Art Gallery of Ontario

The Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) is one of the largest art museums in North America

The Newly Renovated Art Gallery of Ontario
The Newly Renovated Art Gallery of Ontario cc licensed photo by Glogger

The Art Gallery of Ontario or AGO contains in excess of 80,000 works of art, some from as far back as the year 100 AD.

Originally founded in the year 1900, the Art Gallery of Ontario became somewhat 'disjointed' after numerous expansions and major renovations over many years. Finally in 2008 the gallery reopened after an expansion project, designed by renowned architect Frank Gehry, that masterfully brought all of the existing spaces together. This expansion increased the space available for viewing art by nearly one-half. The overall facility is an impressive 583,000 square feet.

Canadian art makes up more that half of the gallery's collection. The AGO also features a large collection of European art, with a very significant collection of Medieval and Renaissance decorative arts. The gallery exhibits major works of art by many renowned artists, including Rembrandt van Rijn, Emile Antoine Bourdelle, Vincent Van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, Tintoretto, Frans Hals, Gian Lorenzo Bernini, Peter Paul Rubens, Anthony van Dyck, Thomas Gainsborough, Auguste Rodin, and Edgar Degas.

Your admission to the gallery includes a 60 minute highlights tour that explores not only the art, but also the architecture of the AGO. This tour runs daily at 11am, 12 noon, 1pm and 3pm and also on Wednesday evening at 7pm.

On Wednesday evenings after 6 pm you can visit the gallery for free! The AGO is baby friendly and fun for the whole family. They also have a restaurant, cafe, bar and Gift shop. For additional information about the AGO see the official site below.



Facts For Your Visit

Fee: Yes Free on Wednesday evenings after 6pm

Art Gallery of Ontario Hours:
Opening hours may differ on holidays

  • Monday: Closed
  • Tuesday: 10:30 AM – 5:00 PM
  • Wednesday: 10:30 AM – 9:00 PM
  • Thursday: 10:30 AM – 5:00 PM
  • Friday: 10:30 AM – 9:00 PM
  • Saturday: 10:30 AM – 5:30 PM
  • Sunday: 10:30 AM – 5:30 PM

Address: 317 Dundas St W, Toronto, ON M5T 1G4, Canada

Phone: (416) 979-6648

Official Website: Art Gallery of Ontario

Art Gallery of Ontario Reviews

Rated 4.7 out of 5 Star Rating

5 Star Rating They make it accessible especially with the free admission on the first Wednesday of each month! However you can also enjoy it with less people or on your own time with paid admission which is quite reasonable. I have to say the volunteers and staff are very knowledgeable and helpful. One in particular gave amazing hints on finding a particular artwork and even taught us how to view the and enjoy the painting. It was educational and adventurous! Great place for young and old and we are so lucky to have the AGO!
sarah c. - a week ago

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4 Star Rating The museum features a modest selection of classical works and early paintings by Claude Monet and Picasso. However, its true allure lies in the architectural experience—most notably the wooden spiral staircase, which evokes the fluidity of water, reminiscent of Frank Lloyd Wright’s organic designs. Equally captivating is the expansive collection of Henry Moore’s sculptures, which anchor the museum’s identity. Beyond these highlights, much of the collection can be browsed quickly. Still, the visit is well worth 1–2 hours.
Jake Chen - 2 weeks ago

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3 Star Rating Took advantage of the free day which is on the first Wednesday of every month during summer, the queue was pretty long. Once we entered we got the wrist watch for the Art rate monitor which is a cool way to know which art really resonated with me and got my heart rate up. The exhibits are divided into floors and rooms , some interesting some not so much but for free it’s worth a visit. Everything was nice, the only damper was when a security lady just picked on me for no reason to not take pix and videos of there are people around , although I did see crowds everywhere and so many people taking pic and video but no one else seem to school them about this, so not sure why I was picked on! Besides that, elevators were mostly down with just one elevator functioning in area and huge crowds it was tiring for my elderly parent.
Farah S - 2 weeks ago

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5 Star Rating There is an under 25 free pass available on the AGO website. I utilized it today which was lots of fun but have an ID on you because they will check. I loved AGO!!! I studied Canadian art in my undergraduate course so when I saw the group of seven paintings I was really happy. They are a MUST. Canadian landscape paintings on the second floor are a delight for the eyes. The nature and day-to-day life paintings were a treat. There is honesty and sincerity in them. The use of colours 🥹 There is a little cafe! and there’s a top floor view outside. The museum is so cool to walk around. So many details to catch. I can’t wait to come back and look at the group of seven paintings again.
Kavitha R. - a month ago

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5 Star Rating This is a fantastic art gallery. Everything was very well laid out in the year was just very calming and pleasant. Give yourself at least two hours to tour the whole place. There was plenty of space in each area has a different thing. There’s even a cafeteria and a bistro. Lots of chairs to sit on the rest your weary feet. Water fountains are also available. The staff are friendly, helpful and knowledgeable.
KH - a month ago

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Directions

TTC Subway Line Nearest Station Walking Time
Yonge-University-Spadina LineSt. Patrick Station5 MInutes

How to get to Art Gallery of Ontario by TTC Subway

No bus needed. Exit the station and walk west along Dundas Street West for 3½ blocks or 5 minutes. The AGO is on your left.

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