The Etobicoke Civic Centre Art Gallery presents a wide range of visual art exhibitions celebrating juried and curated shows. Situated within the Etobicoke Civic Centre, this large public gallery provides free and accessible opportunities for visitors to enjoy and engage with the artwork on display.
Located on the lower level, the Ascent Galley is dedicated to exhibiting works by emerging artists from diverse communities who live in Toronto.
Free
Monday to Friday: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Sunday: Closed
Statutory holidays: Closed
Monday to Friday: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Sunday: Closed
Statutory holidays: Closed
Elevator access to Ascent Gallery: Monday to Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
From Highway 401 or the QEW, take Highway 427 to the Burnhamthorpe Road West exit. Turn south onto The West Mall. The gallery is located in the Etobicoke Civic Centre, on the southeast corner of Burnhamthorpe Road and The West Mall.
From Kipling subway station, take the West Mall 112 bus to Civic Centre Court. From Islington subway station, take the Burnhamthorpe 50 bus to The West Mall. The gallery is located in the Etobicoke Civic Centre, on the southeast corner of Burnhamthorpe Road and The West Mall.
Main Gallery (Ground Level – L2)
Ascent Gallery (Lower Level – L1)
April 1 to April 30
Artist Talk: April 8, 7 p.m.
Arts Etobicoke invites viewers to see how individual creativity can illuminate life, transform the ordinary into the extraordinary and create a vibrant, intergenerational experience of imagination in this open call exhibit. As part of a longstanding collaboration with the City of Toronto, Arts Etobicoke works to amplify the vast local art scene through public engagement and opportunities for creative expression.
May 6 to June 4
Reception: May 9, 7 p.m.
Etobicoke’s senior artists illuminate both light and shadow in Legacy in Colour, a vibrant celebration of creativity and community. Showcasing the talent of the Horner Avenue Seniors Centre, this exhibition reflects years of artistic contribution to the Etobicoke Civic Centre Art Gallery. Together, these works honour the gallery’s past while imagining its future as a thriving hub for the arts. Presented in partnership with Parks & Recreation.
June 10 to July 9
Reception: June 13, 2 p.m.
Featuring newcomer immigrant artists working across disciplines, Shared Distance reflects on lived stories exploring memory, belonging, meanings of home and the threads that connect them. Mabelle Art’s exhibit expands on our partnership introduced to the Etobicoke Civic Centre in 2023 as part of their Newcomer Artist Training in Community Arts Facilitation program.
July 15 to August 13
Reception: July 19, 2 p.m.
Step into the vibrant mixed-media world of the Southern Ontario Visual Artists, where community and nature are transformed through personal expression. Fourteen artists reveal how everyday subjects become windows into emotion, memory and perception. Each piece captures the artist’s response to the world, offering visitors a fascinating glimpse into how subconscious feelings and experiences come to life through the power of visual art.
August 19 to September 17
Reception: August 22, 2 p.m.
Creative dialogue between visual and literary expression, where painted lines find their voice and written verse takes tangible form upon the canvas, defines this exhibit. Each artwork is paired with poetry or prose, exchanging a dialogue between painting, artist and audience. Laird Art’s curatorial intent nurtures the connection between visual dialogue and written language.
September 23 to October 21
Reception: September 27, 2 p.m.
Every brushstroke tells a story in the Federation of Canadian Artists Toronto exhibit. This collection captures the artist’s thoughts, emotions and moments in time, weaving technical skill and personality into complex visual narratives. The adventurous members invite you to engage with their inspired works—art that stirs imagination, reveals process and celebrates the stories behind each creation.
October 28 to November 26
Reception: November 1, 2 p.m.
Colour and Form Society presents an exhibit opportunity for their artists to showcase a myriad of talent and for non-members to be juried into membership of the organization. The Colour and Form Society was established in 1952 and has played a significant role in the cultural mosaic of Canada—promoting diversity, creative freedom and independence in art.
December 2, 2026 to January 14, 2027
Reception: December 5, 2 p.m.
Celebrate emerging voices in art at this annual exhibition, developed in partnership between the City of Toronto and Humber Polytechnic’s Arts Administration & Cultural Management Program. Showcasing early-career artists with focus on IBPOC, persons with disabilities and 2SLGBTQIA+, New Vistas highlights bold, fresh perspectives while giving students hands-on experience in programming, production and marketing. Witness the creativity shaping the next generation of artists and arts leaders.
February 4 to April 23
Reception: February 8, 2 p.m.
In the most multicultural city in the world, every street echoes with heritage, migration, resilience and imagination. This theme invites all ages and backgrounds to see themselves — and one another — through the eyes of these artists. From the personal to the collective, from memory to modernity, the Amazing Moss Park Art Collective’s City of Echoes is a call to celebrate the layered beauty of lives in Toronto.
May 14 to July 30
Reception: May 16, 2 p.m.
How do our personal histories shape identity and connection? Cassandra Cunningham’s new exhibit invites you to step into a world where past, present and future blend together. Through striking portraits and landscapes, her work opens a dialogue about the ways we connect with each other and how those relationships can shape the very passage of time.
August 6 to October 29
Reception: August 15, 2 p.m.
Visual perceptions of the human gaze are analyzed in this dual exhibit created by James Rose and Emmanuel Udeh. Rose depicts various forms of body modification to demonstrate how physical changes can have a sacred, transformative, spiritual effect that exceeds the body’s limitation. Udeh creates technically skilled, conceptually grounded drawings that balance realism with imagination; quiet yet powerful visual meditations explore what it means to watch and be watched.
November 4, 2026 to January 28, 2027
Reception: November 7, 2 p.m.
Huan Chen transforms native fungi and lichen into a powerful metaphor for the immigrant experience, telling stories of heritage, struggle, adaptation and new beginnings. Through striking imagery, the work reflects on human impact of natural habitats and the cultural shifts shaping urban life. Don’t miss this thought-provoking installation that connects nature, identity and community in surprising ways.
In 1976, a renovation to the 16-year-old building sparked a new vision. The vision was for a public gallery where local artists could shine and the community could experience creativity up close.
The original plan was to borrow works from major institutions like the Art Gallery of Ontario—but Arts Etobicoke lobbied for local artists to be included. The organization’s passion inspired then-Mayor Dennis Flynn to meet with local arts groups, leading to the formation of the Civic Centre Art Committee. Its mission was to champion local creativity and curate exhibitions that reflect the vibrant talent of the community.
On May 20, 1976, the gallery opened with a juried show featuring only Etobicoke artists. It was a milestone that set the tone for the next five decades.
Since then, the gallery has evolved alongside Etobicoke itself: through city status in 1983, Toronto’s amalgamation in 1998 and today with support from Toronto’s Arts & Culture Services. At the heart of it all has been the dedicated volunteer committee who curates exhibitions, supports artists and welcomes thousands of visitors year after year.
The gallery has presented more than 500 exhibitions, offering accessible, inclusive and high-quality art experiences. It continues to nurture emerging talent, welcome established artists and celebrate creativity.
The gallery is located within the main floor foyer and halls of the Etobicoke Civic Centre’s Central Block.
In 2023, the Ascent Gallery opened on Level 1 of the Etobicoke Civic Centre’s Central Block. Dedicated to early career artists, the gallery welcomes emerging individual artists and/or artist collectives, with a focus on artists who identify as IBPOC, disabled persons and 2SLGBTQIA+.