National Gallery of Canada

The National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa is the country’s principal national art museum, housing major collections of Canadian, Indigenous, European and contemporary art. The gallery’s building, designed by Moshe Safdie and opened in 1988, features a dramatic glass-and-granite Great Hall.

Permanent collections include Canadian historical and contemporary painting and sculpture, a growing collection of Indigenous art, European Old Masters and modern and contemporary international works; rotating temporary exhibitions present thematic and travelling shows. The grounds and approaches display large-scale outdoor sculptures.

The institution was established to build and preserve the nation’s art heritage and has grown its collections through purchases, donations and national programs since its founding in the late 19th and 20th centuries.

The National Gallery sits on Sussex Drive in downtown Ottawa, close to Parliament Hill and the Ottawa River, forming part of the capital’s cultural and civic corridor.

• Building and opening: The gallery building was designed by architect Moshe Safdie and opened in its present form in 1988, becoming a prominent modern landmark on Ottawa's museum strip.

What to See #

• Great Hall: The Great Hall is a glass-and-granite atrium that functions as the building's central space and offers views toward Parliament Hill and the Ottawa River.
• Canadian and Indigenous galleries: Dedicated galleries present Canadian and Indigenous art, with a focus on national artists and major Indigenous collections and exhibitions.
• Sculpture and outdoor installations: Outdoor grounds include notable contemporary sculpture installations, including the large spider sculpture by Louise Bourgeois known as "Maman."