WELCOME TO THE COLLECTION
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Image credit: Dave Kemp, 2020
Glenhyrst Art Gallery maintains a significant collection of more than 650 artworks and objects of historical importance. A selection of these, chosen by the curator, is displayed to the public once a year during our permanent collection exhibition. Works can also be strategically incorporated into other exhibitions as well. By collecting, conserving, and exhibiting significant works of art, we fulfill an essential cultural role for the City of Brantford, Brant County, and Six Nations of the Grand River, as well as for visitors to the area. The collection comprises four main areas: historical paintings by Robert Reginald Whale and his descendants, contemporary works on paper, paintings and drawings by Doris Slater Titus, and modern outdoor sculpture.
Robert R. Whale, Deer in a Forest Glen, oil on canvas, n.d.
Robert Reginald Whale
With the formation of the Glenhyrst Art Gallery of Brant in 1986, Glenhyrst Art Gallery became the world’s largest collection of paintings by 19th century Brantford-based artist Robert Reginald Whale. The Gallery also holds works by his sons John Claude and Robert Heard and nephew John Hicks Whale. Their landscapes, portraits, and animal studies document the heritage of Southwestern Ontario.
Doris Slater Titus, Untitled, mixed media on canvas, 1962
Doris Slater Titus
Born near Chatham, Ontario in 1917, Doris Slater Titus is one of Canada’s most important artists. Her drawings for the 1942 comic “Pat the Air Cadet” made Titus the first woman comic book artist in Canada. In 1952, she was hired as an art instructor at Brantford Collegiate Institute & Vocational School and she founded the Brantford Sketch Club, which convened at Glenhyrst Gardens (now Glenhyrst Art Gallery). The Gallery holds the largest public collection of Titus’s artwork in the world.
David Milne, After Sunset, ink and acrylic on paper, 1948
Works on Paper
A renowned grouping of contemporary works on paper constitutes the balance of the collection. Initiated by the Art Gallery of Brant through nine acclaimed “Graphex” exhibitions, the collection includes some of the Canada’s finest printmakers and artists working on paper. Artists include Alex Janvier, Joyce Wieland, David Milne, Meredith Berry, and Jean Paul Riopelle. Between 1970 and 1985, the Gallery received numerous donations from philanthropist Walter Carsen. These works are mainly by 20th century European artists such as Karel Appel, Josef Albers, Hans Arp, Jean Dubuffet, and many others.
Dave Hind, Meg’s Pause installed in Glenhyrst Gardens, metal and stone, 2007
Outdoor Sculpture Garden
The Gallery’s collection has expanded to include unique modern sculpture that complement the landscape throughout Glenhyrst Gardens. These outdoor artworks incorporate either organic material in their construction or organic form as structure. These include “Life Mound” by V. Jane Gordon, “11 from two” by Ryszard Litwiniuk, and “Meg’s Pause” by Brantford artist David Hind.
We thank the Samuel W. Stedman Foundation for their support.