Toronto has many world-class galleries, museums and cultural centers. Whether you want to stroll amongst the masterworks of a public collection or seek out a bargain at a private gallery, Toronto’s rich and diverse art scene has something for every art lover.
If you have only a day or two to devote to Toronto’s museums and galleries, the following five destinations represent the best that Toronto has to offer and are centrally located for easy access.
1. Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO)
- The AGO houses an impressive collection of more than 40,000 works, making it the 10th largest art museum in North America. The AGO is a superb document of Canadian art heritage but features masterworks from around the world, spanning 100 AD to the present.
2. Royal Ontario Museum (ROM)
- Although not devoted solely to art, the ROM’s diverse collections are still a feast for the eyes. A discovery gallery and other interactive exhibits mean other senses get a workout and kids stay interested.
- With almost six million objects, ranging from fossils and skeletons to gems, jewellery, furniture and other artifacts, the ROM is Canada’s largest museum.
3. The Power Plant
- Devoted exclusively to contemporary art, the Power Plant has earned a distinguished reputation worldwide. The gallery features innovative and diverse visual art, including painting, sculpture, photography, film, video, installation and other media.
4. Yorkville
- Known in the 1960s and 70s as a haven for hippies, today Yorkville is an upscale neighbourhood where the wealthy and elite shop and dine. You won’t believe you’re in the heart of the biggest Canadian city as you stroll amongst the charming architecture lining the quaint residential streets of Yorkville.
5. The Distillery Historic District
- The Distillery is a pedestrian-only district devoted to the arts. Set on 13 acres in downtown Toronto, the forty plus buildings constitute the largest and best preserved collection of Victorian Industrial Architecture in North America.
- If you’re looking for art that’s less established with a little more edge, this is the destination for you.
