If you are trying to learn about art in Toronto you are definitely in the right place and our first section will fully cover the best art galleries and museums near you.
After that we will get into a variety of other topics like art supply stores, events, festivals, dealers, appraisers, walking tours, local sculptures and statues, art classes, studios for rent, and the top frame shops in your area.
You can jump straight to any section that interests you most by using the table of contents on the left and we are also including a Toronto art map with all of the spots we mention throughout the post pinned on it.
The Royal Ontario Museum is Canada’s largest and most comprehensive museum which houses a collection of 13 million artworks, cultural artefacts, and natural history specimens which are all shown in 40 gallery and exhibition rooms which attract almost one million visitors each year. Head over from 10am to 5:30pm any day but Monday when they are closed.
The Aga Khan Museum is North America’s first museum dedicated to Islamic art and antiquities and it exhibits over 1,000 rare objects including treasures from His Highness the Aga Khan’s own collection. They host a variety of performing arts events that feature local and international musicians, dancers, and other performers and the museum is available from 10am to 5:30pm daily except for Monday when they are closed and on Wednesday they stay open until 8pm.
The Art Gallery of Ontario’s collection of over 95,000 works ranges from contemporary art like Pierre Huyghe’s Untilled to European masterpieces like Peter Paul Rubens’ The Massacre of the Innocents and extensive holdings of works by artists like Garry Winogrand and Diane Arbus. They usually open at 10:30am Tuesday through Sunday and admission is free every Wednesday from 6pm to 9pm and to anyone aged 25 and under.
Admission is also free from 12pm to 6pm on Wednesday through Saturday at The Ryerson Image Centre which is closed Sunday through Tuesday and they have almost 375,000 pieces on display including the famed Black Star Collection.
Over 30,000 objects are in the collection at Stephen Bulger Gallery which includes historical Canadian works as well as worldwide modern and contemporary pieces. You can check them out Tuesday through Saturday from 11am to 6pm.
The Museum of Contemporary Art in Toronto displays the work of over 1,100 Canadian and foreign artists, has staged 200+ exhibitions, and welcomes 40,000 people each year. They also offer programs including artist talks and workshops while admission is free on the first Sunday of each month and they open at 11am Wednesday through Sunday and generally close at 6pm but on Friday you can stay until 9pm.
The Gardiner Museum is a specialized museum of ceramics that also gives ceramics lessons for all ages in addition to lectures and other programs. The Gardiner is free to enter and opens at 10am daily while closing at 6pm most weekdays, 9pm on Wednesday, and 5pm on weekends.
Leslie Grove Gallery has new solo and group exhibitions that take place every three weeks. They are generally closed on Monday, you will need to make an appointment on Tuesdays, and the rest of the week you can check them out from noon to 5pm.
Materials & Supplies Near You
Our favorite local art material and supply stores are:
Curry’s Artists’ Materials has eight branches in southern Ontario and is a good place to buy a diverse assortment of art supplies and creative materials in Toronto.
Above Ground Art Supplies is a good option for anyone that is searching for difficult-to-find products.
Deserres provides art workshops and classes for people of all skill levels in addition to custom framing services.
Shows & Events
There are some great art shows, festivals, and events in your area:
Riverdale Artwalk takes place over two weeks in June and August and features over 180 participating artists and entertainers in Jimmie Simpson Park in the local Queen East Arts District.
The Toronto Outdoor Art Fair is Canada’s largest and longest-running annual contemporary art fair, presenting 350+ curated visual creators at Nathan Phillips Square every July.
Every September Toronto Art Crawl takes place in the heart of Liberty Village featuring artists, crafters, and designers, as well as live DJs and food trucks.
Art Toronto is Canada’s international fair for modern and contemporary works that happens every October.
Luminato Event Toronto is a 5-day multidisciplinary international arts festival where you will find music, dance, theater, and some digital magic.
Art Dealers & Appraisers
Art dealers and appraisers are where to go when you are trying to add a new piece to your collection or when you need to find out the true value of works:
Mayberry Fine Art provides a variety of art-related services including professional consultations, custom framing, restoration, appraisal, and art storage.
Assisting collectors in the purchasing of local artworks, appraisal, importing and exporting works, restoration, framing, and on-site installation are all possible with Old Master Gallery.
Fischtein Fine Art has over 40 years of experience and expertise in consulting and selling fine art to both new and established collectors.
Walking Tours
If you are reading this on a beautiful afternoon why not go on an art walking tour in your area:
The Graffiti Tour starts at the intersection of Queen Street West and Augusta Avenue in downtown where you will experience the amazing street art that surrounds the downtown area known as Graffiti Alley.
Don’t forget about the Toronto Art Crawl that takes place in September and the Riverdale Art Walk which goes down in the summer who we linked you to in the events section.
Sculptures & Statues
You can also find some really awesome sculptures and statues near you like:
Between The Eyes at 1 Queens Quay W
Full Circle at 152 Victoria St #140
Tembo Mother of Elephants at Commerce Ct
Garden of Future Follies at Front St Promenade
Two Children of Toronto at 570 Bay St
Love Negotiation at 114 Scollard St
Between The Eyes was created by Richard Deacon in 1990.
Peter von Tiesenhausen sculpted Full Circle in 2002.
Tembo Mother of Elephants is a large mother elephant sculpture trailed by her two babies that can be found in Commerce Court Courtyard and it is one of the world’s largest bronze elephants.
The Garden of Future Follies is a local sculpture garden that incorporates components from more than 80 existing public artworks in your area.
The sculpture of the Two Children can be found just behind City Hall.
Toronto Art Classes
Whether you need lessons for kids or adults one of these best Toronto art schools and classes will offer them:
Picasso’s Garage offers children’s art classes and camps in a wide range of media.
Traditional drawing and painting courses for students of all skill levels are taught by the instructors at The Academy of Art Canada who provides full-time or part-time programs to accommodate the needs of each student. Those who are not enrolled in the applied program can attend workshops.
A diverse range of classes for children and adults, from beginners to experienced creators are available at Avenue Road Arts School. Throughout the year they also have popular programs for March break, summer camps, parties, and specific school workshops.
Gardiner Museum and Deserres from our previous lists also have art classes in your area.
Studios For Rent Near You
Those of you who are ready to start a big project might be able to rent a local art studio at:
Local art consultation services for your home or office and custom framing are available at Off the Wall Art & Framing Gallery.
The Picture Frame Factory has hundreds of framing samples in stock while providing mounting and stretching services for oil painting canvases.
Adina Photo & Custom Framing is a good option for art restoration in Toronto along with canvas stretching, glass replacement, and installations.
Some other places we have mentioned throughout the post that are good for picture and art framing near you are Deserres, Mayberry Fine Art, and Old Master Gallery.
You are all welcome to look through our blogs about:
We really did try our best to break down the full art scene near you. We listed the best local galleries, museums, events, shows, supply stores, dealers, appraisers, walking tours, sculptures, classes, studios, and framers in your area.
You probably love art as much as we do if you stuck around this long. If so use the comments to correct any errors you may have noticed, or let us know if any places we mentioned are no longer open.
Have fun going to the galleries, museums, buying supplies or doing anything that has to do with art in Toronto!
This post and all of the posts on our site are edited by Dan Soloman who has been a huge fan of art since he was a little kid. His mother was a good local artist, and she taught him the trade from a very early age. He studied art and its history in both high school and college, has worked at multiple galleries, and recently has begun creating and editing online content for this site and some other online media platforms.
