Art Gallery of Ontario
Founded in 1900, the Art Gallery of Ontario holds one of Canada’s most extensive collections of fine art and modern sculpture. This modern structure houses European works by Rembrandt, Gainsborough, van Gogh and Picasso, a superb collection of Canadian art, including the Group of Seven work, Inuit art, and the world’s largest public collection of works by British sculptor Henry Moore. The gallery is currently undergoing expansion, designed by architect Frank Gehry, to accommodate an unprecedented gift of 2,000 works from a private collection. Renovation will continue until 2008.
Henry Moore Sculpture Opened in 1974, the Henry Moore Sculpture Centre houses the world’s largest public collection of his works, including Draped Reclining Figure (1952 –3).
Floor Burger (1962) Claes Oldenburg’s giant hamburger is made of painted sailcloth and foam rubber and is an iconic work of the Pop Art movement.
Gallery Facade The gallery was reopened in 1993 after four years of architectural renovation that unified a range of styles, from Georgian to Modernist. Outside, the stern Henry Moore bronze, Large Two Forms (1966 –9), dominates the forecourt.
The West Wind (1917) Tom Thomson’s painting inspired a distinctive Canadian style exemplified by the “Group of Seven.”
Inuit Collection The gallery houses the world’s third largest collection of Inuit art. Made from soapstone, whalebone, and sinew, this piece, Shaman with Spirit Helper (1972) is by Karoo Ashevak.
Peasants’ Wedding (date unknown) The gallery’s renowned European collection includes this exuberant work (detail shown) by Brueghel the Younger (1564 –1638).
Gallery Guide
The Upper Level houses several excellent collections of Canadian painting, with works by the “Group of Seven”, and Inuit art. The Upper Level also houses the Henry Moore Centre, which is home to Moore’s sculptures, bronzes, and plaster casts, as well as over 700 prints and drawings. European art is found on the ground floor.
STAR SIGHTS
. The West Wind by Tom Thomson
. Henry Moore Sculpture Centre
. Inuit Collection
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