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See the World’s Largest Collection of Works by Henry Moore at the Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto
Published by Anna Shevchenko, Writer
Country: Canada 
The Experience
The Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) is an art museum located in downtown Toronto, founded in 1913. It was first known as the Art Museum of Toronto, and was renamed the Art Gallery of Toronto 1919; and later in 1966 it became the Art Gallery of Ontario. The first formal exhibition of the museum opened in 1910 in the Grange: an historic Georgian-style mansion built in 1817 in Toronto. The AGO grew as several expansion projects took place throughout the 20th century. The most notable redevelopment of the gallery, called Transformation AGO, took place in 2004 and was planned by famous architect Frank Gehry. The new AGO opened to the public in November 2008, with its viewing space expanded by 47 percent. Today, the AGO has 45,000 square meters of exhibition space and holds over 68,000 works that span from the 1st century to the present day. The new design of Toronto’s AGO received wide acclaim and made the AGO one of the most notable buildings of Toronto.
The AGO holds the world’s largest collection of Canadian art, which makes up more than half of the museum’s art pieces. The artifacts reflect 11,000 years of tradition and artistic expression of the country. At the AGO, you will find First Nations objects and art, as well as oil paintings dating from the 1800s through to the 1970s, including many works by the Group of Seven.
The AGO has a notable collection of European art, especially decorative arts of the medieval and Renaissance periods. At the AGO, you can find works by Bernini, Rembrandt, Rubens, van Dyck, Picasso, Van Gogh, Degas, Pissarro, and Monet.
The AGO holds one of the most important collections of African art in North America. The collection is made predominantly of sculptural works from West and Central Africa from the 14th to mid-20th century. There is also a collection of about 1,200 objects of Australian Aboriginal art.
The AGO is home to the Henry Moore Sculpture Centre, and holds the world’s largest collection of works by the sculptor. One of Moore’s works, Two Large Forms (1966-1969), can be seen outside of the AGO, just north off the front entrance.
The AGO is known for its collection of contemporary art with works from Canada, United States, and Europe, including a number of pieces by Andy Warhol.
The AGO also holds a collection of prints and drawings, and over 40,000 works of photography.
In addition to its permanent collections, the AGO always offers a number of travelling exhibitions. One of its recent expositions was the King Tut exhibit in 2010. For current and upcoming exhibitions visit the AGO’s website at www.ago.net/exhibitions.
For food, check out FRANK Restaurant. With the interior designed by Frank Gehry, the restaurant is a popular dining spot among Torontonians. For a more relaxed environment, go to caféAGO located on the concourse level of the museum. There is also the Espresso Bar serving coffee and snacks with a view, as it is located on the top level of the gallery. There are a number of budget-conscious food options right outside of the museum, including coffee shops, diners and pubs right on Dundas Street West. Toronto’s China Town is a short walk away.
For gifts and souvenirs visit the AGO gift shop by the main entrance of the gallery, or shop online through the museum’s website.
The AGO holds the world’s largest collection of Canadian art, which makes up more than half of the museum’s art pieces. The artifacts reflect 11,000 years of tradition and artistic expression of the country. At the AGO, you will find First Nations objects and art, as well as oil paintings dating from the 1800s through to the 1970s, including many works by the Group of Seven.
The AGO has a notable collection of European art, especially decorative arts of the medieval and Renaissance periods. At the AGO, you can find works by Bernini, Rembrandt, Rubens, van Dyck, Picasso, Van Gogh, Degas, Pissarro, and Monet.
The AGO holds one of the most important collections of African art in North America. The collection is made predominantly of sculptural works from West and Central Africa from the 14th to mid-20th century. There is also a collection of about 1,200 objects of Australian Aboriginal art.
The AGO is home to the Henry Moore Sculpture Centre, and holds the world’s largest collection of works by the sculptor. One of Moore’s works, Two Large Forms (1966-1969), can be seen outside of the AGO, just north off the front entrance.
The AGO is known for its collection of contemporary art with works from Canada, United States, and Europe, including a number of pieces by Andy Warhol.
The AGO also holds a collection of prints and drawings, and over 40,000 works of photography.
In addition to its permanent collections, the AGO always offers a number of travelling exhibitions. One of its recent expositions was the King Tut exhibit in 2010. For current and upcoming exhibitions visit the AGO’s website at www.ago.net/exhibitions.
For food, check out FRANK Restaurant. With the interior designed by Frank Gehry, the restaurant is a popular dining spot among Torontonians. For a more relaxed environment, go to caféAGO located on the concourse level of the museum. There is also the Espresso Bar serving coffee and snacks with a view, as it is located on the top level of the gallery. There are a number of budget-conscious food options right outside of the museum, including coffee shops, diners and pubs right on Dundas Street West. Toronto’s China Town is a short walk away.
For gifts and souvenirs visit the AGO gift shop by the main entrance of the gallery, or shop online through the museum’s website.
When to Go to Art Gallery Of Ontario
If you are interested in the permanent collections only, it is best to visit the AGO on a Wednesday night when the admission is free between 6:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Even during the free entrance period, the AGO does not get too crowded and is easy to enjoy. The gallery is not very large, so 2.5 hours is sufficient time to see most of it even for the most meticulous art lover. If you plan to attend one of the exhibitions, give yourself enough time to see both the exhibit and the rest of the museum. Entrance fees to the AGO exhibition also usually cover general admission to the gallery.
Odds n' Ends
The AGO is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The AGO is open until 8:30 p.m. on Wednesdays. The gallery is closed on Mondays. General admission is $19.50 for adults; $16 for senior (65+ with ID); $11 for student (full time with ID); $11 for youth (6-17 with ID). A family of two adults and up to five youths can purchase a family pass for $49. Children under 5 are free. Please note that admission to special exhibitions is usually more expensive. It is best to check the AGO website for pricing as it varies depending on the actual exhibit. General admission to AGO is FREE every Wednesday between 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.
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Books and DVDs
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