AGO acquires new works at Art Toronto

Art Toronto 2020 is upon us! And that means art online and in galleries across the country, exciting talks, live programming, and, of course, new acquisitions for the AGO.      

While Canada’s Art Fair does not officially start until October 29, you can get a sneak peek at today’s virtual opening night preview!  Happening now until midnight, this year’s preview (and fundraiser for the AGO) is a virtual celebration featuring exclusive conversations with artists Brendan Fernandes, Françoise Sullivan, Shary Boyle and Rajni Perara, as well as a DJ set by Toronto artist Casey MQ. (Tickets still available here.)  

This is the fifteenth consecutive year the AGO has purchased artwork at Art Toronto, with the assistance of funds raised at the preview. We have acquired new and recent work by artists Rae Johnson, Luke Parnell, Shuvinai Ashoona, Jennifer Rose Sciarrino, Julie Voyce and Moridja Kitenge Banza,in addition to a suite of five historical photographs by Canadian photographer Minna Keene. 

Julian Cox, the AGO’s Deputy Director and Chief Curator, led the museum’s selection committee, which included Georgiana Uhlyarik, Fredrik S. Eaton Curator, Canadian Art; Sophie Hackett, Curator, Photography; Dr. Julie Crooks, Associate Curator, Photography; Wanda Nanibush, Curator, Indigenous Art; Adelina Vlas, Associate Curator, Contemporary Art; Renée van der Avoird, Assistant Curator, Canadian Art; and Alexa Greist, Associate Curator, Prints & Drawings.

"The AGO is proud to be able to acquire works by seven artists at Art Toronto 2020. We arrived at a selection that amplifies and invigorates the collecting priorities across various departments," says Julian Cox, Deputy Director and Chief Curator, AGO. "In all but one instance, these acquisitions are the first work(s) by the artist to enter the AGO Collection. We take great pride in this, as we do in the commitment made to Canadian artists and those who are, or have been, part of Toronto’s vibrant art community. We thank them for their inspiration and can’t wait to share these works with our public in the months and years ahead."