Iconic Toronto Paintings

15 iconic paintings of Toronto worth knowing about

Toronto's depiction in paintings doesn't seem to get much attention, particularly these days as we're inundated with photographic images of the city at an astonishing pace. Yet, even as Toronto is not a place with an enormous catalogue of artwork devoted to it (compared to say Paris or New York), there's a rich artistic history to be found if you care to look.

The last time I visited this subject, I wanted to draw attention to Edith G. Firth's Toronto in Art, a book which is sadly no longer in print. This collection expands on the previous one by adding significant works by John DeRinzy, William Kurelek, Peter Doig, Brian Kipping, and two of Toronto's most prolific plein air painters, Jerry Campbell and Michael Pieczonka.

Take a tour of Toronto through the eyes of a painter.

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Lawren Harris, House on St. Patrick St. 1922

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Tom Roberts, City Lights 1945

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John DeRinzy, Men excavating timber-lined trench 1950

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Albert Franck, Behind Massey Street 1966

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Clark McDougal, A&A Music 1969

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Kim Ondaatje, The Hearn 1974

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William Kurelek, Balsam Avenue After Heavy Snowfall

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William Kurelek, And in Harvest of Our Mere Humanism

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Les Tait, 1182 Bloor Street West, 1982

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Peter Doig, Country-Rock (Wing-Mirror), 1999

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Peter Harris, Dundas Garden 2005

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Michael Pieczonka, Captain John's, 2000s

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Brian Kipping, Union Station 6:58pm 2005

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Jerry Campbell, Toronto Skyline 2014

What's your favourite painting of Toronto? Share your contributions in the comments.

Lead painting by Walter Coucill (Eaton Centre Excavation 1975)


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