The Art Gallery of Ontario is one of the most popular attractions in the city of Toronto. With a wide variety of works by artists from all over the world, it also houses the single largest collection of Canadian art work in the world. AGO Toronto, as it is also called, is a large museum at 480,000 square feet, making it North America’s tenth largest art museum. The extensive collection of Canadian art spans the history of the country, and covers pre-Confederation Canada, European immigration to Canada, to the present day. This popular art gallery in Toronto is located in the Chinatown district at 317 Dundas Street West.
If you are contemplating a trip to the provincial capital of Ontario, a visit to AGO will be more than worth the time. You will want to set aside most to all of a full day at the very least if you want to take in even a survey of the some 68,000 works of art. From the moment you step into the striking building and see the impressive art gallery of Ontario wooden stairs, and other such distinguishing architectural features, you will know you are at a special place.
In many ways, the design and layout of the AGO Toronto are attractions in and of themselves and visitors frequently comment on its unique design, and the spiraling, wooden staircase. The newly designed Art Gallery of Toronto was spearheaded by a famous architect named Frank Gehry. Some of the notable design features include a new entrance that faces Walker Court and the Grange, a four-story south wing that is covered with glass and blue titanium, and the impressive glass façade of the Galleria Italia.
Admission is not inexpensive, but is comparable to other museums of its size and scope. It is also well worth the money, considering the wide range of artists on exhibit, from Andy Warhol to Paul Rubens, Van Gogh to Degas, Henry Moore to Auguste Rodin. You can get in for free on Wednesday evenings, but it is impossible to take in all that the gallery has to offer in this short period of time. The best thing to do is set aside a day to spend at the art gallery in Toronto. Besides enjoying the massive collection of art, not only from Canada, but also extensively from Africa, Europe, and other parts of North America, the gallery features a number of cool cafes and eateries where you can relax and enjoy a reprieve from touring the grounds.
Besides permanent exhibits by many artists, the Art Gallery of Ontario is also known for certain notable, individual works of art. These, to name just a select few, include Paul Rubens’s The Massacre of the Innocents, and Vetheuil in Summer by Claude Monet. AGO Toronto is one of the most popular museums in a city that is home to some of the world’s finest. The art gallery in Toronto is a fantastic place to spend a day. It is conveniently located near a huge variety of restaurants and bars, cafes and clubs and provides plenty of options for food and beverages on the premises.