When people think of great art galleries or museums, Canada is usually not the first country that comes to mind, but you could be surprised. The country has tons of great museums and a rich art history that begs to be discovered. There are plenty of smaller galleries that showcase the work of local artists and major galleries that have works from some of the best artists in the world. Let’s take a look at some of the best art galleries in Canada.
Musée d’Art Contemporain, Montréal
The Musee d’Art Contemporain was the country’s first gallery dedicated solely to contemporary art. It is in the Place des Arts complex, which is right in the city’s downtown in the Quartier des Spectacles. The gallery’s central location gives it a creative and exciting atmosphere. The gallery showcases over 7,000 works, mainly from Canadian contemporary artists.
The Power Plant
If you’re closer to Toronto and have a hankering for contemporary art, know that the city has a nice contemporary art gallery. The Power Plant is the city’s most notable contemporary art museum and is one of the most innovative galleries you’ll find anywhere. Not only will you find works from artists such as Mike Kelley, Leslie Hewitt, and Amalia Pica, but they also work very hard on educating the public and regularly hold educational events and workshops for the public. They also hold off-the-wall exhibitions with pieces of card shark art, for instance, and work from emerging artists.
The Nova Scotia Art Gallery
The Maritimes are known for their serene beauty but have plenty of fine galleries and solid artistic history as well. One of these galleries is the Nova Scotia Art Gallery, which is located in Halifax. It is the largest gallery of its kind in Atlantic Canada and a massive collection of works from Canadian artists. The permanent collection has work from artists such as Maud Lewis, the Group of Seven, and Joshua Reynolds. It also has more modern purchased work, with one of the most notable being a candid picture of Yoko Ono and John Lennon.
Montreal Museum of Fine Arts
This museum is known as much for its massive collection as it is for the famous 1972 heist that remains unsolved to this day. The museum is known for hosting one of the largest collections of fine arts on the continent. It has over 40,000 works in its permanent collection and has works from local artists and European old masters. The museum is also notable for its reading room and library, which is the oldest of its kind in the country.
Art Gallery of Ontario
The art gallery of Ontario is the second most visited museum in the country and one of the largest galleries of its kind in North America. The gallery has a good mix of Canadian classics along with a few pieces from European artists stemming from the renaissance and baroque eras. Some of the notable artists displayed include Picasso, Monet, and Rembrandt, just to name a few.
Canada has tons of hidden art gems to discover, so give a few of these museums a look. They all have something different to offer, so you should find one that fits your taste.