Modern &
Contemporary Art
Building the
Collection
With its unique mandate to collect and celebrate the art of Canada, the McMichael’s permanent collection continues to grow each year, reflecting the evolving story of Canadian and Indigenous art.
This growth is made possible through the generosity of our donors, whose gifts help to expand and enrich the collection for generations to come. Recent acquisitions highlight emerging voices, underrepresented histories, and vital new directions in Canadian art.
The Founders of the McMichael originally sought to collect works exclusively by the Group of Seven and their contemporaries. However, as their collection grew and they learned more about the art of Canada, they dedicated increasing energy to collecting and displaying works by artists beyond that small initial group, with particular emphasis on historical and contemporary Inuit art, Ontario First Nations art, and Northwest Coast art.
In 2011, the gallery’s mandate was officially broadened: the McMichaels’ surviving relatives, Penny and Jack Fenwick, joined with the Ontario government and Bill 188, passed that year, gave the gallery an unrestricted mandate for exhibitions and acquisitions. The bill maintained a focus on Group of Seven and their contemporaries as well as by Indigenous artists, but the priority was to “preserve and modernize” the gallery.
In the years since, the McMichael has enthusiastically collected and exhibited works by modern and contemporary artists, allowing the museum’s program to better reflect the diverse and ever-changing artistic landscape of Canada.
Pierre Aupilardjuk (b. 1965), Giving Without Receiving, 2016, smoke-fired porcelain, 23 x 45 x 22 cm, Gift of Marnie Schreiber, McMichael Canadian Art Collection, 2023.2. Photo: Esker Foundation 
Kent Monkman (b. 1965), Wedding at Sodom, 2017, acrylic on canvas, 183 x 305.5 cm, Gift of Salah Bachir and Jacob Yerex, McMichael Canadian Art Collection, 2019.2. Photo courtesy of the artist © Kent Monkman 
Denyse Thomasos (1964–2012), Odyssey, 2011, acrylic on canvas, 185.4 x 243.8 cm, Promised gift of Christine and Andrew W. Dunn, © Courtesy of the Estate of Denyse Thomasos and Olga Korper Gallery 
Mary Pratt (1935–2018), Split Grilse, 1979, oil on hardboard, 56.1 x 64 cm, Gift of ICI Canada Inc., McMichael Canadian Art Collection, 1995.19.44 
Jinny Yu (b. 1976), Superposition 25-03, 2025, oil on aluminum, 152.4 × 139.7 cm, Purchased with the generous support of the McMichael Transformation Fund, McMichael Canadian Art Collection, 2025.48 
Jean Paul Riopelle (1923–2002), Sans titre, 1950, oil on canvas, 86.4 x 146.1 cm, Andrée Rhéaume Fitzhenry and Robert Fitzhenry Gift, McMichael Canadian Art Collection, 2019.4.44 
Brian Jungen (b. 1970), Prototype for New Understanding #4, 1998, Nike Pippen and Air Jordan shoe parts, human hair, white painted steel armature, 30 x 33.5 x 14.3 cm, Gift from the Collection of Claudia Beck and Andrew Gruft, McMichael Canadian Art Collection, 2025.17.6.A-B 
Ben Reeves (b. 1969), Foragers, 2022, oil and acrylic on canvas, 173.4 x 132.1 cm, Purchased through the generous support of Karen and Christopher McCleave, McMichael Canadian Art Collection, 2023.3 © Ben Reeves 
Shary Boyle (b. 1972), The Warming, 2018–2021, terra cotta, stoneware, bronze, gold leaf, 54 x 30 x 24 cm, Purchased with the generous support of an anonymous donor, McMichael Canadian Art Collection, 2021.15.A-B 
Jean Paul Lemieux (1904–1990), Solstice d’hiver, 1961, oil on canvas, 100 x 168 cm, Gift of ICI Canada Inc., McMichael Canadian Art Collection, 1995.19.31 
Scott McFarland (b. 1975), Cheltenham Badlands, Olde Base Line Rd, Caledon, Ontario, 2011, archival inkjet print on paper, 111.8 x 293.4 cm, Purchased with the generous support of private donors, McMichael Canadian Art Collection, 2024.27 
Takao Tanabe (b. 1926), The Land #23, 1972, acrylic wash on canvas, 111.5 x 183 cm, Gift from the Christopher Bredt and Jamie Cameron Collection, McMichael Canadian Art Collection, 2021.10.4 
William Kurelek (1927–1977), Jewish Immigrants Arriving on the Prairies, 1975, mixed media on board, 50.8 × 57.2 cm, Purchased 2022 through the generous support of The Schulich Foundation, Sara Vered and Family, and the Kurelek Circle of Supporters: Tony Comper, C.M., DH Gales Family Foundation, Christine and Andrew W. Dunn, Joan and Martin Goldfarb, Maxine Granovsky and Ira Gluskin, Gerald Sheff and Shanitha Kachan Charitable Foundation, Robin and Alan Loch, Lynwood Foundation, Karen and Christopher McCleave, Audrey and David Mirvish, Pilosof Family, Rotman Family, Sarick Family, McMichael Canadian Art Collection, 2022.5.1 © Estate of William Kurelek 
Faye HeavyShield (b.1953), Sisters, 1993, shoes altered with plaster, gesso and acrylic paint, outside diameter installed: 105 cm, Purchase 1995, McMichael Canadian Art Collection, 1995.2.A .L 
Christiane Pflug (1936–1972), Interior at Night, 1964–1965, oil and resin and/or oil medium on canvas, 140.1 x 127.3 cm, Gift of ICI Canada Inc., McMichael Canadian Art Collection, 1995.19.42 
Annie Pootoogook (1969–2016), Bringing Home Food, 2003-2004, coloured pencil and felt-tip pen over graphite on paper, 50.8 × 57.8 cm, Gift from the Christopher Bredt and Jamie Cameron Collection, McMichael Canadian Art Collection, 2016.10.5 
Rajni Perera (b. 1985), Tundra (Phylogeny series), 2023, acrylic, gouache, chalk, charcoal, gel pen and graphite on hand-marbled paper, 115 x 164 cm, Purchased with the generous support of the Edith Kennethea Dunn Memorial Acquisition Fund for Canadian Women Artists, McMichael Canadian Art Collection, 2024.4 
Alex Colville (1920–2013), Milk Truck, 1959, oil and synthetic resin on hardboard, 65.4 x 65.4 cm, Gift of ICI Canada Inc., McMichael Canadian Art Collection, 1995.19.12 
Stan Douglas (b. 1960), Stanley Cemetery, 2006, chromogenic print, 173 x 300 cm, Promised gift of Claudia Beck, McMichael Canadian Art Collection, PG2025.1 
Abbas Akhavan (b. 1977), Study for a Garden, 2017, cast bronze, 50 unique pieces, each: 119.4 x 5.1 x 5.1 cm, Purchased with the assistance of Francis and Eleanor Shen, Jane Wells and Mark Bursey, McMichael Canadian Art Collection, 2023.39 
Norval Morrisseau (1932–2007), Misshipeshoo-Earth Monster, 1969, tempera on paper, 101.6 x 162.1 cm, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. James J. Casey, McMichael Canadian Art Collection, 1989.1.17 
Margaux Williamson (b. 1976), Fire, 2021, oil on canvas, 177.8 x 213.4 cm, Promised gift of Christine and Andrew W. Dunn, McMichael Canadian Art Collection, PG2020.70.2 
Valérie Blass (b. 1967), Le retour du bâton (Malleus Maleficarum), 2024, wooden mallets, 95 x 91 x 20 cm and 81x 46 x 13 cm, Purchased with the generous support of the McMichael Transformation Fund, McMichael Canadian Art Collection, 2025.25.A-J 
Shuvinai Ashoona (b. 1961), Composition (Octopuses), 2018, coloured pencil, graphite and felt-tip pen on paper, 111.4 x 126.7 cm, Gift from the Christopher Bredt and Jamie Cameron Collection, McMichael Canadian Art Collection, 2021.10.1 
Sandra Brewster (b. 1973), Owning Yellow, 2023, acrylic and photo-based gel transfer on wood panel, 213.4 x 121.9 cm, Purchased with the generous support of Hatch, McMichael Canadian Art Collection, 2023.38. Photo: Toni Hafkenscheid, courtesy of Olga Korper Gallery. © Sandra Brewster 
Zachari Logan (b. 1980), Pool, for Tom. (July 8th 1917, a Wildflower was pulled from Canoe Lake), 2017, acrylic on plywood, 213.4 x 213.4 cm, Commissioned with financial assistance from Ontario 150, McMichael Canadian Art Collection, 2017.7.2 
Michael Snow (b. 1928–2023), Black & White, 1963, acrylic and refrigerator enamel on canvas marouflaged onto aluminum panel, 152.1 x 169.3 cm, Gift of ICI Canada Inc., McMichael Canadian Art Collection, 1995.19.54 Expanding
the Collection
See how new works are shaping the collection—explore recent acquisitions in the Magazine.