The National Gallery of Canada was formed in 1880. Before 1880, it had only one collection of 19th-century landscapes. After 140 years of its inception, it has more than 75,000 works related to art with a widespread library and historical collection.
History of the National Gallery of Canada:
The National Gallery of Canada is one of Canada’s most impressive art institutions, located in one of the country’s most iconic public buildings. The gallery is just a few steps away from Parliament Hill in downtown Ottawa. The National Gallery of Canada is a showcase of different visual arts and a spectacular architectural landmark.
The National Gallery of Canada was founded in 1880 and was named “National Gallery of Canadian Art”. Its first exhibition was in the Clarendon Hotel. After two years, the Gallery got shifted to a new building that was the original Supreme Court building near Parliament Hill. With time, the gallery expanded as the collection grew. In 1912, the Gallery got shifted to the Victoria Memorial Museum building. Here, it remained working for several years.
Victoria Memorial Museum building suffered from a devastating fire which caused damage to most of the area of the gallery, so the government of Canada hired a famous Canadian architect “Moshe Safdie” to build a suitable permanent premise.
In 1988, the National Gallery of Canada moved to its current position at 380 Sussex Drive in Ottawa. The new building of the National Gallery of Canada is a balance of both modern and traditional architectural aspects.
Collection Highlights at the National Gallery of Canada:
The National Gallery of Canada has one of the supreme collections of original & Canadian art available around the globe. It also has various masterworks of other arty traditions. These are listed below
- Indigenous Art & decolonization
- Canadian Art
- European, American & Asian art
- Contemporary Art
- Drawings & Paintings
- Photography
Indigenous art:
The National Gallery of Canada has various pieces of artwork by indigenous people in Canada and around the globe.
Canadian art:
Canadian art at the National Gallery of Canada has a wide range of collections by Group of Seven & Emily Carr that depict the artistic landscape & indigenous culture.
European, American & Asian Art:
The National Gallery of Canada has a collection of artwork from European art depicting the rich & wide range of traditions through Asian paintings & collections of statues.
Contemporary art:
The contemporary art in the National Gallery of Canada represents the modern trend in the world of art.
Drawing & painting:
The gallery has a good variety of paintings & drawings that demonstrate the diversity & artistry in various mediums.
Photography:
At the National Gallery, showcasing the growth of photography as an art form includes the collection of work by Canadian & international photographers.
Exhibits and Events at the National Gallery of Canada:
Art has the power to unite people across the entire world. The National Gallery of Canada arranges many award-winning exhibitions & events to showcase masterpieces of artwork from the past. Updated list of ongoing exhibitions for years 2023-24 with dates is below.
·The Governor General Award in Visual & Media Arts 2023 [Until March 3, 2024]
It showcases contemporary Canadian, European & American art in this exhibition.
·Nick Sikkuark: Humor & horror work on depiction.
It is a special exhibition gallery on level 2 that is open till 24th March 2024
·Jean-Paul Riopelle exhibition
37 items of rare catalogs, photographs & paintings of Riopelle are presented in this exhibition at the library & archives in the National Gallery of Canada which will remain open till 30th June 2024
For upcoming events, visit their official website.
Architecture & Design of the National Gallery of Canada:
Moshe Safdie devised an incredible design for the building of the National Gallery of Canada in 1988. Before 1988, there was Sussex Drive. Moshe Safdie decided to construct the main Hall of the Gallery facing Notre-Dame Cathedral. So, visitors are allowed to comfort in the heated zone as soon as they arrive.
The material used to build the National Gallery of Canada was a light-filled structure of glass & granite where people find vast exhibition spaces.
The National Gallery of Canada has 132,700 square feet of galleries in it. All the galleries have entrances through the Great Hall. A second axis from the great hall to the promenade & beyond the Rotunda (Second Great Volume) promenade continues to a separate curatorial wing.
Large spaces are available for exhibitions & events at the National Gallery of Canada. Visitors can find spaces with names like:
- Scotiabank Great Hall
- A garden court
- Colonnade
- Exhibition space
- Michael & Sonja Koerner family Atrium
- Fred & Elizabeth Fountain Garden Court
- Rideau Chapel & library archives
- Curatorial Wings & Auditorium
- Boutique & cafeteria
Visitor information and facilities at the National Gallery of Canada:
For visiting hours, you can visit their official website. https://www.gallery.ca/visit/hours
For entry to any exhibition or event, you can visit. https://www.gallery.ca/visit/admission
Detailed information about location, direction, parking & vehicle is at: https://www.gallery.ca/visit/location-and-parking
A detailed floor plan for the convenience of Visitors is at their website: https://www.gallery.ca/visit/floorplan
Facilities:
- Sensor-based tactics are available to help visitors with disabilities.
- Free strollers, wheelchairs & walkers are available & accessible to all galleries. Registration is not necessary.
- Diaper changing tables are there in all bathrooms.
- Especially all-gender washrooms are available for all members
- The building has all the precautionary measures required during any emergency.
- Accommodation for personal items & a large cloakroom is there for convenience
- They also provide a helper accompanying the person with disability