100 Years in the Making
For over a hundred years, when the world thought of Canadian art, it thought of the land. But in those paintings, the land is almost always empty. The people who lived on it, worked on it, crossed it; are not the subject.
The Portrait Gallery of Canada exists to tell the other part of the story. Canada is not only its landscape. It is its people. And their portraits have been waiting long enough to be seen.
Today, Canada stands at a moment of reflection, renewal and pride. The Portrait Gallery of Canada exists to tell the rest of the story.
Help us share Canada’s portraits
The Portrait Gallery of Canada is built on the conviction that being seen is not a privilege. Canada’s portraits exist—in archives and public and private collections—mostly unseen by the public.
Our Goals
Working with communities, governments, artists, partners and supporters, the Portrait Gallery of Canada is developing a hybrid national model organized around four pillars:
Bring portraits to the people of Canada - from coast to coast to coast
Celebrate portraiture by Canadians and of Canadians
Create accessible experiences for audiences across the country
Establish a permanent home for Canadian portraiture
Our goal - over 100 years in the making - is to tell and share the stories of our people. Our aim is to bring Canadians face to face with the people and stories that have shaped — and continue to shape — Canada through the art of portraiture. This work is guided by our vision of building Canada’s national portrait gallery — a place, a platform and a national institution through which Canadians can see themselves and one another.
Become Part of Canada’s Self Portrait
Building a Portrait Gallery for Canada is an investment in memory, dialogue, creativity and belonging. Together we are building a national institution where Canadians come face to face with the people and stories that define who we have been, who we are, and who we aspire to be as part of Canada's evolving story.