C u lt u r e
The Fumihiko Maki–designed
aga khan Museum
art Gallery of Ontario
Art Galleries and
Museums
rich history, intriguing works and slick
design By Laura CLarke
100 Queens Park, rom.on.ca
The Power Plant
The Power Plant is hard to miss,
considering the towering smoke-
stack sporting its name—a holdover
from the building’s days as an
actual power station. Today, this
leading public gallery features a
rotating lineup of contemporary art
exhibitions. 231 Queens Quay W.,
thepowerplant.org
Art Gallery of Ontario
This Frank Gehry–designed space
is more than just home to a stellar
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EssEntial toronto
permanent collection and critically
acclaimed touring exhibits
ranging from Basquiat to Georgia
O’Keeffe—it’s a cultural and
educational hub. Check out the First
Thursday events for an interactive
artistic exchange and all-around fun
party. 317 Dundas St. W., ago.ca
Aga Khan Museum
Venturing out of the downtown
core is worth it to experience the
epic scope of this museum, which
brilliantly showcases the diversity of
Muslim art and culture. Historical
artifacts ranging from the Iberian
Peninsula to China commingle
with exhibits by contemporary
Muslim artists, not to mention
music, dance, theatre, lecture and
film programming. 77 Wynford Dr.,
Gardiner Museum
12 ambitious artists in 1979, has
managed to remain an epicentre
for diverse and often experimental
contemporary work. Its artist-
founded and -focused approach
guarantees experimental and in-
novative exhibitions that challenge
the status quo. 1286 Bloor St. W.,
museumofcontemporaryart.ca
mercerunion.org
agakhanmuseum.org
Mercer Union
Mercer Union, a non-profit
venue founded by a group of
iconic heritage Automotive Build-
ing come fall 2017. The highly
anticipated move promises a space
that is as unique and historically
relevant as the international and
Canadian contemporary art the
gallery showcases. 158 Sterling Rd.,
Museum of Contemporary Art
This museum, formerly a corner-
stone of the Queen West arts
community, is relocating to the
Design Exchange
Spend the day learning about the
history of industrial design in
Canada from 1945 to the present,
and feast your eyes on the DX’s
Royal Ontario Museum
The ROM’s crystalline architecture
may be debatable (see for yourself
if you love or hate it), but Canada’s
largest museum knows how to keep
the public engaged, with recent
exhibits as diverse and compelling
as Anishinaabeg art, the cultural
history of tattoos and the
conservation of the blue whale.