The museum welcomes artists Moridja Kitenge Banza, Kate Beaton, Dionne Brand, Cassils, Andrea Chung, Adrià Julià, Ken Lum, Ed Pien and members of the Kapisanan Philippine Centre for Arts & Culture.
TORONTO — This fall, the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) ignites with in-person conversations and events, hosting curators and artists from Toronto and around the world. Open until 9 p.m. every Wednesday and Friday evening, the museum is Toronto’s creative night out, welcoming visitors of all ages opportunities to learn, see and create with programming that ranges from dance, film, talks, poetry, and artmaking. Admission to the AGO is always free for AGO Members, Indigeneous Peoples, Visitors age 25 and under, and Annual Pass holders.
For a full list of all upcoming AGO events and programs, visit ago.ca/events.
AGO FALL 2022 PUBLIC PROGRAMMING HIGHLIGHTS
Artist Talks
Hear from some of the most dynamic artists creating today in conversation, only at the AGO:
- On Wednesday, September 14 at 7 p.m. in Baillie Court, join award-winning Canadian author Dionne Brand with Christina Sharpe, Idil Abdillahi, Canisia Lubrin, Courtnay McFarlane, and Sam Tecle in AGO’s Baillie Court to celebrate the launch of her new book Nomenclature: New and Collected Poems. Rush tickets available on-site night of. Details at ago.ca/events/dionne-brand-nomenclature-new-and-collected-poems.
- On Wednesday, September 21 at 6 p.m., join artist Ken Lum, winner of the 2019 Gershon Iskowitz Prize at the AGO, in conversation with Sofía Hernández Chong Cuy, Director, Kunstinstituut Melly, and Xiaoyu Weng, AGO's Carol and Morton Rapp Curator, Modern and Contemporary Art, for a conversation about Lum's work and the Rotterdam museum, Kunstinstituut Melly, which is named after Lum's much loved 1989 work Melly Shum Hates Her Job. The talk will take place in AGO’s Baillie Court and livestream on AGO.ca. Presented as part of the AGO exhibition Ken Lum: Death and Furniture. Free admission with advance registration. Register now at ago.ca/events/artists-talk-ken-lum.
- On Thursday, September 22 at 4 p.m., join artist Andrea Chung for a conversation with Washington, D.C. based art advisor, collector, and lawyer Schwanda Rountree and Los Angeles Gallery Director Tyler Park, as they reflect on Chung’s unique approach to themes of protection, empowerment, and nurturing. Virtual presentation. Free admission. Register now at ago.ca/events/andrea-chung-conversation.
- On Tuesday, September 27 at 4 p.m., join Assistant Curator of European Art Adam Harris Levine in conversation with Professor Charlene Villaseñor Black about the lives, identities and traditions of Black and Indigenous artists in colonial Mexico. Presented as part of the AGO exhibition Faith and Fortune: Art Across the Global Spanish Empire. Virtual presentation. Free admission. Register now at ago.ca/events/black-and-indigenous-art-histories-colonial-mexico.
- On Saturday, October 1 at 2 p.m., join comic artist Kate Beaton in conversation with journalist and professor Asmaa Malik at the AGO’s Baillie Court to celebrate the launch of Beaton’s first full length graphic narrative Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands. Advance tickets are required. Register now at ago.ca/events/kate-beaton-ducks-two-years-oil-sands.
- On Tuesday, October 11 at 11 a.m., Toronto artist Ed Pien joins the AGO’s acclaimed Seniors Social program for older adults for an hour of conversation and artmaking, inspired by his current exhibition Ed Pien: Present: Past/Future. Virtual presentation. Free admission. Register now at ago.ca/events/seniors-social-ed-pien. Tune into future Senior Socials sessions on the second Tuesday of each month through to December.
- On Friday, October 21 at 7 p.m., join celebrated experimental transgender artist Cassils for an in-person conversation with Renata Azevedo Moreira, AGO Assistant Curator, Canadian Art, at the AGO’s Jackman Hall. Cassils’ work Advertisement: Homage to Benglis was recently acquired by the AGO – the artist’s first work to enter a public art collection in Canada. Advance tickets are required. Register now at ago.ca/events/artist-talk-cassils.
- On Wednesday, October 26 at 7 p.m., join Congolese-Canadian artist Moridja Kitenge Banza in conversation with Julie Crooks, AGO Curator, Arts of Global Africa and the Diaspora, about his work and his solo AGO exhibition Et la lumiere fut (And there was light) at the AGO’s Jackman Hall. Advance tickets are required. Register now at ago.ca/events/moridja-kitenge-banza-conversation.
- On Friday, October 28 at 6 p.m. join exhibition co-curator, and curator of contemporary art at the Art Gallery of Guelph, Sally Frater for a conversation about the AGO exhibition Denyse Thomasos: just beyond -- a career retrospective of late Trinidadian-Canadian artist Denyse Thomasos (1964-2012). Advance tickets are required. Register now at ago.ca/events/curator-talk-denyse-thomasos-just-beyond.
- On Friday, November 18 at 6 p.m., join Wanda Nanibush, Curator, Indigenous Art, and Georgiana Uhlyarik, Fredrik S. Eaton Curator of Canadian Art, as they introduce and celebrate the work of the late critically acclaimed artist Rita Letendre (1928-2021) at AGO’s Jackman Hall. Advance tickets are required. Register now at ago.ca/events/and-there-was-light-work-rita-letendre.
Events and Performances
Perfect for Torontonians seeking a unique cultural experience, there is always something happening at the AGO this fall, when the museum stays up late every Wednesday and Friday evening until 9 p.m.
- On Friday, September 16 at 7 p.m., join us at AGO’s Jackman Hall for artist Adrià Julià’s film-performance The Penitential Tyrant: Dolores Is Pain -- exploring the history of the production, consumption and expansion of popcorn in modern colonial history. Presented in conjunction with the AGO exhibition Faith and Fortune: Art Across the Global Spanish Empire. Presented in partnership with Critical Distance Centre for Curators, this program is part of Place Settings, a two-year public art project curated by Noa Bronstein. Free with advance registration. Register now at ago.ca/events/penitential-tyrant-dolores-pain.
- On Wednesday, October 5 at 7 p.m., during Free Wednesday Nights, artists from the Kapisanan Philippine Centre for Arts & Culture presents Paniniwala: Acts of Faith, a unique experience of live music, storytelling and dance that challenges colonial legacies of conquest, domination and Catholicism through Filipino-Canadian artistic expression. Presented in response to the AGO exhibition Faith and Fortune: Art Across the Global Spanish Empire from the collection of the Hispanic Museum & Library, the performance will take place in AGO’s Walker Court. Register now at ago.ca/events/ago-live-kultura-presents-paniniwala-acts-faith.
- On Friday, October 7 at 7 p.m., AGO Bistro is hosting the second Foodways Chef Dinner series featuring Flavours of Mexico with menu created by Chefs Kate Chomyshyn and Julio Guajardo of popular local restaurant Fonda Balam. The menu’s focus on the migration of ingredients and flavours that brought Mexico through Spanish global reach is presented in response to the AGO exhibition Faith and Fortune: Art Across the Global Spanish Empire from the collection of the Hispanic Museum & Library. Hosted by AGO Executive Chef Renée Bellefeuille, the ongoing series Foodways highlight the collaboration of our city’s greatest chefs and the intersection of culture and food. The dinner reception begins at 6:30 p.m. Dinner is $65 per person + HST and Gratuity. AGO Members save 10 per cent. To book and for more details, visit ago.ca/events/foodways-chef-series-flavours-mexico.
- Every Friday in November from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., join comedian, writer and quizmaster Kirk Heron for four Fridays of Brass Facts Trivia in the AGO’s Galleria Italia. Trivia lovers and visitors are invited to compete and watch this event with General Admission. To engage as a participant, register now at ago.ca/events/friday-night-trivia.
- On Wednesday, December 7 at 7 p.m., the AGO presents a free, in-person screening of season one of Inner Space. Co-curated by the Inner Space Youth Advisory (2021/22) and AGO Staff, each monthly web episode showcased young artists from across Canada giving personal tours of their studios. Details at ago.ca/events/inner-space-screening.
Studio sampler
On September 23 and 24, the AGO invites art curious beginners of all ages to explore different forms of artmaking in workshops at The Dr. Anne Tanenbaum Gallery School. Led by an AGO Artist Instructor, participants will explore painting, drawing and printmaking. All materials are provided. Advance registration is required.
- September 23 is from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and catered to participants age 16 and older. Register at ago.ca/learn/courses/studio-sampler-art-curious-beginners.
- September 24 is a drop-in event for all ages from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Register at ago.ca/learn/courses/studio-sampler-drop-all-ages.
To sign up for the AGO’s 5-week and 10-week introductory studio courses, visit ago.ca/learn.
@AGOToronto | #seeAGO
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. In 2019, the AGO launched a bold new initiative designed to make the museum even more welcoming and accessible with the introduction of free admission for anyone 25 years and under and a $35 annual pass. Visit AGO.ca to learn more.
The AGO is funded in part by the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport. 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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