Top art galleries in Ontario

Greater Toronto Area (GTA)

Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO)

One of the largest art museums in North America, the Art Gallery of Ontario is a cultural hub known for its diverse collection of over 120,000 artworks.

The AGO has a variety of historical and contemporary art in the styles of Canadian, Indigenous, African and European artists. The museum’s permanent collection includes works by the Group of Seven, Indigenous artists and famous photographers. A regular schedule of temporary exhibitions features impressive works of art by established and emerging artists from around the world.

Tickets to the AGO are free for anyone 25 and under. You can also get free pre-booked tickets on Wednesdays from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.

Location: 317 Dundas Street West, Toronto

Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA)

As its name suggests, the Museum of Contemporary Art specializes in curating and promoting art created in the 21st century. Ironically, the museum is located inside a historic 10-floor industrial building in Toronto’s Junction Triangle neighbourhood.

Rotating exhibitions showcase the work of local and international artists, in diverse mediums including paintings, sculptures, installations, video, photography, performance art and more.

Admission is free for anyone 18 and under.Visit for free on Fridays between 5:00 and 9:00 p.m. Parking is limited, so consider taking public transit.

Location: 158 Sterling Road #100, Toronto

York, Durham and Headwaters

McMichael Canadian Art Collection

The McMichael Canadian Art Collection is known for its extensive collection of artworks by the Group of Seven, a group of artists from the 19th century who became famous for their unique style of landscape and urban paintings. In addition, you’ll find Canadian art made by many Indigenous artists, Inuit artists and contemporary Canadian artists.

The gallery is named after Robert and Signe McMichael, who bought four hectares of picturesque land in Kleinburg and collected Canadian art, particularly works by Tom Thomson and the Group of Seven. In 1965, the McMichaels donated their collection to the Province of Ontario, and the “McMichael Conservation Collection of Art” opened eight months later.

Admission is free on Family Sundays, the third Sunday of each month.

Location: 10365 Islington Avenue, Kleinburg

The Robert McLaughlin Gallery

Popular in the vibrant arts community in the Oshawa and Durham region, the Robert McLaughlin Gallery is situated inside a beautiful, airy building designed by well-known Canadian architect Arthur Erickson. The museum is named after Robert McLaughlin, a Canadian industrialist and philanthropist who supported the arts.

Enjoy contemporary Canadian paintings, drawings, photographs and mixed media art works in various artistic styles and genres. The gallery has a special focus on the works of the Painters Eleven, a collective of Ontario abstract painters that were active in the 1950s.

Visits to the gallery are free, though suggested donations of five dollars can be made at the reception desk to support their programs and services.

Location: 72 Queen Street, Oshawa

Niagara Region

Niagara Falls Art Gallery

The Niagara Falls Art Gallery was established in 1979 as a non-for-profit art gallery.

Its collection includes the works of William Kurelek, a renowned Canadian artist, as well as historical and contemporary art of the Niagara region. The gallery aims to inspire people of all ages to participate in the arts, with various community events and exhibitions throughout the year.

Find visitor parking behind the building, which can be accessed along the gallery’s right side.

Location: 8058 Oakwood Drive, Niagara Falls

Hamilton, Halton and Brant

Art Gallery of Hamilton

One of the oldest and largest art galleries in Ontario, the Art Gallery of Hamilton is dedicated to collecting, exhibiting and promoting Canadian and international art.

It’s a cultural landmark in the city, where locals and tourists alike can learn about artistic expression and appreciate the visual arts. The gallery building was designed by world-renowned architect Bruce Kuwabara and features spacious exhibition galleries and an art gift shop.

Explore over 10,000 works of art from different art periods, ranging from paintings and drawings to printmaking and installation art. The gallery offers a permanent art collection and rotating exhibitions of works that feature specially curated shows and art by contemporary artists.

Tickets are free for students and children, and adults can visit for free on Thursdays.

Location: 123 King Street West, Hamilton

Art Gallery of Burlington

Discover a diverse range of artwork across multiple mediums like photography, sculpture, ceramics, textiles and more at the Art Gallery of Burlington.

Housed in a spacious building in downtown Burlington, the gallery also serves as the city’s community centre. It specializes in contemporary Canadian ceramics, with over 4,000 works that have been collected over the past 40 years. These incredible works range from highly functional to aesthetic sculptural installations.

All exhibitions are free for public viewing. Paid parking is available in the gallery’s lot on Elgin Street. If the lot is full, look for metered street parking on Nelson Avenue.

Location: 1333 Lakeshore Road, Burlington

Huron, Perth, Waterloo and Wellington

Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery

Experience nationally acclaimed exhibitions and programs at the Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery. Local and international artists regularly showcase individual and group exhibitions of their works, which include paintings, sculptures, video art, photography and more. 

A variety of educational programs are offered for people of all ages. Whether you’re interested in a guided tour of the gallery, attending an artist talk or a hands-on art workshop, there are plenty of ways for you to learn more about art and bring out your creative side.

Admission to the Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery is free for everyone. Find paid street parking on Otto Street or at the underground Civic District parking garage.

Location: 101 Queen Street North, Kitchener

Art Gallery of Guelph

With the goal of strengthening its artistic community, the Art Gallery of Guelph promotes historical and contemporary visual arts by hosting various all-ages programs for the community and exhibiting the creative works of diverse people in the art world.

Formerly known as the Macdonald Stewart Art Centre, it’s located in a stately two-storey house beside a beautiful sculpture park.

A permanent collection of over 9,000 artworks such as art prints, photographs, paintings and sculptures showcase the cultural heritage of the Guelph region. Temporary exhibits showcase pieces by established and emerging artists from Canada and around the world.

Visit the gallery for free, although donations are appreciated. A limited number of free parking spots are available in the parking lot beside and behind the gallery.

Location: 358 Gordon Street, Guelph

Bruce, Grey and Simcoe

MacLaren Art Centre

Located in the heart of downtown Barrie, the MacLaren Art Centre is a cultural hub that promotes and supports contemporary arts.

Explore a diverse range of exhibitions in numerous mediums, such as video, installation art, paintings and sculptures. Family-friendly events and workshops are hosted regularly.

The on-site Lazy Tulip Café offers a variety of healthy food options like golden milk latte, whole wheat focaccia bread or vegan carrot coconut ginger soup. Everything on the menu is made in-house.

Admission is a pay-what-you-can donation. You can find public parking areas within walking distance of the gallery.

Location: 37 Mulcaster Street, Barrie

Tom Thomson Art Gallery

The Tom Thomson Art Gallery honours the life and legacy of Canadian artist Tom Thomson and the Group of Seven.

Tom Thomson was a Canadian landscape artist in the early 20th century who developed a distinct style of Canadian art through his trips to Algonquin Park, creating some of this country’s most recognizable artworks before his untimely death. The Group of Seven artists were heavily influenced by Tom Thomson.

The gallery focuses on his and the Group of Seven’s paintings, plus other works of Canadian art that represent the natural beauty and landscapes of Canada. You’ll also find drawings, art prints and sculptures created by other influential Canadian artists in travelling exhibitions.

Admission is by donation. Look for limited free parking for two hours in front of the gallery.

Location: 840 1st Avenue West, Owen Sound

Ottawa Region

National Gallery of Canada

Founded in 1880, the National Gallery of Canada has been an iconic landmark in Canadian culture for over a century. You can’t miss the stunning glass building with two tall octagonal towers overlooking the Ottawa River.

The gallery’s vast collections include works from antiquity to the present day, ranging from Indigenous and Canadian art to masterpieces from all over the world. Discover the art of renowned artists like the Group of Seven, Emily Carr and Jean-Paul Riopelle in the gallery’s permanent collection. You’ll also find American, European and Asian art in a wide range of mediums like art prints and photographs.

Tickets are free for children aged 11 or under. Find parking near the National Gallery of Canada in the underground parking area.

Location: 380 Sussex Drive, Ottawa

Ottawa Art Gallery

Ottawa Art Gallery is a contemporary art museum that showcases local, national and international art. At nighttime, you may glimpse the building lit up in beautiful colours from the ground.

The gallery’s extensive arts collection, features paintings, sculptures, photography, new media and more, created by established and emerging artists. Participate in fun educational programs like artist talks, guided tours and hands-on art activities to round out your educational art trip.

Stop by the café for a treat and eat on the gallery’s rooftop terrace or outdoor plaza.

Visit the Ottawa Art Gallery for free. Look for street-metered parking with varied hourly limits in the Sandy Hill residential area, Novotel Parkade or Rideau Centre Parkade.

Location: 50 Mackenzie King Bridge, Ottawa

Southwestern Ontario

Art Windsor-Essex

Surrounded by greenery and unique sculptures, Art Windsor-Essex opened in 1943 as the Willistead Art Gallery of Windsor. Today, it exhibits works of art by local and national artists, specializing in historical Canadian art and contemporary art.

Explore over 4,000 pieces of art that have been collected by the gallery since its opening. From miniature watercolour portraits painted by historical female artists to “video sculptures”, a diverse range of mediums and artistic styles are available for viewing. A rotating schedule of exhibitions includes solo and group shows, plus collaborations with other institutions to produce creative and innovative displays of art.

Join art workshops for families, adults and children, or take a free guided art tour.

Tickets are free for children under six years old. Find free, three-hour parking spots in the gallery’s parking lot on the north side of the facility. The gallery is located close to a transit hub, so consider arriving by public transit.

Location: 401 Riverside Drive West, Windsor

Kawarthas and Northumberland

Art Gallery of Peterborough

Situated beside the pristine Little Lake, the Art Gallery of Peterborough fosters creativity and a love for the arts through art classes, workshops, artist talks and guided tours of the gallery.

View historical art as well as contemporary works of local artists, in a variety of mediums like drawing, painting, sculpture and photography.

Check out the exhibitions for free, but cash donations to support the gallery’s programming are appreciated. You can park for free in the lot in front of the gallery, to the left of the building. Alternatively, look for free, three-hour street parking on Crescent and Lake Streets.

Location: 250 Crescent Street, Peterborough

Haliburton Highlands to the Ottawa Valley

Rails End Gallery and Arts Centre

The quaint Rails End Gallery and Arts Centre is located inside a historic railway station, set against the scenic landscapes of Haliburton County.

Discover a mix of traditional and contemporary art, from watercolour paintings to mixed-media installations. Learn about the artistic expressions of regional artists, attend art workshops led by skilled artists and enjoy the trails around the gallery.

Admission is free, though donations are appreciated.

Location: 23 York Street, Dysart and Others

Muskoka, Parry Sound and Algonquin Park

Group of Seven Outdoor Gallery

Take a self-guided tour through Huntsville, Lake of Bays and Algonquin Provincial Park, to view iconic murals celebrating the art of Tom Thompson and the Group of Seven.

View over 90 unique murals hand-painted by artists from across the country on the walls of businesses and buildings

The tour starts in front of the Algonquin Theatre, where the Tom Thomson bronze statue is located.  Many of the murals are in downtown Huntsville and can be explored on foot. However, if you want to see all the murals on the tour, you’ll need to drive to the rest of the surrounding communities.

Location: Various locations around Huntsville

Northern Ontario

Art Gallery of Sudbury

Located inside a former mansion in Bell Park, the Art Gallery of Sudbury. It contains multiple exhibition spaces, a gift shop and a community gallery.

The gallery specializes in promoting visual art within the Sudbury region by showcasing a diverse collection of historical and modern art by regional and national artists. Paintings, sculptures, photographs and art prints are all examples of art that you’ll find in its collection of over 200 pieces.

Admission to the gallery is by donation.

Location: 174 Elgin Street, Greater Sudbury

Art Gallery of Algoma

The Art Gallery of Algoma was founded in 1975 on the shoreline of St. Mary’s River with the goal of becoming a nationally recognized visual arts institution in Northern Ontario.

From original Inuit art prints in Gallery One to towering sculptures in the Elsie Savoie Sculpture Park, you’ll find many types of art in this area. The works of local and national artists are on display in the gallery’s exhibition spaces, with a special focus on Indigenous artists.

You can also participate in an art-making class or book a tour with the gallery’s Indigenous Programming Coordinator, Lucia Laford.

Students and children 12 and under have free admission.

Location: 10 East Street, Sault Ste. Marie

Thunder Bay Art Gallery

Thunder Bay Art Gallery is the largest art gallery in Northern Ontario that focuses on contemporary Indigenous artists, featuring over 370 square metres of exhibition space that showcase the works of Indigenous and Northwestern Ontario artists.

The gallery opened in 1976 on the campus of Confederation College and has three spacious showrooms, plus a collection storage area for their many works of art. Today, over 1,600 works of paintings, sculptures and traditional Indigenous items can be found in its permanent collection. 

Tickets are free for children and for all visitors on Wednesdays. You’ll find free parking in the lot across the main entrance.

Location: 1080 Keewatin Street, Thunder Bay