Art Museum at the University of Toronto

Art Museum at the University of Toronto

University of Toronto Art Centre
Established	1983 (1983) (Barnicke Gallery) 1996 (1996) (Art Centre) 2014 (2014) (federated)
Location	Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Type	Art museum
Collection size	8,000+
Director	Barbara Fischer
Public transit access	Museum
Website	artmuseum.utoronto.ca

The Art Museum at the University of Toronto consists of two galleries on the University of Toronto's St. George campus: the Justina M. Barnicke Gallery at Hart House and the University of Toronto Art Centre at University College. The two federated to form the Art Museum in 2014, with individual history dating back to as early as the 19th century. It is the second largest gallery space for visual art and programming in Toronto after the Art Gallery of Ontario. ^[1]

The Art Museum features a collection of historical and contemporary Canadian art, dating from 1921 to the present. Exhibits focus on contemporary Canadian art in all media. The gallery also hosts film screenings, lectures and performance art. In addition to its regular exhibitions, the gallery houses an art collection that is valued at over CA$10 million. ^{[2] [3] [4]}

It has been directed and curated by Barbara Fischer since it officially opened in 2016, an art curator and writer who specializes in contemporary art with an emphasis on sculpture, installation, and projection-based work. ^[1]

Collections

Tom Thomson, The Pointers, Winter 1916–17. 101 x 114.6 cm.

The Art Museum holds over 8,000 pieces in four main collections: The Hart House Collection, Malcove Collection, University College (UC) Collection, and University of Toronto Collection.

The UC Collection is the oldest belonging to the university, with many works donated over the years by members of the College's alumni association dating back to the 19th century. ^[5] The Hart House Permanent Collection was inaugurated in 1922 by the Hart House Art Committee. ^[6]

Justina M. Barnicke Gallery

Sculpture outside of Hart House

The Justina M. Barnicke Gallery is located in Hart House, the University of Toronto's arts and recreation centre. The gallery was opened in 1983 and manages the Hart House Permanent Art Collection. Hart House sits in the central area of the St. George campus at the former site of McCaul’s Pond, artificially created in the 1860s from Taddle Creek. ^{[7] [8]}

University of Toronto Art Centre

The University of Toronto Art Centre in the Laidlaw Wing of University College

The University of Toronto Art Centre, established in November 1996, is located in the Laidlaw Wing of University College (UC). ^[7] Following an anonymous donation of CA$2 million, it underwent an expansion which doubled its size to 8,000 square feet of display space and allowed for added storage space and climate control. ^[9]

See also

• Blackwood Gallery
• List of museums in Toronto

References

1. Whyte, Murray (4 February 2016). "At U of T, one gallery is better than two". Toronto Star.
2. "Mandate & History". Art Museum at the University of Toronto. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
3. Prata, Rosie (9 September 2025). "Monuments Fade, but Land Lasts Forever". Nuvo.
4. Jassal, Roveena (28 August 2024). "New University of Toronto art exhibit explores the invisible burdens on Black and Indigenous communities". NOW.
5. "University College Collection". Art Museum of the University of Toronto. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
6. "Hart House Collection". Art Museum of the University of Toronto. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
7. "Art Museum at the University of Toronto". Toronto Biennial. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
8. Whyte, Murray (17 May 2014). "Rebecca Belmore: Kwe, at the Justina M. Barnicke Gallery". Toronto Star.
9. "The Art of Change". University of Toronto Magazine. 24 June 2000.

External links

• Official website