Welcome to GUM Gallery, short for the “Gallery of Unsellable Masterpieces”. GUM is a new artist-run conceptual art gallery in Meaford, celebrating ideas and curiosity.
This is the place for art that sticks with you, art you can chew on, and art that pops.
In addition to exhibitions, GUM is committed to public learning through artist talks, thematic dialogue, and international participation in each exhibition’s curatorial framework.
We see the gallery not only as a place to show work, but as a site where ideas are tested, discussed, and expanded.
REGULAR OPENING HOURS: M-F 9 am – 4 pm, and some SATURDAYS.
Grand Opening was on April 30th, 2026!
About GUM
GUM Gallery is dedicated to contemporary, conceptual, and experimental art practice. The work here ranges from thoughtful and philosophical to playful and imaginative. Some pieces ask big questions, while others invite you to smile.
We are interested in work that is idea-driven, exploratory, and open-ended. GUM is not defined by medium or market categories, but by curiosity, risk, and critical engagement with how art produces meaning.
The gallery functions as both an exhibition space and a platform for conversation, where artists and audiences are invited to consider not only what art is, but how and why it works in the world.
Inside the gallery, the north side of the space highlights local creativity and projects. You will find the Tidbits Meaford History Project (www.tidbits.site), work by gallery owners Mikael Sandblom and Viz Saraby, and a dedicated section for local artists including a touchscreen TV with stories and profiles.
The wall on the south side of the gallery is reserved for rotating exhibitions by visiting conceptual artists, bringing fresh perspectives and new ideas into the space throughout the year.
At the back of the gallery is a working hairdressing salon. Visitors waiting for a haircut are invited to sit in the gallery, spend time with the artwork, and enjoy the unusual overlap of art and everyday life.
The Art: Predictable in values, unpredictable in outcome
GUM Gallery is a non-commercial exhibition space for conceptual practices, ideas, and work that resists easy categorization or commodification. Ideas come first. Sales are incidental.
Our Core Values
- Ideas over objects: Concepts come first; outcomes are secondary.
- Clarity over polish: Rough edges are welcome; perfection is not required.
- Risk over safety: Challenge conventions, test formats, provoke thought.
- Conversation, learning, and public engagement over foot traffic: Meaningful engagement and shared understanding matter more than visitor counts.
Our Approach
GUM is a test site. A pause. A space to try work that may not fit anywhere else. If your work is necessary, if it unsettles, excites, or questions, GUM is where it belongs.
- Conceptual, research-driven, or idea-led.
- Helps viewers see the world with a new perspective.
- Site-responsive, context-aware, or socially engaged.
- Unsettling, exciting, or questioning.
We approach exhibitions as open conversations rather than fixed displays, where meaning is developed through encounter, reflection, and dialogue.
Art as Conversation
Each exhibition opening includes an artist talk and public conversation where featured artists discuss:
- Their process.
- Materials and methods.
- Conceptual and theoretical approach.
- The meaning, intent, and questions behind the work.
These conversations are central to each exhibition. They are intended to broaden understanding of contemporary art and deepen engagement with how ideas are formed, challenged, and communicated through artistic practice.
Rather than treating art as something to simply view, GUM positions exhibitions as opportunities for learning, discussion, and critical thinking about what art is and how it functions.
We are especially interested in how conceptual art can question assumptions, challenge the status quo, and expand public dialogue around culture, systems, and lived experience.