Art Gallery of Guelph (AGG)

It's install time 🖼️ 🔨 A heads up that AGG galleries are closed from May 4 - 20 for summer exhibition installation. MFA exhibitions Celeste Cares: Eyes Without a Face (May 7 – 12), and Clea Christakos-Gee: Clear Sleeve (May 16 – 21), will remain open during this time. The AGG Gallery Shop is also open to the public, and the Sculpture Park is looking particularly beautiful, so don't skip out on a visit. Be sure to return to the Art Gallery of Guelph on Wednesday, May 27 at 6:30 pm for the launch of our summer exhibitions! ~ Image descriptions: (1) colour image, a standee sign with the notice, "Gallery Closed for Installation, Please do not enter", displayed in an empty gallery space with freshly painted green and yellow walls (2) colour image, a gallery space in installation mode, with pieces of plywood and a pallet in the foreground, a pallet jack in the middle right, and a plinth mid-construction in the back

Clea Christakos-Gee: Clear Sleeve – on view May 16 – 21. Working with found imagery, MFA candidate Clea Christakos-Gee cuts, collects, and composes collage pieces, embracing the material qualities of photography to create intimate and diaristic works. In this exhibition, enlarged images documenting overlapping photo album sleeves filled with cut-outs from the artist's collection start to speak to one another. Visit the AGG and check out her exhibition which marks the culmination of two years of work in the University of Guelph’s Master of Fine Arts program. The Art Gallery of Guelph’s annual exhibitions of graduating MFA students are presented in partnership with the School of Fine Art and Music at the University of Guelph. ~ Image details: (1) Clea Christakos-Gee, Album (Privacy), 2025, inkjet print on transparent film. Courtesy of the artist (2) Clea Christakos-Gee: Clear Sleeve installation view. Courtesy of AGG staff (3) Clea Christakos-Gee, Profile, 2025, UV print on plexiglass. Courtesy of the artist (4) Clea Christakos-Gee: Clear Sleeve installation view. Courtesy of AGG staff (5) Photo of exhibition vinyl. Photo by AGG staff (6) Clea Christakos-Gee: Clear Sleeve installation view. Courtesy of AGG staff Image descriptions: (1) colour image, an detail of a suspended inkjet print on transparent film, casting a colourful shadow against the white wall behind it (2) colour image, an installation shot of Clea Christakos-Gee: Clear Sleeve, depicting four suspended transparent film collages in a white-walled gallery space (3) colour image, a UV print on plexiglass of a pixelated figure's profile with orange hair, facing to the right (4) colour image, an installation shot with a suspended transparent film collage to the right, and the UV print from the previous slide to the left (6) colour image, a photo of a white gallery wall with exhibition title, "Clea Christakos-Gee: Clear Sleeve" in large black letters, and a description of the exhibition below.

On Thursday, May 21, join the AGG Volunteer Association for a talk with artist and co-owner of Wyndham Art Supplies, Chris Ahlers. In this engaging talk, Chris will share the story behind the store’s beginnings and its growth within the local arts scene. He’ll also highlight exciting new initiatives, discuss current trends in art-making, and showcase some of the latest materials available today. ~ Image description: Digital graphic, an event poster with the title, "Volunteer Talk with Chris Ahlers" in a white font against a dark background. Underneath the title is the Wyndham Art Supplies logo set against a light brown background. Below is the AGG's logo beside details on the talk, "Thursday, May 21, 12 - 1 pm. Free, in-person"

📣 Upcoming Exhibitions at AGG 📣 We're thrilled to present two upcoming exhibitions, both on view May 21 – August 30. Swipe for a preview of Couzyn van Heuvelen: CAMP, and Windfall Light. Join us for our Summer Exhibitions Launch: 🗓 Wednesday, May 27 ⏰ 6:30 – 8:30 pm All are welcome and admission is free. Refreshments will be served and a cash bar will be available. See you there! ~ Image details: (1) Couzyn van Heuvelen, Stretching Sealskin, wool yarn, rug cloth, rug backing pad, wood, and rope, 2023. Courtesy of the artist. Photo by Toni Hafkenscheid; Monica Tap, Summer Camp (detail), 2021, oil on canvas, 132.1 x 109.2 x 3.8 cm. Courtesy of the artist (2) Couzyn van Heuvelen, Stretching Sealskin (detail), wool yarn, rug cloth, rug backing pad, wood, and rope, 2023. Courtesy of the artist. Photo by Toni Hafkenscheid (3) Monica Tap, Summer Camp (detail), 2021, oil on canvas, 132.1 x 109.2 x 3.8 cm. Courtesy of the artist Image descriptions: (1) colour image, digital graphic with text along the top reading, "Exhibitions - Upcoming" and two horizontal images of artworks stacked on top of each other. The top image is a tufted sealskin displayed in a wooden frame, and the bottom image is a painting of a campsite and fire nestled in a green forest. (2) colour image, digital graphic with text along the top reading, "Couzyn van Heuvelen: CAMP", and a detail image of the tufted sealskin by van Heuvelen from the previous slide. A block of text describes the exhibition below. (3) colour image, digital graphic with text along the top reading, "Windfall Light", and a detail of the Monica Tap painting from the first slide. A block of text describes the exhibition below.

Yesterday, on my lunch break, I wandered around the @agguelph grounds to check out the art! From 1994-1972, the building was a school with the University of Guelph, but since then it's been an art gallery. In 1983, the AGG developed the outdoor space into the Donald Forster Sculpture Park. Today, there are 41 permanent sculptures over 2.5 acres of land around the art gallery. These are just some of the ones that really caught my eye. I'll have to go back to see more and maybe do a tour of the interior of the building. Ps. Fun fact: I was supposed to be an illustrator once upon a time and I've started to get back into drawing and painting. I hope to one day have a piece up in this gallery! #Guelph #GuelphOntario #UniversityOfGuelph #UofG #ArtGalleryOfGuelph

Celeste Cares: Eyes Without a Face – on view May 7 – 12. MFA candidate Celeste Cares' oil paintings are imbued with a sense of dissociation and anxiety, while remaining focused on surface, appearances, and gendered dynamics. In this exhibition, Cares reworks elements of media environments and consumer culture—including television characters, mannequins, kitsch collectibles, and luxury goods—into uncanny psychological portraits. Visit the AGG and check out her exhibition which marks the culmination of two years of work in the University of Guelph’s Master of Fine Arts program. The Art Gallery of Guelph’s annual exhibitions of graduating MFA students are presented in partnership with the School of Fine Art and Music at the University of Guelph. ~ Image details: (1) Celeste Cares, Two Girls, 2026, oil on birch panel. Courtesy of the artist (2) Photo of exhibition vinyl. Photo by AGG staff (3) Celeste Cares: Eyes Without a Face exhibition installation photo. Photo by AGG staff (4) Celeste Cares, Doggy, 2026, oil on birch panel (5) Celeste Cares, Mouth, 2025, oil on birch panel. Courtesy of the artist; Celeste Cares, Man with Rabbit, 2026, oil on birch panel. Courtesy of the artist (6) Celeste Cares, Footsie, 2025, oil on birch panel. Courtesy of the artist Image descriptions: (1) colour image, an oil painting of two plastic dolls in pigtails against a green background. The painting is hung on a white wall (2) colour image, a photo of a white gallery wall with exhibition title, Celeste Cares: Eyes Without a Face" in large black letters, and a description of the exhibition below. (3) colour image, an installation shot of a gallery space with white walls and hard-wood flooring. Paintings depict collectible objects, tv characters, and mannequins. (4) colour image, an oil painting of a white ceramic dog collectible with a blue background. The painting is hung on a white wall (5) colour image, two paintings hung on a white gallery wall, one of a nose and mouth, the other of a man with a rabbit figurine (6) colour image, an oil painting of two feet in pink high heels adorned with with plush bunny rabbits

The Art Gallery of Guelph is deeply saddened by the loss of artist Jessica Karuhanga. A first-generation Canadian artist of British Ugandan heritage, Jessica explored questions of identity and the complexities of Black diasporic experience through lens-based technologies, sculpture, writing, drawing, and performance. Jessica’s work was presented by the Art Gallery of Guelph in the exhibition Collective Offerings, curated by Mitra Fakhrashrafi and Vince Rozario in 2021—an exhibition highlighting practices that spoke to collective interdependence and the mitigation of isolation through communities and networks of care. Through this and many other exhibitions, commissions, and public conversations across Canada and internationally, Jessica shared a distinct vision grounded in generosity, inviting audiences to connect on emotional and sensory levels. Jessica’s life and work will have an enduring impact on contemporary art and the wider arts community. We extend our deepest sympathies to her family, friends, colleagues, students, and to the many communities she was part of. Image: Jessica Karuhanga, Being who you are there is no other (still), 2017, two single-channel videos

A wall hanging by Irene Avaalaaqiaq Tiktaalaaq that feels like the perfect spring day 🌞 #CollectionSelection Avaalaaqiaq Tiktaalaaq is known for her textile works which utilize embroidery and appliqué to reference stories, legends, and life on the land. Her vibrant prints and drawings also reflect these themes, grounded in Inuit stories and lived experience. ~ Image details: (1-2) Irene Avaalaaqiaq Tiktaalaaq, Happy Spring has Returned, 1981, wool duffel and felt, cotton embroidery floss. Purchased with funds raised by the Art Centre Volunteers and with the support of the Canada Council for the Arts Acquisition Assistance Program, 2001. Macdonald Stewart Art Centre Collection at the Art Gallery of Guelph Image description: (1) Colour image, a detail of a graphic felt and wool wall hanging. The textile artwork features a series of faces, some purple and facing forward, and others yellow and brown and facing the side. (2) Colour image, the full artwork from the previous slide is revealed, with more details visible. In the centre of the textile piece is an abstracted figure in yellow with four heads and a foot. Underneath the artwork image is the title and the artist's name.

📣 MFA Exhibitions: Coming Soon 📣 Save the dates for two upcoming exhibitions by 2nd-year MFA students Celeste Cares and Clea Christakos-Gee. These exhibitions mark the culmination of two years of dedicated work in the University of Guelph’s Master of Fine Arts program. Be sure to view Eyes Without a Face and Clear Sleeve at the AGG this May to celebrate these artists’ achievements! ~ Image details: (1) Celeste Cares, Mannequin ii (detail), 2025, oil on wood panel, 27.9 x 35.6 cm. Courtesy of the artist; Clea Christakos-Gee, Album 01 (detail), 2025, Inkjet print on transparent film, 76.2 x 114.3 cm. Courtesy of the artist. (2) Celeste Cares, Mannequin ii (detail), 2025, oil on wood panel, 27.9 x 35.6 cm. Courtesy of the artist (3) Clea Christakos-Gee, Album 01 (detail), 2025, Inkjet print on transparent film, 76.2 x 114.3 cm. Courtesy of the artist Image descriptions: (1) digital graphic, two vertical images depicting an oil painting of half of a mannequin's face on the left, and a digital print of a collage on the right side. Along the top of the graphic is text reading, "MFA Exhibitions | Upcoming" (2) colour image, digital graphic with text along the top reading, "Celeste Cares: Eyes Without a Face", and an image of an oil painting of a mannequin's face. A block of text describes the exhibition below. (3) colour image, digital graphic with text along the top reading, "Clea Christakos-Gee: Clear Sleeve", and an image of collage cutouts set in overlapping photo album sleeves. A block of text describes the exhibition below.

Want to make your own custom hand-printed tote bag? Here's an example facilitator Leah made for a friend ✨ Come carve a stamp and print a tote bag at our Carve & Create: Linocutting Workshop on May 8 from 5 - 7 pm! All materials will be provided, including a bag and/or paper for printing. Date: Friday, May 8 Time: 5 - 7 pm Price: $15 16+ | All Materials Provided | All Skill Levels Welcome Register through the link in our bio 📌 Carve & Create is the first workshop of the Art Gallery of Guelph’s Sunshine Studio Series - a welcoming creative and social space where community members 16+ are invited to gather, connect, and explore their creativity through a series of guided beginner-friendly craft projects. ~ Image descriptions: (1) Colour image, a flat lay of a lino-printed tote bag on the left side, with an ornate repeating pattern in olive green. To the right is the lino stamp and ink rolled out onto a piece of acrylic (2) digital graphic, a flat-lay image of printmaking materials with the title, "Carve & Create: Linocutting Workshop" overtop. Underneath are details on the workshop, including the date, "Friday, May 8, 5 - 7 pm" and price ($15) (3) Colour image, a detail of the lino-printed tote bag, with the name "Taylor" in a cursive font in black ink in the centre

Final days to catch our current exhibitions: Ron Shuebrook & Frances Thomas: In Conversation, Prism International Printmaking, and Kananginak Pootoogook: Printing The Inuit World 📌 Closing Sunday, May 3, these shows spotlight core artistic practices—painting and printmaking. Visit the AGG (open Tuesday–Sunday, 12 – 5 pm) and experience them before they’re gone! ~ Image details: (1) Ron Shuebrook, Aspotogan Monkey-rope, 2013, etching on paper with chine-colle. Gift of the Artist, Woodstock Art Gallery Collection; Frances Thomas, Midnight Rainbow, 2022, acrylic on canvas. Gift of the Artist, Woodstock Art Gallery Collection (2) Installation view of Prism International Printmaking, 2026. Photo by Toni Hafkenscheid (3) Installation view of Kananginak Pootoogook: Printing the Inuit World, 2026. Photo by Toni Hafkenscheid Image descriptions: (1) colour image, two abstract artworks hung beside each other on a white wall, the left piece a black and white etching, and the right a colourful, lyrical painting (2) colour image, three abstract prints, one in greyscale and the other two colourful, hung against bright orange and white walls (3) colour image, an install shot of the exhibition Kananginak Pootoogook: Printing the Inuit World, with a vinyl print of Inuit tools and fauna and various artworks hung on the wall, alongside a book on a plinth

🌅 AGG Gallery Shop Feature: Leah Olsen-Kent 🌅 Leah Olsen-Kent is a Cambridge-based artist whose oil paintings reflect a deep connection to nature. Swipe to learn more about her background and creative process! Visit the AGG Shop - open Tuesdays to Sundays from 12 to 5 pm - and check out Leah's work in person. ~ Image descriptions: (1) Digital graphic with an image of a landscape painting of a sunset over a lake, with text reading, "AGG Gallery Shop Feature" along the top, and, "Leah Olsen-Kent" along the bottom (2) Digital graphic reading, "AGG Gallery Shop Feature" along the top with an image of the artist and her work. Below the image is a blurb about the artist. Underneath is text reading, "Leah Olsen-Kent". (3) Digital graphic reading, "AGG Gallery Shop Feature" along the top, with more details on the artist's location and other creative pursuits, and an image of a seasonal outdoor planter. Underneath is the artist's name, reading "Leah Olsen-Kent" (4) Digital graphic reading, "AGG Gallery Shop Feature" along the top with three images showing the progression of a landscape painting. Above the images is insight into the artist's creative approach. Below the images is text reading, "Leah Olsen-Kent". (5) Digital graphic reading, "AGG Gallery Shop Feature" along the top with the text on how the artist approaches creating intuitively. To the left of the text is an image of a sunset landscape painting. Below is text reading, "Leah Olsen-Kent". (6) Digital graphic reading, "AGG Gallery Shop Feature" along the top with an image of a sunset landscape painting in blues and oranges. Below is text reading, "Leah Olsen-Kent."