The Story Behind Bloch Bauers
Bloch Bauers is the result of a shared passion for art, collecting, and the history that brings the two together. Founded by Jay, who moved to Canada from India in 2018, and Joey, a lifelong North Bay local, the gallery was born from a simple realization: North Bay was missing a private art gallery of its own.
Their passion for collecting began long before Bloch Bauers. As children, both Jay and Joey found themselves drawn to collecting—starting with rocks and coins and eventually developing a deeper appreciation for art and the stories behind it. What began as a childhood interest grew into a vision to create a space where art, history, and collecting could come together in North Bay.
The name Bloch Bauers itself carries a story rooted in art history. It was inspired by a Viennese family who were among Austria's largest art collectors. During the Second World War, the family's entire art collection was stolen by the Nazis. After the war, the family's niece dedicated herself to recovering the stolen works and spent decades fighting the Austrian government for their return. She continued her efforts until her 94th year, when she finally succeeded in retrieving the collection.
That story of perseverance, passion, and the importance of preserving art is reflected in the spirit of Bloch Bauers.
When it came time to establish their gallery, Jay and Joey chose The Kennedy as its home. With its deep-rooted history in North Bay and its familiarity among generations of local residents, the location felt like a natural fit. For them, bringing Bloch Bauers to The Kennedy is about more than opening a gallery—it is about adding a new chapter to a place that has already played an important role in the city's story.
Today, Bloch Bauers brings together Jay and Joey's shared love of collecting with their vision for a new cultural space in North Bay—one where art can be discovered, appreciated, and passed on for generations to come.
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