The Blackwood

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The Blackwood
The Blackwood logo.svg
The Blackwood logo, an abstract image of nine scattered black dots
The Blackwood
Former name
Erindale College Art Gallery (1969–1992)
Established1969;57 years ago (1969)
Location Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
Coordinates 43°32′54″N79°39′47″W / 43.54833°N 79.66306°W / 43.54833; -79.66306
Type Contemporary art centre
DirectorChristine Shaw (2013–present)
Website blackwoodgallery.ca

The Blackwood is a contemporary art centre at the University of Toronto, located on its campus in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. [1] Established in 1969, it is the oldest public gallery in the Peel Region.

Contents

The Backwood maintains two public art galleries: its flagship space, the Blackwood Gallery, is located in the Kaneff Centre/Innovation Complex and the e|gallery in the Communication, Culture and Technology Building. It also operates several lightbox exhibits and art displays around the campus. It is named in honour of David Blackwood, the artist-in-residence on the Mississauga campus from the late 1960s to early 70s.

Annual exhibitions organized by The Blackwood showcase work by students in the art and art history joint program of the University of Toronto Mississauga's department of visual studies and Sheridan College. [2]

History

The Blackwood originated in 1969 as a small campus art gallery in a corridor of Erindale College's former North Building. Then known as the Erindale College Art Gallery, it was the first public art gallery to open in the Regional Municipality of Peel. The gallery was renamed in 1992 to honour David Blackwood, the campus artist-in-residence from 1967 to 1971 [2] [3] (or 1969 to 1975 according to The Medium ) after he was sought out by Erindale principal John Tuzo Wilson. [4] Blackwood, an acclaimed graphic artist known for his depictions of Newfoundland outports and contributions to the campus, was recognized by the Order of Canada in 1993 and named honourary chairman of the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO). [5]

Collection

The Blackwood maintains a permanent collection of over 450 works of Canadian contemporary art with a focus on pieces created by Ontario-based and Indigenous artists, including David Blackwood, Kenojuak Ashevak, Pitseolak Ashoona, Carl Beam, Rebecca Belmore, Vera Frenkel, Mary Pratt, and Lucy Qinnuayuak. [6]

Exhibits

The Blackwood's main space is the Blackwood Gallery, located in room 140 of the Kaneff Centre/Innovation Complex. [7] A project to upgrade its permanent collection storage and preservation facilities was completed in 2014 during the construction of the Innovation Complex. The e|gallery is The Blackwood's secondary space, located on the first floor of the Communication, Culture and Technology (CCT) Building.

In addition to the two gallery spaces, The Blackwood maintains various public lighbox displays throughout the University of Toronto Mississauga campus, such as the Bernie Miller Lightbox outside of the William G. Davis Building. [2]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Art & Culture". University of Toronto Mississauga. Centre for Student Engagement. Retrieved January 13, 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 "About". The Blackwood. Retrieved October 16, 2025.
  3. ↑ "General Idea Editions: 1967-1995 University of Toronto Mississauga Blackwood Gallery". Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam. Retrieved January 13, 2026.
  4. ↑ Teng, Danica (August 23, 2021). "From past to present: Blackwood Gallery and the continuous evolution of art". The Medium.
  5. ↑ "David Blackwood". The Canadian Encyclopedia. August 2, 2022.
  6. ↑ "Permanent Collection". Blackwood Gallery. Retrieved October 30, 2025.
  7. ↑ "The Blackwood Gallery". www.visitmississauga.ca. Retrieved January 13, 2026.
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