McMichael Canadian Art Collection

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McMichael Canadian Art Collection

The McMichael Canadian Art Collection in Kleinburg, ON, is a public art gallery uniquely devoted to collecting & exhibiting the art of Canada.

The McMichael is temporarily closed for a once-in-a-generation redevelopment, with plans to reopen in 2029. The McMichael Canadian Art Collection is the largest publicly funded art gallery in Canada that focuses exclusively on Canadian and Indigenous art, both historical and contemporary. The permanent collection consists of over 6,500 artworks by Tom Thomson, the Group of Seven, their contemporar

ies, and First Nations, Métis, Inuit and contemporary artists who have contributed to the development of the art of Canada. The McMichael is also the gallery of record for works on paper from the Inuit community of Cape Dorset (Kinngait) and is the custodians for the Cape Dorset archive, a resource of more than 100,000 artworks. View and browse over 4,000 digitized works from the archive through our online portal, Iningat Ilagiit (A Place for Family).

09/02/2026

While the McMichael is temporarily closed for redevelopment, our education department continues to connect students across the province with Canadian and Indigenous art through engaging, curriculum-connected programs for Kindergarten through Grade 12. Through guided looking, discussion and artmaking, students are encouraged to look closely, ask questions, make connections and active their creativity— no field trip required.

🎨 Art2Go — Our educators come to your school for 2.5-hour, hands-on workshops. Chose from topics including landscape, storytelling, Indigenous knowledge, environmental stewardship, climate futures and more.

💻 Virtual Classroom — Live, interactive sessions that bring Canadian and Indigenous art directly into your classroom, wherever you are.

Tous les programmes sont disponibles en français.

Reach out today for more information and to book your program for the 2026–27 school year → mcmichael.com/learn/schools/

09/01/2026

Hello, September! 🍂

1/ J.E.H. MacDonald (1873-1932), 𝘈𝘭𝘨𝘰𝘮𝘢 𝘉𝘶𝘴𝘩, 𝘚𝘦𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳, 1920, oil on paperboard, 21.1 x 26.7 cm, McMichael Canadian Art Collection, Gift of Mr. R.A. Laidlaw, 1966.15.3
2/ Tom Thomson (1877-1917), 𝘈𝘭𝘨𝘰𝘯𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘯 𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘬, 𝘚𝘦𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳, 1913, oil on canvas board, 17.5 x 25 cm, Gift of the Founders, Robert and Signe McMichael, 1966.16.64
3/ Clarence Gagnon (1881-1942), 𝘚𝘦𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳 𝘈𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴, 1928-1933, gouache and watercolour over graphite on paper, 16.8 x 23.7 com, Gift of Colonel R.S. McLaughlin, 1969.4.26
4/ Frank Johnston (1888-1949), 𝘚𝘦𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳 𝘊𝘭𝘰𝘶𝘥𝘴, 𝘎𝘦𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘪𝘢𝘯 𝘉𝘢𝘺, oil on paperboard, 15.4 x 20.3 cm, Gift of the Robert and Signe McMichael Trust, 2011.2.20

08/29/2026

Celebrating with Molly Lamb Bobak's 𝘌𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩 𝘉𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 — a vibrant, sun-drenched gem from our permanent collection. 🌊

Bobak (1920–2014) was celebrated for her vivid depictions of everyday life, often capturing the energy of communal gatherings — crowds at fairs, parades, and days at the beach.

Sunbathers and swimmers gather along Vancouver's English Bay shoreline, rendered in dynamic strokes that blur the line between individual figures and the collective crowd. The scene captures the spirit of a summer's day — full of movement, colour and community.

🖼 Molly Lamb Bobak, 𝘌𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩 𝘉𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩, c. 1966, oil on paperboard, 102 x 122 cm, Gift of ICI Canada Inc., 1995.19.4

08/27/2026

Start your Art Toronto weekend with us at Opening Night on Thursday, October 29.

Be among the first to preview and acquire exceptional works from leading galleries before Art Toronto opens to the public at this signature event, hosted by and benefiting the McMichael Canadian Art Collection, Canada’s only museum devoted exclusively to Canadian art.

Enjoy complimentary drinks and light bites while connecting with artists, gallerists and collectors in a lively party atmosphere.

Opening Night tickets also include premium re-admission starting at 11 am all weekend long, plus access to the VIP Lounge throughout the weekend.

First Edition tickets are nearly sold out. Purchase yours now to secure the current ticket price.

Opening Night Sponsor: Hatch

Art Toronto Opening Night Committee:
Emily-Jean Alexander • Ameet Bhojwani • Kulin Matchhar • Angelica Demetriou • Heather Bala Edwards • Jane Edwards • Zoe Foster • Roz Heintzman • Nicole Jolly • Hannah Kim • Alex Lambert • Lily Li • Michelle Meneley • Pam Meredith • Deanne Moser • Suzanne Palko • Anjli Patel • Nancy Rowat • Steven Wilson

08/26/2026

Happy ! 🐾

To celebrate, we’re taking a closer look at 𝘋𝘳𝘢𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘗𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘵 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘋𝘰𝘨 by renowned Kinngait artist Kananginak Pootoogook (1935–2010), from the Kinngait Drawing Archive.

Kananginak was best known for his sensitive, highly detailed depictions of Arctic wildlife — particularly birds — and for the gentle humour he often brought to his subjects. 𝘋𝘳𝘢𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘗𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘵 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘋𝘰𝘨 offers a glimpse into another dimension of northern life: the essential relationship between people and the animals who made life in the Arctic possible.

One of the founding figures of the Kinngait graphic arts movement, Kananginak began drawing and printmaking in the late 1950s, with work included in the very first annual Cape Dorset print collection in 1959. His legacy endures through the thousands of drawings preserved in the Kinngait Drawing Archive.

Explore the archive → iningatilagiit.ca

Kananginak Pootoogook (1935–2010), 𝘋𝘳𝘢𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘗𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘵 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘋𝘰𝘨, 1983-1984, coloured pencil and felt-tip pen on paper, Collection of the West Baffin Eskimo Co-operative Ltd., on loan to the McMichael Canadian Art Collection, D.33.519. © Dorset Fine Arts

08/24/2026

"I think in a sense the things I show are moments in which everything seems perfect and something is revealed." —Alex Colville

In celebration of Alex Colville's birthday, we're taking a closer look at 𝘔𝘪𝘭𝘬 𝘛𝘳𝘶𝘤𝘬 (1959), a work from the McMichael's permanent collection.

In this meticulously composed scene, a Mercury truck winds down Main Street, crates of milk nestled in the trunk bed. A young boy balances on the running board, bottle in hand, while a black dog, perched proudly at the tailgate, meets our gaze with steady resolve.

The truck, angled as it turns, creates a dynamic sense of movement as it prepares to descend the hill, accentuated by the bold red of the Stedmans storefront. Every detail—from the gleaming milk bottle to the dog’s unwavering stare—reveals Colville's hallmark precision.

🖼️ Alex Colville (1920-2013), 𝘔𝘪𝘭𝘬 𝘛𝘳𝘶𝘤𝘬, 1959, Oil and synthetic resin on hardboard, 65.4 cm x 65.4 cm, Gift of ICI Canada Inc.

08/21/2026

A McMichael favourite, on the road. 🍒

In 𝘊𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝘛𝘪𝘮𝘦 (c. 1912), Helen McNicoll captures a quiet, fleeting moment between two children sharing cherries in a sun-filled garden. Rather than a carefully posed scene, McNicoll focuses on their natural interaction—a moment of friendship and curiosity rendered with the luminous colour and loose brushwork characteristic of her work.

Usually at home in the McMichael collection, 𝘊𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝘛𝘪𝘮𝘦 is spending the summer in Ottawa as part of 𝘏𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘯 𝘔𝘤𝘕𝘪𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘭: 𝘈𝘯 𝘐𝘮𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘑𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘺 at the National Gallery of Canada.

See it on view through October 12, 2026 → https://www.gallery.ca/whats-on/exhibitions-and-galleries/helen-mcnicoll-an-impressionist-journey

🖼️ Helen McNicoll (1879–1915), 𝘊𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝘛𝘪𝘮𝘦, c. 1912, oil on canvas, 81.7 × 66.4 cm. McMichael Canadian Art Collection, Gift of Hubert B. Sceats, 1995.30.3

08/19/2026

For , we’re turning our attention to the remarkable photographs of John Macfie, now on view in 𝘗𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘞𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥: 𝘗𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘱𝘩𝘴 𝘣𝘺 𝘑𝘰𝘩𝘯 𝘔𝘢𝘤𝘧𝘪𝘦 at the North Bay Museum.

In the 1950s and 1960s, Macfie (1925–2018) travelled extensively through Northern Ontario as a trapline manager, photographing daily life in Anishinaabe, Cree, and Anisininew communities across the Hudson Bay watershed.

Rather than simply passing through, Macfie spent extended periods travelling and living on the land alongside the people he photographed. The resulting images offer an intimate record of families, communities, work, travel, and life on the land during a period of profound change in the North.

Curated by Paul Seesequasis, 𝘗𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘞𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥 brings together more than 100 of Macfie’s photographs from the Archives of Ontario.

If you’re in North Bay, don’t miss the opportunity to experience this remarkable photographic record in person.

1/ John Macfie, 𝘊𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘵𝘪𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘨𝘶𝘯, 𝘓𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯𝘦 𝘏𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦, 1956, photograph, John Macfie fonds, C330-14-0-0-63, Archives of Ontario.
2/ John Macfie, 𝘞𝘦𝘣𝘦𝘲𝘶𝘰𝘪 𝘨𝘪𝘳𝘭 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘵𝘦𝘦𝘱𝘦𝘦 𝘢𝘵 𝘓𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯𝘦 𝘏𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦, 1956, photograph, John Macfie fonds, C330-14-0-0-16, Archives of Ontario.
3/ John Macfie, 𝘔𝘪𝘴𝘴 𝘎𝘳𝘢𝘺, 𝘥𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘋𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘎𝘳𝘢𝘺, 𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘚𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘯, c. 1955, photograph, John Macfie fonds, C330-14-0-0-75, Archives of Ontario.

08/19/2026

Born on this day in 1892, Edwin Holgate became the ninth member of the Group of Seven when he joined in 1929. Based in Montreal, he was the first member to live outside Ontario — reflecting both his prominence in Quebec’s art scene and the Group’s growing interest in expanding its geographic reach.

While celebrated for his landscapes, Holgate was equally accomplished as a portraitist and painter of the human figure. His wide-ranging practice also encompassed printmaking, book illustration, mural painting, and work as an official war artist, making him an important figure in the development of modern art in Canada.

Happy birthday, Edwin! 🎂✨

1/Edwin Holgate, 𝘗𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘍𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴, c. 1935, oil on wood panel, 40.4 x 31.5 cm, Purchase 1982, McMichael Canadian Art Collection, 1982.5
2/ Edwin Holgate, 𝘉𝘢𝘪𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘴 𝘔𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘴, Looking Northward, c. 1930, oil on canvas, 63.3 x 76.1 cm, Purchase 1986, McMichael Canadian Art Collection, 1986.34
3/ Edwin Holgate, 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵, 1923, oil on canvas, 128 x 97.5 cm, Gift of the Founders, Robert and Signe McMichael, McMichael Canadian Art Collection, 1972.18.2
4/ Edwin Holgate, 𝘊𝘺𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘯, 1960, oil on canvas, 53.4 x 45.8 cm, Gift of the Artist

08/17/2026

In 1907, after three years studying painting in Paris, Montreal-born artist Clarence Gagnon traded the French capital for Baie-Saint-Paul, a small village on the north shore of the St. Lawrence River.

Painted two years later, 𝘖𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘧 𝘉𝘢𝘪𝘦 𝘚𝘵. 𝘗𝘢𝘶𝘭 (1909) brings something of Paris with him. With loose brushwork, brilliant colour, and a dreamy sense of atmosphere, Gagnon captures his first wife, Katherine, and another woman, likely his sister-in-law Ethel, wrapped in colourful silk kimonos by the water’s edge. In just a few graceful strokes, the bohemian spirit of modern Paris meets the landscape of rural Quebec.

See 𝘖𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘧 𝘉𝘢𝘪𝘦 𝘚𝘵. 𝘗𝘢𝘶𝘭 in 𝘙𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘋𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮𝘴: 𝘐𝘮𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘮 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘵. 𝘓𝘢𝘸𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦, now in its final weeks at the Canadian Museum of History. The exhibition closes August 30.

Plan your visit → https://www.historymuseum.ca/exhibitions/river-of-dreams

🖼 Clarence Gagnon (1881–1942), 𝘖𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘧 𝘉𝘢𝘪𝘦 𝘚𝘵. 𝘗𝘢𝘶𝘭, 1909, oil on board. Private collection.

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10365 Islington Avenue
Vaughan, ON
L0J1C0

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https://www.mcmichael.com/

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