The excitement is palpable every year. Each spring, the Art Gallery of Hamilton hosts Ontario’s largest art sale west of Toronto, and the anticipation builds quickly as the opening date draws near.
Art collectors from across the region gather in the beautiful Joey and Toby Tanenbaum Pavilion for the annual AGH Art Sale, which is a celebration of the remarkable artistic talent found in Hamilton and neighbouring communities. More than 300 works by 76 regional artists are available for purchase, representing a broad range of artistic styles for visitors to explore and enjoy. This year’s show is open to the public from April 24 to 27.
“The Art Sale is for everyone,” says Jasmine Lazdins, Art Consultant at the AGH. “You don’t need to be an established art collector, and you don’t have to spend a lot of money to participate. We are featuring many works for entry-level collectors. Even if you don’t plan to make a purchase, we hope you join us and enjoy the artwork on display. Admission to the Art Sale is free, and admission to all galleries is also free for the duration of the show.”
The origins of the AGH Art Sale began with the Women’s Volunteer Committee (WVC), which was established in 1950 to support the AGH and raise money for the Gallery’s Building Fund. Over the next three years, the WVC undertook ambitious fundraising initiatives and played a significant role in enabling the AGH to open its new building on Forsyth Avenue in 1953.
In 1954, the WVC collaborated with Gallery Director T. R. MacDonald and organized The Sale of Fine Arts, which featured 200 works by 90 established Canadian artists. The show was officially opened by MP Ellen Fairclough, and visitors were able to view and purchase works by such artists as A.J. Casson, Charles Comfort, Kenneth Lochhead, F.H. Brigden, Louis Muhlstock, Frank Panabaker, Carl Schaefer, Elizabeth Bradford Holbrook, Robert Pilot, and Hugh Robertson.
Originally scheduled to run from September 17 to 30, the sale was extended for a week because of high public interest. More than 1,500 people visited during the first seven days, with 400 attending on the opening Sunday alone. Artworks were priced from $15 to $200 (approximately $165 to $2,000 today), and 50 paintings and sculptures valued at about $5,000 total (about $55,000 today) were sold during the first week.
In addition to organizing The Sale of Fine Arts, WVC members acted as guides and answered visitors’ questions about the works and artists. Visitors were given ballots so they could vote for their favourite piece of art, and the winner was a landscape painting by Frank Panabaker.
While the AGH Art Sale is now organized by the Art Sales + Services team every year, this annual event owes its beginnings to the insight, ingenuity and hard work of the WVC.
For the AGH Art Sale 2025, private viewings are available from 9 am to 9 pm on Wednesday, April 23 by invitation or appointment. Then on Thursday, April 24, the public is invited to attend the Opening Reception, where a cash bar and refreshments will be available.
Before the official launch on April 24, you can visit the Art Sale’s webpage to get a sneak peek at the artwork to be featured.
“Want to see it first?” asks Lazdins. “Be sure to register on the webpage to receive a notification as soon as the works are posted online to view.”
Ultimately, the AGH Art Sale is about community and creativity. Lazdins enjoys conversing with artists to learn more about their work, and seeing how various pieces of art resonate with visitors and other artists.
“It’s inspiring to see such a vibrant group of creative people gather and share their work at the AGH,” she says. “With so much talent in one room, it’s wonderful to see how different artists interpret the world and express themselves creatively. We are so grateful to the AGH volunteers who organized The Sale of Fine Arts back in 1954 and laid the foundations for such a wonderful annual tradition. We hope to see you at the AGH Art Sale 2025!”
Schedule for the AGH Art Sale 2025:
- Wednesday, April 23 – private viewings (by invitation or appointment only)
- Thursday, April 24 – Opening Reception (5 to 9 pm)
- Friday, April 25 – 11 am to 6 pm
- Saturday, April 26 – 11 am to 5 pm
- Sunday, April 27 – 11 am to 5 pm
Thank you to Ann Manson, Brian Winer, Marilyn Hollick, and Valery Dunlop of the AGH Volunteer Archive Committee. Their article in the March 2025 edition of the AGH Volunteer Newsletter served as the basis for the creation of this piece.
