AGOinsider has transitioned to Foyer, the AGO’s new digital magazine.
Visit readfoyer.com for our latest stories about art and culture.

Presented by Signature Partner

Thank you, Rita Letendre

Rita Letendre painting of different plains in a blue hue

Rita Letendre. Aforim, 1975. Acrylic on canvas, 137.2 x 198.1 cm. Art Gallery of Ontario. Anonymous Gift, 1975. © 2017 Rita Letendre.

With her large canvases bursting with colour, Rita Letendre: Fire & Light has inspired many of our visitors – and after spending only a few minutes inside the exhibition, it’s easy to see why. Her work seeks to express the full energy of life, which explodes out of this career survey of the inimitable artist. Curated by Wanda Nanibush, Assistant Curator, Canadian and Indigenous Art, and Georgiana Uhlyarik, Curator of Canadian Art, the exhibition contains 30 large-scale paintings that were chosen with great care for Letendre’s first full retrospective in Toronto, which closes on September 17.

Letendre herself said to the Toronto Star of the exhibition: “They chose some of my very best work. I was able to go before the opening and see each painting close up, so I could really see. What I saw was my life up there and it was wonderful. For me, life is not a small thing. I want it to be big and strong.”

Don’t take our word for it – or even Rita’s! You must see these works for yourself. Check out some of our favourite inspired snaps from Instagram below and to see more, follow #LetendreAGO on Instagram and Twitter. But even better: see the exhibition in person before it closes. Rita Letendre: Fire & Light is included in general admission and AGO Members see it free.

Missing media item.

 

Missing media item.

 

Are you an AGOinsider yet? If not, sign up to have stories like these delivered straight to your inbox every week.

Be the first to find out about AGO exhibitions and events, get the behind-the-scenes scoop, and book tickets before your visit.
Sign up to get AGO news right to your inbox. You can unsubscribe at any time.