Cool Places in Hamilton - Art Gallery of Hamilton

art gallery in hamilton

The Art Gallery of Hamilton was built in 1914 and is the oldest art museum in Ontario. There are new exhibitions every few months alongside permanent collections that are well known in Canada. There are several famous Canadian artists and artist groups featured at the Art Gallery of Hamilton. It won’t be difficult for you to find inspiration! The AGH offers tours and art talks during special exhibition events. Artist talks and exhibition tours are a great way to learn more about the history and intent of each piece. You can ask questions and learn quicker than if you were to just read about it online. The AGH is a great place to bring family and friends. Visit a new exhibition, check out the permanent collections, and shop at the gift shop for a well-rounded AGH experience.

Many of the pieces in the museum are donated to the City of Hamilton and cared for by trained volunteers. Before 1947, there were no paid workers at the gallery. In fact, the Art Gallery of Hamilton had a rocky start collecting works in the first place. The idea was there, but the business strategy was weak. A curator for the gallery was hired in 1947 and created new objectives for a better strategy. His vision was to develop one of the largest Canadian permanent collections and to consistently undertake Canadian exhibitions. He redesigned the entire gallery and used his own connections to begin financing the project. Among his first collected pieces included Horse and Train, a misty and mysterious painting by Alex Colville. Today, it can be found on the first floor in the first room of the AGH. You can’t miss it!

Now there are over 500 works in the permanent collection of the Art Gallery of Hamilton. Even works from the Group of Seven and Emily Carr have found a home at the AGH. Some works are for sale, but of course not from the permanent collection. If you are interested in purchasing a piece you have two options. First, you can attend one of the annual art shows held at the AGH. Second, you can buy or rent original pieces in the gift shop. Renting is a popular option for house viewings, creating movie or play sets, or for artists looking to study a piece close up for an intended amount of time.

You don’t have to be an artist to appreciate the talent, emotion, and history behind all of the works found at the Art Gallery of Hamilton. It has filled the City of Hamilton with pride and inspiration. Many art studios surround the gallery and have open-studio times. You don’t have to look far to find talented artists in Hamilton and you don’t have to pay a lot to see quality art, either. At the AGH you can see any permanent collection for a suggested donation of a few dollars. The exhibitions required tickets to cover set-up and maintenance, and range from $10-15. We hope you check out the next exhibition and have fun at the Art Gallery of Hamilton!

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