National Gallery of Canada

National Gallery of Canada
– Wladyslaw [Disk.] · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Name	National Gallery of Canada
Location	Ottawa, Ontario
Type	Art museum
Visitors	646,635 (2019)
Director	Sasha Suda

National Gallery of Canada. The National Gallery of Canada is one of Canada's premier art institutions, featuring a collection of over 40,000 works of art, including pieces by Pablo Picasso, Claude Monet, and Emily Carr. The gallery is also home to an extensive collection of Indigenous Australian art, with works by artists such as Dennis Nona and Gordon Hookey, as well as a significant collection of Canadian art, including works by Tom Thomson, Group of Seven, and Lawren Harris. The gallery's collection also includes works by international artists, such as Vincent van Gogh, Paul Cézanne, and Georges Braque, and is affiliated with the Canadian Museum Association and the International Council of Museums.

History

The National Gallery of Canada was established in 1880, with the Earl of Dufferin as its first president, and has since become one of the most respected art institutions in North America, with a collection that includes works by Rembrandt van Rijn, Peter Paul Rubens, and Francisco Goya. The gallery's early collection was formed through the efforts of Eric Brown (art curator), who served as the gallery's first director, and included works by Canadian artists such as Cornelius Krieghoff and Paul Kane. The gallery has also been influenced by the work of other notable art institutions, including the Musée d'Orsay in Paris, the Tate Britain in London, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. The gallery's history is also closely tied to that of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts, which was founded in 1880 by Lord Dufferin and Lady Dufferin.

Architecture

The National Gallery of Canada's current building was designed by Moshe Safdie and opened in 1988, featuring a unique glass-and-granite design that has become a landmark in Ottawa, with a similar design to the Vancouver Public Library and the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas. The building's design was influenced by the work of other notable architects, including Frank Lloyd Wright and I.M. Pei, and features a large glass roof that provides natural light to the gallery's interior, similar to the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao and the Louvre Pyramid in Paris. The gallery's building is also home to a number of other cultural institutions, including the Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography and the Canadian War Museum, and is located near other notable landmarks, including the Rideau Canal and the Parliament Hill.

Collections

The National Gallery of Canada's collection includes over 40,000 works of art, spanning from the Renaissance to the present day, with a particular focus on Canadian art and Indigenous art, including works by Inuit artists such as Kenojuak Ashevak and Bill Vazan. The gallery's collection also includes works by international artists, such as Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Camille Pissarro, and Egon Schiele, as well as a significant collection of photography, including works by Ansel Adams, Dorothea Lange, and Cindy Sherman. The gallery's collection is also notable for its inclusion of works by women artists, such as Frida Kahlo, Georgia O'Keeffe, and Emily Kame Kngwarreye, and is affiliated with the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, D.C..

Exhibitions and programs

The National Gallery of Canada offers a wide range of exhibitions and programs, including temporary exhibitions featuring works by artists such as Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Vincent van Gogh, as well as permanent exhibitions showcasing the gallery's collection, including works by Canadian artists such as Tom Thomson and Group of Seven. The gallery also offers a number of educational programs, including lectures, workshops, and guided tours, and is affiliated with the University of Ottawa and the Carleton University. The gallery's exhibitions and programs are also influenced by the work of other notable art institutions, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York City and the Tate Modern in London.

Governance and funding

The National Gallery of Canada is governed by a board of trustees, which includes representatives from the Canadian government, as well as private sector individuals, such as David Thomson (media mogul) and Jim Balsillie. The gallery is also funded through a combination of government funding and private donations, including support from the Canada Council for the Arts and the Ontario Arts Council, and is affiliated with the Canadian Arts Coalition and the International Council of Museums. The gallery's governance and funding model is similar to that of other notable art institutions, including the National Gallery of Australia and the Tate Britain.

Location and access

The National Gallery of Canada is located in Ottawa, Ontario, on the Rideau Canal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is accessible by public transportation, including the Ottawa Transit system, and is located near other notable landmarks, including the Parliament Hill and the Canadian War Museum. The gallery is also within walking distance of other cultural institutions, including the Canadian Museum of History and the National Arts Centre, and is affiliated with the Ottawa Tourism and the Canadian Tourism Commission. The gallery's location is also influenced by the work of other notable urban planners, including Jane Jacobs and Daniel Burnham. Category:Art museums in Canada