Canada’s oldest civic art gallery has a new leader. The Winnipeg Art Gallery–Qaumajuq (WAG-Qaumajuq) has named John Mahli Lawa’ Hampton as its director and chief executive officer, as reported on 1 November 2026.
A familiar name on the Prairies
Hampton is no newcomer to Western Canada’s museum landscape. They held the same role – director and CEO – at the MacKenzie Art Gallery in Regina, Saskatchewan, until 2021, and before that served as executive director of the Art Gallery of Southwestern Manitoba in Brandon. A citizen of the Chickasaw Nation, Hampton co-chaired the last two Canada Arts Summits, sat on the Canada House Gallery Committee, was named to CBC’s Future 40 and wrote the chapter “Decolonizing Museum Management: Towards a Human Institution” for the Manual of Museum Management.
What the job involves
According to the gallery’s board, Hampton will be responsible for finances, operations and capital expansion projects. The board also expects the new director to foster creativity and innovation and to advance the museum’s strategic vision of connecting art, culture, learning and community. Partnerships with local and national institutions and a richer visitor experience are on the agenda as well, guided by the gallery’s stated values of equity, care, responsibility and trust.
A collection with global weight
WAG-Qaumajuq is internationally known for its collection of contemporary Inuit art. Qaumajuq – the name of the gallery’s Inuit art centre – has made Winnipeg a destination for anyone interested in art from the Arctic. The board describes its ambition as becoming a model for “the new museum” in Canada: one that balances historical collections and contemporary art with Indigenization, reconciliation and inclusive community learning. With an Indigenous leader who has written about decolonising museum management, that ambition now has a clear face.
End of an interim period
The appointment followed a national and international search led by the executive recruiting firm Arts Consulting Group. The board thanked Bill Elliott, who led the gallery on an interim basis during the transition.
For the wider museum world, the choice is worth noting. Leadership positions at major institutions with significant Indigenous collections are still rarely held by Indigenous professionals. Hampton’s return to a top post on the Prairies will be watched closely, both in Canada and by museums elsewhere rethinking how they care for, show and share the art of Indigenous communities.