Ontario's Stunningly-Designed Art Gallery Is Home To Canada's Most Treasured Masterpieces

Toronto is a vibrant city with tons to see and do, from the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) and the Hockey Hall of Fame to the Bata Shoe Museum, a unique attraction for the fashion-focused. The skyline views from the CN Tower and scenic ferry boat tours are great, but the city also appeals to those with an artsy flair. With independent galleries, countless theaters, cozy comedy clubs, and graffiti tours, Toronto's art scene is one of the best in Canada, and right at the heart of it is the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO).

Tourists often say the AGO is one of the must-visit spots in Toronto, and they have a point. This intentionally designed art gallery was remodeled in 2008 by architect Frank Gehry and is a work of art in its own right. The remodeling of the AGO was a sentimental one for Gehry, as it was his first Canadian project. You'll know you're in front of the AGO when you see the sweeping glass sculpture crowning its front doors on Dundas Street West.

The AGO is home to more than 120,000 artworks from all over the world. The collections hold a large array of Indigenous and Canadian art, and also include African, European, modern, and contemporary works. You can see centuries-old historical works, like the haunting "Massacre of the Innocents" by Peter Paul Rubens, or 21st-century artworks, like Christi Belcourt's "The Wisdom of the Universe." The AGO frequently has new exhibitions coming through the gallery, so each visit to the gallery will be a new experience. Currently, the AGO is hosting the "Joyce Wieland: Heart On" exhibition, a playful retrospective in honor ofthe beloved activist and artist, as well as "Moments in Modernism," a collection of modernist art including artists like Andy Warhol, Jules Olitski, and Alex Colville.

A regular AGO adult ticket is $30, but the gallery has many free and discounted options. To encourage more young Canadians to learn about art, the annual pass is free for Ontarians under 25, all children under nine, and all Indigenous Peoples. The gallery offers a coat check as well as free wheelchair access. Keep in mind that visitors are advised to keep their phones silenced, and visitors should refrain from touching any of the artwork. When planning your trip to the Great White North, make sure you don't miss the most beautiful places to visit in Canada.