The AGO has the world’s largest public collection of Henry Moore works (sculptures, works on papers and maquettes), mostly donated by the artist between 1971-1974. The Henry Moore Sculpture Centre at the AGO opened in 1974 to house Moore’s original gift to the AGO, and has remained an iconic Toronto space ever since.

Join us to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Henry Moore Sculpture Centre with a conversation between Associate Curator, Modern Art, Adam Welch, AGO Conservator, Sculpture and Decorative Arts Lisa Ellis, and Henry Moore Foundation Sculpture Conservator James Copper. 

James Copper has been involved with the Henry Moore Foundation for over 30 years. His godfather, John Farnham, was one of Moore's assistants, which led him to a lifelong education in sculpture. Currently the Foundation's lead sculpture conservator and senior technician, Copper's deep knowledge and understanding of Moore's practice and use of materials has positioned him as a world expert on installing, restoring, and conserving Moore's work. 

Lisa Ellis has been caring for the AGO’s sculpture and decorative arts collections since 2007 including the Moore collection. Previously, she held positions at the MFA, Boston, and completed post-graduate training in conservation most notably at SPNEA (now Historic New England), the John Paul Getty Museum. Lisa has varied research interests including technical imaging and the manufacture of objects. 

Prior to joining the AGO in 2023 as Associate Curator, Modern Art, Adam Welch held various curatorial roles at the National Gallery of Canada, the Art Museum at the University of Toronto and the Whitney Museum of American Art. Recent curatorial projects include the 2022 retrospective General Idea, Joseph Beuys (2015–17), The Advent of Abstraction (2016–17), and the Indigenous and Canadian Galleries at the NGC (2017). He holds an MA from Columbia University, and a PhD in the history of art from the University of Toronto, where he is a Status-Only Assistant Professor.