The Tip of an Iceberg
The works hung on this wall represent artists and moments in the Art Gallery of Hamilton’s permanent collection, which numbers over 10,000 works.
We chose these works to speak for the larger whole. Our goal was to try and give a sense of the scope of the collection ‘at a glance’. We consider artists that are well represented in our holdings; regional, national, and international painters; aesthetics and defined art movements are singular works by both well-. and lesser-known, artists.
The collection is first and foremost Canadian. Begun in 1914, it is now over one hundred years old and therefore a reflection of its (centuries-old) times. The collection was built within the context of settler and colonial perspectives. Today, we work to build a more diverse and varied collection that includes the voices of those that have been underserved and underrepresented: women, Indigenous artists, artists of color, and of different abilities. This is a work in progress, but we are steadfast in our commitment.
To see much more of the collection please visit Gallery Level 2, which is devoted almost entirely to showcasing highlights from the vaults. What you see here is simply the tip of the iceberg.
