Did You Know?

In 1933, as Regina hosted the World’s Grain Exhibition and Conference, the Government of Saskatchewan commissioned acclaimed artist Fritz Brandtner to create more than 300 feet of murals celebrating the province’s landscape, industries, and way of life. At a time when agriculture shaped both the economy and identity of the province, these works underscored the vital role of art in interpreting, documenting, and elevating agricultural life. What emerged was one of the most important artistic records of early Saskatchewan—capturing farming, ranching, forestry, mining, and market gardening in bold, expressionist detail that transformed everyday agricultural labour into enduring cultural history.

Between 1933 and the early 1980s, the murals survived numerous challenges, including a devastating fire in 1955 that destroyed much of the original Grain Exhibition Building. Their survival speaks not only to their physical resilience, but to the lasting value placed on art as a means of preserving the stories, knowledge, and spirit of agricultural communities.

Restored in 1987, the murals have remained in REAL District ever since and have been housed in several buildings across the property. Each piece depicts real places, practices, and periods from Saskatchewan’s past, offering a vivid portrait of prairie ingenuity, identity, and early economic roots. By blending artistic expression with agricultural history, the murals continue to demonstrate how art deepens our understanding of the lifestyle and the people who built the industry from modest homesteads to modern operations. Their presence at REAL District has made them an important cultural touchpoint for residents, scholars, and visitors alike.

Today, the murals are entering a new chapter. With recent support from the City of Regina, three of the most fragile works have been carefully relocated to the Bunge International Trade Centre to ensure they are properly protected and publicly accessible for generations to come. This investment safeguards a priceless chapter of Saskatchewan’s cultural and agricultural heritage, while reaffirming the essential role of art in celebrating, preserving, and sharing the agricultural stories that continue to shape our province.

Join us for a conversation about the Brandtner Murals on the Launch Pad presented by Deloitte on Wednesday, March 18, as we explore their enduring legacy and relevance today.