A Message from Alexandra Badzak, OAG Director and CEO

Dear Friends, Supporters and OAG Members;

On behalf of the OAG, I want to wish you all a happy and art-filled 2024!

Reflecting on the past 35^th Anniversary year, we are incredibly proud of the innovative way we worked with community to produce some truly remarkable exhibitions, events, and experiences, in particular, our retrospective of Norman Takeuchi’s oeuvre and the very popular 83 ‘til infinity, an exploration of hip hop which will close this year with a special party in collaboration with the National Arts Centre. We also launched a new initiative, OAG Artist Investiture Program, which honored the significant contributions made by several established Ottawa artists, which will now become an annual event.

Looking ahead, 2024 will see us continue to celebrate the work of important Ottawa artists, in this case photo-based practitioners, past and present, through major exhibitions featuring Jeff Thomas and William Topley, as well as an exploration into the Ottawa art ecology through a 50^th anniversary exhibition of the University of Ottawa’s Visual Art Department entitled Art School Confidential! We will also launch a new Firestone Collection of Canadian Art exhibition in February with our annual Art and Tea at the OAG featuring a not-to-miss Firestone Chat.

As a key cultural anchor in the heart of Ottawa, we believe OAG plays a unique role in our region by not only celebrating the art of our time and place but by being a space of care and community connection.  So, watch for new initiatives and partnerships in 2024 that champions the role art can play in wellbeing, tourism, and downtown renewal.

If you need a moment of quite reflection, a space for community convening or a chance to show off Ottawa’s artistic best to visiting friends and family- OAG is here for you! And remember, we are always free!

– Alexandra Badzak
Director and CEO, Ottawa Art Gallery