Here are the more popular Toronto public art galleries*:
Art Gallery of Ontario
317 Dundas Street West, Toronto, M5T 1G4 (at McCaul Street)
416-979-6601
The Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) is the eighth largest art museum in North America. See a massive Henry Moore sculpture outside. The AGO features collections of European and Canadian modern and contemporary art. Typically 800-pieces on display from more than 26,500 permanent pieces from 15th century European paintings to Canadian and international contemporary art. Gallery available for social and cultural gatherings. Tour the Grange House, visit the Gallery Shop, dine at the Agora restaurant or the street level cafe.
TTC: St. Patrick Station (Yonge-University line), walk 3 short blocks west. Or, 505 Dundas streetcar to McCaul Street entrance.
Design Exchange
234 Bay St, Toronto, M5K 1B2
416-216-2160
Showcasing Canadian industrial design since 1945, the Design Exchange also rotates exhibits of contemporary design in the fields of graphics, fashion, architecture and industrial design. Chalmers Design Centre on the ground floor contains an 800 sq ft exhibition area, which features constantly changing exhibitions. The Exhibition Hall on the third floor has 3500 sq ft to display the feature exhibitions, changed 2 or 3 time a year. Teknion Exchange Lounge, on the ground floor next to the Chalmers Design Center, is a new area for exchanging ideas. Tours are available. The Resource Centre will be open on Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoons from 1 to 5 pm. The Resource Centre is a non-lending library. Admission $, Members free.
Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art, The
111 Queen’s Park, Toronto, M5S 2C7
416-586-8080
This museum has an extensive collection of ceramic art from Europe and the Americas, including pre-Columbian work and European work from the middle ages. Open Monday-Thursday 10 am-6 pm, Friday 10 am-9 pm, Saturday/Sunday 10 am-5 pm. Library is open Monday 1 pm-4 pm or by appointment (closed on holidays). Admission $$. Children 12 and under: Free. All children must be accompanied by an adult., Free admission Fridays from 4 pm-9 pm. Guided tours 2 pm on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. Groups of 10 or more enjoy group rates
Market Gallery, The
South St. Lawrence Market
95 Front St. E., Second Floor, Toronto, M5E 1C2
416-392-7604
Located in the historic South St. Lawrence Market, in the 19th century Toronto City Council chamber (1845-1899), this Gallery features changing exhibitions on Toronto’s art, culture and history. Toronto’s population in 1844, when this City Hall was built was 20,000, and by the time it was replaced (by the “Old City Hall” at Bay & Queen) in 1902, the city had grown to 200,000. In the 1970s, during the renovation of the south market building, the council chamber was rediscovered, and converted to a dignified use as a City display space, beginning in 1979. Today, over 2,000 moveable works of art, including paintings, sculptures, water colours, prints and drawings form the basis of this cultural legacy. Open Wednesday-Friday, 10 am-4 pm, Saturday, 9 am-4 pm, Sunday, noon-4 pm
Museum Of Contemporary Canadian Art (MOCCA)
952 Queen Street West, Toronto, M6J 1G8
416-395-7430 Fax: 416-395-7598
With a mandate to exhibit, research, collect, and promote innovative art by Canadian artists, this not-for-profit is an arms-length agency of the City of Toronto.
Begun in 1999 in North York, and relocated to downtown Toronto in 2005 to the heart of one of North America ‘s most dynamic arts communities. It showcases established artists, emerging artists with strong promise and work by non-Canadian artists to show a global context for the Canadian cultural voice. Its permanent collection holds 400 works of art by more than 150 Canadian artists.
* Galleries that are private, and established for the business of SELLING art, are welcome to add themselves to our business directory