Best of Toronto
The Best Contemporary Art Galleries in Toronto
When it comes to the topic of Contemporary Art, it often seems there are only two kinds of Torontonians. There are the culture-junky downtowners who try to visit the galleries at least a couple times a year, in an effort to find unique gems for their collections and to remain cognizant of the heartbeat of the city. And then there is everyone else, the other 98% of our neighbours who don't know that there are galleries in the city other than the ROM and AGO and wouldn't have the faintest idea of how to find fresh, exciting new art if it occurred to them to look. What a shame because Toronto sports a wildly creative, at times bombastic and risque, gritty, gorgeous, and cerebral art scene.
Most people in this city, for instance, have no idea that the Museum of Canadian Contemporary Art (MOCCA) sprouted up like a sunflower in 2005 on Queen Street West. Nestled in the rear of a funky, mural-lined courtyard just east of Ossington, it functions as the anchor of Toronto's Contemporary Art scene. (While The Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery casts a long shadow, any Toronto artist will tell you that the MOCCA does the real, vital field work of supporting local art and keeping it from floating away into irrelevence.)
This internationally respected institution, directed by the rockstar-ish, hockey coach-like, beer-drinkin', curatorial Godfather of cool art David Liss, hosts public openings for its raucous, sexy, intelligent and adventurous exhibitions every six weeks or so. Not only are these creative parties open and welcoming to everyone and their children, but they are free and fun and come with a nice dose of wild. (At all other times, entrance to the museum is "pay what you can".)
One thing all the art dealers in the city will agree upon is that they wish more people visited their commercial galleries. Like a tree falling in the forest, art only makes an impact when there is someone there to see it. The more people the better. Unlike the pretentious art galleries of New York City or London, the staff and owners of Toronto's best galleries are friendly and welcoming, always happy to explain the sometimes mysterious but always thought-provoking pieces on display.
See also The Best Contemporary Art Galleries (Emerging Artists) and The Best Photography Galleries
Contributed by Randy Gladman
Stephen Bulger Gallery
Galleries simply cannot be higher quality than Stephen Bulger Gallery, in Toronto or anywhere. Always welcoming, professional, educational and relevant, this West Queen West gallery is dedicated to photography. Presenting images by the finest photographers in the world from the earliest days of the medium through to current practice, this gallery is an essential stop on any art tour. For photographers, it is Mecca. More »
Le Gallery
Hands down the freshest gallery in Toronto, young owner/director Wil Kucey consistently looks under wet rocks for visionary, ultra modern artists no one has ever heard of. Many of them are still in art school. Kucey, who graduated from OCAD himself not so long ago, has the best eye for the new. More »
Clint Roenisch Gallery
More curator than gallerist, some people in the scene wonder why owner Clint Roenisch, possibly the finest curator in the city, runs a commercial gallery when he should be the curator of contemporary art at the AGO. Insightful, knowledgeable and challenging, the exhibitions at this essential Toronto gallery take no prisoners. More »
Monte Clark Gallery
The commercial home base of the internationally admired "Vancouver School of Conceptual Photography", not only does this gallery consistently present art of the highest quality, often by Canada's finest artists, but it is housed in one of Toronto's most gorgeous display spaces, down in the Distillery District. If you are lucky, Douglas Coupland might just be hanging out when you stop by. More »
Interaccess Electronic Media Arts Centre
As famous Canadian-Mexican digital media artist Rafael Lozano-Hemmer says, "the only thing new about New Media art is that it is not new anymore." Toronto needs more galleries like this Ossington Street staple, dedicated to ballsy, adventurous, techno-geek art that exists at the gummy intersection where technology and creativity collide. More »
Angell Gallery
With exhibitions that are always daring and original, this gallery was one of the pioneers in the West Queen West art district. You'll rarely see a safe, conservative show here. Owner Jamie Angell is easily the friendliest, most enthusiastic dealer in the city. More »
Christopher Cutts Gallery
If you like a spoonful of mean, gruesome, beautiful decadence mixed into your art, Christopher "Cutter" Cutts is your tour guide. The art in his gallery usually has a dark and mischievous side. Though a bit out of the way near the intersection of Dundas and Bloor (yep, they intersect), it's always worth the visit. More »
Diaz Contemporary
You could drop this gallery unmolested into any of the great contemporary art centres of the world and you wouldn't have to change a thing. Owner Benjamin Diaz had an illustrious and influential career in Mexico City's art scene before opening this important gallery in Toronto which usually exhibits works by Canadian and Mexican artists. More »
Katharine Mulherin Contemporary Art Projects
Now in its tenth year, this gallery is spread across various store fronts on Queen Street West. Edgy, relevant, and, at times, cutesy, this gallery is one of the most respected and established spaces showing "emerging" and "mid-level" artists in the city. More »
Discussion
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Some accolades must be given to the man who runs his own show, designed a brilliant building where no one else will go and truly is one of Canada's most important artists with something real to say.
One tour around his gallery will leave one speechless - he really gives people a great experience, not to mention, his building is very unique.
Pincus, thanks for your comment. Sorry but I don't agree.
Beerad, galleries generally pay the artist 50% of the retail value of the art. 50% may seem like a lot for the gallery to keep but it is actually quite reasonable given the amount of overhead galleries must maintain. The dealers pay all the rent, advertising, insurance, marketing, communications, staffing, shipping... Even with what is effectively a 100% markup, it is very difficult to make a gallery into a successful business. Dealers are visionaries as much as artists and should be respected as such.
Moco, thanks! (I think?)
I'm not quite sure I understood what you are saying but I think you are trying to make the point that you can't tell what the great art of the day is until you have a historical perspective. I agree with this idea, to a point.
Much of the art (or music or literature) of any time period does not stand the test of time and fades into obscurity. The cultural artifacts with true value tend to be the ones that make it into museums and history books and are cherished for decades and centuries.
But that is not to say that one can't have an opinion at the time the art is made as to what is good and bad. After all, the current opinions of art influence not only which works get acquired by the great collections of the world and written about in the important journals, but they also offer guidance to other artists and influence their studios' output.
If you take your comment to its logical conclusion, you would have to believe that only history determines value, and I reject this idea completely.
It's also important to keep in mind that even history changes its mind; Courbet was considered a third rate hack for over a century before Linda Nochlin delineated the value of his work and influence on art history.
Though there is certainly a lot of crappy Contemporary art out there, there is also a lot of great Contemporary art and the art dealers who risk their own time, energy and capital to promote the risk taking, visionary artists of the day certainly deserve a large degree of credit. If it was not for them, those artists wouldn't have a source of income and ability to keep making work.
Recognizing the best dealers/galleries and admiring them for their contribution to culture is certainly not a futile exercise.
A small and intimate gallery, yet with a large sense of space due to the huge window to the street which allows passers by to see the entire exhibit any time of day or night.
Drop in next time you're in the area! I'd be very happy to talk to you about our excellent art!