Twenty centuries of art are represented on the walls of this popular Ontario institution.
The Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) first opened its collection to the public in 1900, moving ten years later into its current home thanks to a generous donation by a British historian. Today the 19th-century mansion houses over 80,000 artworks and 40,000 photographs, spanning twenty centuries of creativity, and is the most visited art museum in Canada.Free guided and themed tours are available to help visitors navigate the gallery’s five floors. One of the main highlights is the AGO’s permanent collection, which has been painstakingly assembled over the past century from purchases and private donations.The Canadian Collection showcases artists from Toronto and further afield, with fine examples of the work of renowned landscape painters the Group of Seven and their inspirational founder Tom Thomson. The Renaissance Trail focuses on European Old Masters including Rembrandt and Rubens, flamboyant Italian Baroque sculptures and priceless paintings by Picasso, Van Gogh and Monet among others.The vast photography collection spans the history of the medium from the 1840s to the present day, with astonishingly sophisticated early works by pioneers including the British Linnaeus Tripe and French Edouard Baldus and an impressive group of prints by renowned Czech photographer Josef Sudek.Alongside the permanent collection, the gallery hosts regular touring exhibitions focusing on a wide variety of different artists, periods and media. The official website carries full information about special exhibitions and other events.Once you’ve thoroughly absorbed the art, hunt for a suitable souvenir in the well-stocked shop or grab a refreshing drink or tasty snack from one of the in-house catering outlets.The Art Gallery of Ontario is in Grange Park, an easy walk from the city centre and well served by public transport. Street parking is available in the vicinity but can be costly. The gallery is open every day except Mondays and entry to the main gallery is free on Wednesday evenings, with a discount for special exhibitions. Students, children and families can also benefit from discounted admission, and under-fives are free of charge.
