Directors Collect: 110 Years

The Art Gallery of Hamilton is renowned for its permanent collection. It has been thoughtfully built over the last century by individuals both inside and outside its walls. Artists, directors, curators, donors, dealers, volunteers and many more have had a hand in shaping the holdings. On the occasion of our 110th anniversary, we foreground this crucial context: who built the collection and how did they do it?  

Six directors have led the AGH over its history: Thomas Reid (T. R.) MacDonald (1947-1973) (represented by his daughter artist Katherine MacDonald), Glen Cumming (1973-1989), Robert Swain (1990-1991), Ted Pietrzak (1992-1998), Louise Dompierre (1998-2014) and Shelley Falconer (2015 to present). This exhibition highlights their choices and voices regarding collection building during their leadership.  Each one has selected key works acquired during their terms and in so doing reflected on collecting decisions and strategies as a means of considering the holdings today.  

What were their priorities? What challenges did they face? How do their choices reflect broader socio-cultural, political and artistic trends of the day? In placing curatorial responsibility and process in the hands of the directors, these questions and more provide windows into each period of collection building and how, collectively, they shaped the AGH permanent collection.