Renaissance Venice was a multicultural metropolis at the intersection of trade routes linking Europe to the Islamic World, with pigments, spices, and luxury objects flowing through the city. This fall, the Gardiner invites visitors to discover the lives of Venetians across the social spectrum, from tradespeople to wealthy elites. Lush, theatrical sets and digital animations will transport visitors to the

Floating City. Step into the workshop of the potter-entrepreneur and uncover a counter-narrative about the experiences of Renaissance women.

Renaissance Venice: Life and Luxury at the Crossroads recreates a sensory world of more than 110 objects, ranging from Chinese porcelain and Islamic metalware to Venetian textiles and glass. Ceramics from the Gardiner’s collection are displayed alongside objects from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Victoria and Albert Museum, The Detroit Institute of Arts, The Corning Museum of Glass, The Royal Ontario Museum, the Aga Khan Museum, the Art Gallery of Ontario, and the Bata Shoe Museum, among other lending institutions and private collections.

A global city in constant movement, Renaissance Venice parallels our own lives in many ways. Works by contemporary artists Lindsay Montgomery, Dorie Millerson, and Nadia Myre expand upon the connections between the present and the legacies of the past. Each brings a feminist critique that focuses, respectively, on story-telling traditions, domestic labour and exploitation, and Venice’s symbolic connection to the Americas and Indigenous Peoples through printed publications.

In the same way that Toronto’s vibrant cultural scene has been shaped by people from all over the world who now call this city home, the enduring artistic legacy of Renaissance Venice sprang from the city’s great diversity.

Renaissance Venice: Life and Luxury at the Crossroads runs from October 14, 2021 to January 9, 2022.

Adults: $15

Seniors: $11

Gardiner Friends: Free

Students: Free

Youth 18 and under: Free

Monday - Tuesday: 10 am - 6 pm

Wednesday: 10 am - 9 pm (Free admission after 4 pm)

Thursday - Friday: 10 am - 6 pm

Saturday - Sunday: 10 am - 5 pm