A sculpture questioning our relationship to statues, Toronto’s newest public artwork takes up residence on Dundas St. West
Free public unveiling event to begin July 30 at 6:30 p.m., featuring remarks by artist, donors and musical performances by Shakura S’Aida and a Gospel Chorale led by Kiara Picart
TORONTO —Today the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) unveils its newest public sculpture, Moments Contained, a monumental bronze figure by renowned artist Thomas J Price. Installed at ground level, Price’s sculpture depicts a casually dressed young woman, standing in front of the main entrance of the AGO, facing north and overlooking the intersection of Dundas St. West and McCaul St.
A celebration of shared humanity, Moments Contained is one of Price’s public sculptures that challenges assumptions about the purpose and expectations of monuments. An object of great beauty, standing 2.7 meters tall, and made of bronze, Price says Moments Contained is a gesture that he hopes can lead to greater empathy and connection.
“I want people to recognize themselves and feel valued,” says Price.
Price’s figures are fictional, purposeful amalgamations of different people; their attributes and features culled from art history and from life. The character of Moments Contained holds a serene expression. Her feet firmly planted on the sidewalk, she appears outwardly confident, but the hands she hides in her pockets are visibly clenched, suggesting a tension between her inner thoughts and outward expression.
Today’s unveiling marks a return to Toronto and the AGO for the British based artist. In 2021, as part of ArtworxTO: Toronto’s Year of Public Art, Julie Crooks, Curator, Arts of Global Africa and the Diaspora, AGO installed Price’s sculpture Within the Folds (Dialogue 1). It stood near the intersection of Dundas St. W and McCaul St., on the site currently held by Brian Jungen’s Couch Monster: Sadzěʔ yaaghęhch’ill (2022).
The acquisition of Moments Contained was spearheaded by Crooks and it is the first public artwork to be acquired by the museum’s Department of Arts of Global Africa and the Diaspora. The acquisition and presentation of Moments Contained was made possible by the generous contributions of a group of donors, the majority of whom are from Toronto’s Black and Caribbean communities. Lead support for the acquisition was from an anonymous donor, with significant support from David W. Binet and The Haynes-Connell Foundation.
“It is thanks to the incredible generosity and vision of our community that we welcome Thomas J Price’s art back to the AGO, now as part of our collection,” says Julie Crooks, Curator, Arts of Global Africa and the Diaspora. “With his monumental gestures, Price creates space for discussion and for beauty. My thanks to Thomas for sharing his work with us.”
The AGO has intentionally engaged community support for this project, following the success of a community-led acquisition of the Montgomery Collection of Caribbean Photographs in 2019.
Moments Contained is expected to reside in its new location for years to come and will be accompanied by a descriptive panel. For more details about the sculpture, visit ago.ca/exhibitions/moments-contained.
Admission to the AGO is free for all Ontarians under 25, Indigenous Peoples, AGO Members and Annual Passholders. For more details on how to book your tickets or to become a Member or Annual Passholder, visit AGO.ca.
More ways to explore Canada this summer, made possible by the Government of Canada. With the Canada Strong Pass, the AGO is offering free or reduced admission throughout the summer for out of province visitors 24 years of age and under. For more information or to book your tickets, visit ago.ca/visit.
Programming Highlights:
Thomas J Price joins Julie Crooks, AGO Curator, Arts of Global Africa and the Diaspora in conversation in Baillie Court, on Wednesday, July 30 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are on sale now. For more details, visit ago.ca/events/thomas-j-price-conversation-julie-crooks
About Thomas J Price
Born in 1981, Price lives and works in London. He studied at Chelsea College of Art and the Royal College of Art, London and has held solo exhibitions at institutions including: The Power Plant, Toronto, Canada; The National Portrait Gallery, London, UK; the Yorkshire Sculpture Park, West Bretton, UK; the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, UK; Kunsthalle Krems, Austria; and Kunsthal Rotterdam. Price’s work is held in collections such as the Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto, Canada; Brooklyn Museum, New York, NY; National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, Australia; Studio Museum in Harlem, New York, NY; and The Legacy Museum, Montgomery, AL.
Price was commissioned by Hackney Council to create the first permanent public sculptures to celebrate the contribution of the Windrush generation and their descendants in the UK, unveiled in June 2022. His solo presentation, ‘Witness’, in collaboration with The Studio Museum in Harlem was on view in Marcus Garvey Park from 2021 – 2022.
In March 2025, Price opened a multi-venue exhibition in Florence across Piazza della Signoria, Palazzo Vecchio and Museo Novecento. From late April to mid-June, the artist presented Grounded in the Stars in Times Square alongside a nightly presentation of his Man Series stop motion animations in May. In September, the artist will unveil the inaugural Neil Balvanes Tallawoladah Lawn Commission at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney, Australia.
@AGOToronto | #SeeAGO
The AGO gratefully acknowledges the following donors for bringing this acquisition to life:
David W. Binet
Chandaria Family
Kevin Jerome Crouch in honour of Kaliyana John
Tyrone & Life Edwards
The Gordon and Lorraine Gibson Family Foundation
The Haynes-Connell Foundation
Kevin, Nevaeh, Keenan & Cali Johnson in honour of Monica Johnson
Steven & Lynda Latner
Charles Lesaux, Aaron Nugent & Becky LeBlanc, Ella Nugent
Mascoll Family
Dr. Liza & Dr. Frederick Murrell
Sekyi-Otu Family
An Anonymous Family
Anonymous
And a community of supporters who believe in the transformational power of art.
ABOUT THE AGO
Located in Toronto, the Art Gallery of Ontario is one of the largest art museums in North America, attracting approximately one million visitors annually. The AGO Collection of more than 120,000 works of art ranges from cutting-edge contemporary art to significant works by Indigenous and Canadian artists and European masterpieces. The AGO presents wide-ranging exhibitions and programs, including solo exhibitions and acquisitions by diverse and underrepresented artists from around the world. The AGO is embarking on the seventh expansion it has undertaken since the museum was founded in 1900. When completed, the Dani Reiss Modern and Contemporary Gallery will increase exhibition space for the museum’s growing modern and contemporary collection. With its groundbreaking Annual Pass program, the AGO is one of the most affordable and accessible attractions in the GTA. Visit ago.ca to learn more.
The AGO is funded in part by the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Gaming. Additional operating support is received from the City of Toronto, the Canada Council for the Arts, and generous contributions from AGO Members, donors, and private-sector partners.
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