallery’s inaugural exhibition, “International Women’s Day”, runs from March 3 to March 28, 2026 and celebrates the work of 19 female artists. The opening reception is Saturday, March 7, from 1pm to 3pm.
(VC Glennie, “Goldfinch,” oil on wood panel, 16 x 40 inches.)
(Marcy Saddy, “Janie Jones,” acrylic on cradled board, 20 by 20 inches.)
(Donna Andreychuk, “Falling Down”, oil on canvas, 40 by 40 inches.)
(Watch this video of the International Women’s Day Exhibition: https://youtu.be/qFFGfdedNu4?si=n0-WhKNyf7wFYe2P)
This is followed by “Pat Gibson and Nancy Moore” from March 31 to April 25, 2026, and the annual floral exhibition “Moms and Mums” from April 28 to May 23, 2026.
Westland Gallery hours are Tuesday through Friday, 10am to 5:30pm, and Saturday, 10am to 4pm. For more information, visit: https://westlandgallery.ca/
By Beth Stewart
Beth Stewart is a writer, educator, and visual artist. She has a B.A. and a B.Ed. from the University of Windsor and a Diploma in Art Therapy from Western University. Beth has worked as an Art Therapist with Canadian war veterans and as a Secondary School Teacher of art and English for the TVDSB. She retired in 2024.
Beth was the arts editor at Scene Magazine from 2004 to 2006. She founded Artscape Magazine in 2006 and served as its editor until 2008. In addition, Beth wrote on the arts for Lifestyle Magazine from 2006 to 2017 and served as the copy editor for The Beat (in print) from 2009 to 2013.
As a visual artist, Beth works mainly in dry media and favours coloured pencil. Over the past decade, Beth’s focus has been on wild and domestic birds. Beth is a member of the Coloured Pencil Society of America, the Gallery Painting Group, the Eclectic Collage Collective, the Lambeth Art Association, and a founding member of the Coloured Pencil Artists of Canada group.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009620916363
The Beat Magazine 2025 