AGO re-opens with a POP! on July 21

The AGO is re-opening! On July 21, 2021, the Gallery welcomes visitors back with a summer blockbuster, several new exhibitions, a new patio – and a lot of excitement.

“After eight months, we are absolutely thrilled to re-open our doors,” says Stephan Jost, the AGO’s Michael and Sonja Koerner Director, and CEO. “This time has served as a powerful reminder that art and culture are vital to our collective sense of wellbeing. I can’t wait to welcome our visitors in person again to see great art and reconnect with the ideas that inspire us.”

Pending final confirmation from the Province and Toronto Public Health, the Gallery will safely open under the public health regulations of Step 3 of the Ontario Roadmap to Reopen. Preparations have been underway for weeks, with the health and safety of staff members and visitors remaining the top priority.

There could be no better way to celebrate this happy moment than with the blockbuster of the summer! Opening on July 21 is the must-see exhibition of the Pop Art phenomenon, Andy Warhol. Tickets are on sale now at ago.ca.

Andy Warhol charts four decades of art-making in the life of one of the world’s most famous artists, told through more than 250 artworks including paintings, drawings, photographs, films and installations. Blurring the divide between the art world and popular culture, Warhol (1928 – 1987) funnelled his beliefs and desires into his art, captivating the world with his provocative images and collaborations.

Curated at the AGO by Kenneth Brummel, Associate Curator of Modern Art, Andy Warhol is an international collaboration between the AGO, Tate Modern and Museum Ludwig, Cologne. The exhibition features iconic portraits of Elvis, Dolly Parton, Karen Kain, Wayne Gretzky and Elizabeth Taylor, alongside Warhol’s conceptual works and experimental installations. The exhibition debuted at the Tate Modern, curated by Gregor Muir, Director of Collection, International Art, and Fiontán Moran, Assistant Curator.  

The AGO Community (Members and Annual Passholders) is the first to see Andy Warhol. A Members window runs from July 21 – 25. Annual Passholders are eligible to join Members to see it as of July 24, and the exhibition opens to single-ticket visitors on July 27. There’s no better time to become a Member or Annual Passholder. For more information on how to join the AGO Community visit tickets.ago.ca.

July 21 also marks the opening of several new exhibitions including Ben Woolfitt: Rhythms and Series; Meditation and the Medieval Mind; and Shuvinai Ashoona: Beyond the Visible. For more details about these, in addition to ongoing exhibitions such as the compelling video installation Ragnar Kjartansson: Death is Elsewhere, visit ago.ca/exhibitions.

How to Visit

The AGO takes safety very seriously, and will strictly adhere to all public health regulations. Everyone entering the Gallery over the age of two must wear a face mask or face covering, and physical distancing will be required. Visitors are encouraged to visit and review our reopening web page for more information and helpful FAQs, and to self-assess before visiting the Gallery.

Advance purchase or reservation of a timed ticket is required for all entry to the AGO, including General Admission. A limited number of tickets is available for each 15-minute timeslot in order to help control the flow of visitors.

Admission is free for AGO Members, holders of the $35 AGO Annual Pass and all visitors ages 25 and under. Single tickets are $25 per person. Memberships, Annual Passes and single tickets are available at tickets.ago.ca.

Following its re-opening week (which begins on a Wednesday), the AGO will resume its regular weekly hours of operation from Tuesday to Sunday, beginning at 10:30 a.m. The Gallery closes at 5:30 p.m., except on Wednesdays and Fridays, when it’s open until 9 p.m. Free Wednesday Nights return on July 21, with a limited number of free General Admission tickets released on the AGO website each Monday. For more information visit ago.ca.

Shop and Dine

ShopAGO’s on-site store will re-open to the public on July 21, featuring a curated selection of merchandise available for purchase. Capacity limits and physical distancing measures will be in place. Customers may also shop online at shop.ago.ca, which offers a range of art-inspired books, gifts and jewelry. Online shopping/delivery is available now.

AGO Bistro will offer take-out as well as patio dining in a brand new outdoor space at the corner of Dundas and McCaul Streets, starting July 21. For hours and menus, visit ago.ca/ago-bistro. Café AGO, the Espresso Bar in Galleria Italia and the Norma Ridley Members’ Lounge remain temporarily closed. Capacity limits, screening and contact tracing measures will be in place as appropriate.

Acknowledgements

Andy Warhol is organized by Tate Modern, London, in collaboration with Museum Ludwig, Cologne, and the Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto. It is curated by Gregor Muir, Director of Collection, International Art, and Fiontán Moran, Assistant Curator, Tate Modern; and Yilmaz Dziewior, Director, and Stephan Diederich, Curator, Collection of Twentieth-Century Art, Museum Ludwig, Cologne. Curated at Art Gallery of Ontario by Kenneth Brummel, Associate Curator, Modern Art.

Signature Partner                 RBC

Supporting Sponsors           Bulgari

                                            Heffel Fine Art Auction House

                                            Johnnie Walker Scotch Whisky

Generous Support                Janet Scott Family

Generous Assistance           Carol & Morton Rapp

Supported by the Government of Canada

@AGOToronto | #WarholAGO 
 
ABOUT THE AGO
Located in Toronto, the Art Gallery of Ontario is one of the largest art museums in North America, attracting approximately one million visitors annually. The AGO Collection of more than 120,000 works of art ranges from cutting-edge contemporary art to significant works by Indigenous and Canadian artists and European masterpieces. The AGO presents wide-ranging exhibitions and programs, including solo exhibitions and acquisitions by diverse and underrepresented artists from around the world. In 2019, the AGO launched a bold new initiative designed to make the museum even more welcoming and accessible with the introduction of free admission for anyone 25 years and under and a $35 annual pass. Visit AGO.ca to learn more.
 
The AGO is funded in part by the Ontario Ministry of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries. Additional operating support is received from the City of Toronto, the Canada Council for the Arts and generous contributions from AGO Members, donors and private-sector partners.