Greg Hill, Chris Dueker, Lee-Ann Martin

Alex Janvier is among the most important figures in the development of contemporary Indigenous art in Canada. This retrospective presents more than 150 works created from 1950 to the present day and recounts the story of a life devoted to art and the re-empowerment of Indigenous cultures. Over a prolific sixty-five-year career Janvier has produced thousands of paintings and many public commissions, all in a unique style, recognizable for its calligraphic lines, vivid colours, Dene iconography and forms that evoke land, sky, galaxies and microscopic life. Janvier is part of a distinguished group of artists in Canada who have brought Indigenous beliefs, issues and aesthetics to the foreground and successfully combined them with Western art styles and techniques.

Paperback | 200 pages
23 x 28 cm (9 x 11 in.)
Publication Date: 2016

Ann Thomas, Vladimir Birgus, Ian Jeffrey 

Josef Sudek. Le monde à ma fenêtre examines how Sudek’s photographs reflect his relationship to the world around him; his endless fascination with light and its absence led him to create some of the 20th century’s most haunting images of nature, monuments, city streets and objects. This generously illustrated catalogue offers a compelling view of Sudek’s photographs and the rich artistic environment of Prague in the decades before and after the Second World War. 

Hardcover | 272 pages 
24.5 x 30.5 cm (9.7 x 12 in.) 
Publication Date: 2016 

Available in French only

Josée Drouin-Brisebois, Bruce McCulloch, Ryan Doherty, Nancy Tousley, William Wood 

Over the last four decades Chris Cran has earned a reputation as one of the most important painters in Canada. He has challenged our experience of traditional genres of painting by creating tensions between the discordant styles and movements from which he samples, including Pop Art, Photorealism, Modernist Abstraction and Op art. To complicate this mix, he has introduced popular imagery from advertising and graphic art from magazines from the 1950s and 1960s, producing works that exude a rare and unapologetic boldness and confidence. 

Slipcase | 204 pages 
23.5 x 30 cm (9.2 x 11.8 in.) 
Publication Date: 2016 

Only available in French

Marie Fraser

The National Gallery of Canada presents the dynamic trio BGL, with its ambitions installation Canadassimo, at the 2015 Venice Biennale International Art Exhibition. BGL’s work is witty, soulful and provocative. It explores social issues, consumerism, the relationship between culture and nature, even the absurdities of the art world. The catalogue contains an essay and an interview which offer valuable insights into the collective's practice.

Paperback | 200 pages
25.4 x 33 cm (10 x 13 in.)
Bilingual
Publication Date: 2015

Sonia Del Re, Dennis T. Lanigan, Christopher Newall

Beauty's Awakening expresses the richness, diversity and flair of British draftsmanship and illustrates the appreciation developed for the art of drawing during the Victorian era. Included are drawings by such masters as Edward Burne-Jones, John Everett Millais, William Holman Hunt, Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Edward Poynter and Frederic Leighton.

Paperback | 216 pages 
23 x 30 cm (9 x 12 in.) 
Publication Date: 2015

Sonia Del Re, Dennis T. Lanigan, Christopher Newall

L'éveil de la beauté expresses the richness, diversity and flair of British draftsmanship and illustrates the appreciation developed for the art of drawing during the Victorian era. Included are drawings by such masters as Edward Burne-Jones, John Everett Millais, William Holman Hunt, Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Edward Poynter and Frederic Leighton.

Paperback | 216 pages 
23 x 30 cm (9 x 12 in.)
Publication Date: 2015

Shine a Light Surgir de l'ombre: Canadian Biennial 2014 (Bilingual)

Josée Drouin-Brisebois, Greg Hill, Andrea Kunard, Jonathan Shaughnessy and Rhiannon Vogl

Shine a Light Surgir de l’ombre highlights an exemplar selection of recent acquisitions to the National Gallery of Canada’s Canadian Contemporary, Indigenous and Photographs holdings. This biennial showcases the production of twenty-six artists from different generations and backgrounds, and features over eighty works ranging from film and video installations to sculptures, paintings, drawings and photographs. Often looking to past events, literature, films, places, cultural movements and traditions, the artists in the exhibition are very much ingrained in issues of the present day. Their works encourage us to reconsider time and the writing of history, our relationship to the natural world, the powerful role of images in how information is communicated, and how we perceive and interpret accepted facts.

Featured artists: David Armstrong Six, Shuvinai Ashoona, Nicolas Baier, Shary Boyle, Edward Burtynsky, Tammi Campbell, Mario Doucette, Geoffrey Farmer, David Hartt, Isabelle Hayeur, Phillippa Jones, Stéphane La Rue, Rita Letendre, An Te Liu, David McMillan, Damian Moppett, Luke Parnell, Vanessa Paschakarnis, Ed Pien, Tim Pitsiulak, Kelly Richardson, Jeremy Shaw, Althea Thauberger, Jutai Toonoo, Howie Tsui, Lawrence Paul Yuxweluptun

Softcover | 264 pages
20.5 x 27.3 cm (8 x 10.75 in.)
Publication Date: 2014

Josée Drouin-Brisebois

As the commissioning institution for the 55th International Art Exhibition, the National Gallery of Canada presents the work of Shary Boyle, a consummate object maker who uses imaginary narratives to explore human psychological and emotional states. The catalogue highlights the artist’s practice, which spans a diversity of media, including fine craft, drawing, sculpture, experimental performance and immersive installations.

Paper | 192 pages 
20 x 29 cm (7.8 x 11.4 in.) 
Publication Date: 2013

English, French and Italian

Greg A. Hill, Candice Hopkins, Christine Lalonde 

The catalogue Sakahàn—meaning “to light [a fire]” in the language of the Algonquin peoples—focuses on the 2013 exhibition which brought together more than 150 works of recent Indigenous art by over 80 artists from 16 countries, including impressive installations created specifically for the project. Poetic, unexpected and challenging, the artworks document and interrogate distinct cultural and social issues. 

FEATURED ARTISTS: Vernon Ah Kee, Maria Thereza Alves, Pia Arke, Arnait Video Productions, Arnaqurq Ashevak, Shuvinai and John Noesthedan Ashoona, Sonny Assu, Mary Anne Barkhouse, Nanobah Becker, Christi Belcourt, Richard Bell, Rebecca Belmore, Corey and Larissa Healey Bulpitt, Andrea Carlson, Abraham & Jimena Mendoza Cruzvillegas, Cup'luaq (Jack Dalton), Beau Dick, Jimmie Durham, Suresh Kumar Dhurve, Nicholas Galanin, Billy Gauthier, Regina-José Galindo, Jeffrey Gibson, Daniel Guzman, Julie Edel Hardenberg, Marja Helander, Inuk Silis Høegh, Geir Tore Holm, Terrance Houle, Bayrol Jimenez, Jonathan Jones, Brian Jungen, Toru Kaizawa, Sonya Kelliher-Combs, Shigeyuki Kihara, Walis Labai, EN Lei, Omero Leyva, César López, Erica Lord, Jimmy Manning, Teresa Margolles, Da-Ka-Xeen Mehner, Danie Mellor, Alan Michelson, Kent Monkman, Wangechi Mutu, Nadia Myre, Shelley Niro, William Noah, Fiona Pardington, Michael Parekowhai, Viggo Pederson, Outi Pieski, Jamasee Padluq Pitseolak, Tim Pitseolak, Edward Poitras, Annie Pootoogook, Itee Pootoogook, Rachel and Brett Graham Rakena, Abel Rodriguez, Gjert Rognli, Jangarh Singh Shyam, Mayank Shyam, Venkat Raman Singh Shyam, Greg Staats, Yama Taru, Jeff Thomas, Warwick Thornton, Jutai Toonoo, Maka'i Tubbs, Ingunn Utsij, Taika Waititi, Marie Watt, Steven Yazzie and Lawrence Paul Yuxweluptun.

Softcover | 288 pages
24.5 x 21 x 2 cm (9.6 x 8.3 x 0.8 in.)
Publication Date: 2013

Available in French only

Cyndie Campbell

A selection of 33 letters from artist M.C. Escher to his son George, dating from 1958, when George Escher moved to Canada from the Netherlands, until 1972, when M.C. Escher died. The letters range over many subjects – art, books, events, and personalities, as well as family matters – and they offer a distinctly personal insight into the life and mind of this artist, whose meticulously wrought images continue to intrigue and delight the public. The publication includes colour illustrations of art by M.C. Escher mentioned in the text, as well as family photographs.

Paperback | 151 pages 
18.5 x 26 cm (7,3 x 10,2 in.) 
Publication Date: 2013 

Only available in French

Jonathan Shaughnessy, Heather Anderson, Andrea Kunard, Christine Lalonde, Ann Thomas

Builders: Canadian Biennial 2012 is the National Gallery of Canada’s second exhibition of new Canadian art acquired over the past two years, and features over 100 paintings, sculptures, drawings, videos and multimedia installations created by more than forty artists. In placing emergent practices alongside long-established Canadian artists who have been instrumental in “building” a context for Canadian art today, Builders offers the opportunity to appreciate the range of aesthetic accomplishment in this country.

FEATURED ARTISTS: Vikky Alexander, David Altmejd, Benoit Aquin, Melanie Authier, Jim Breukelman, Michel de Broin, Edward Burtynsky, Lynne Cohen, Chris Cran, Max Dean, Susan Dobson, Marcel Dzama, Brendan Fernandes, Robert Fones, Will Gorlitz, Terence Gower, David Ross Harper, Faye Heavyshield, Dil Hildebrand, David Hoffos, Simon Hughes, Elisapee Ishulutaq, Sarah Anne Johnson, Brian Jungen, Myfawny MacLeod, Qavavau Manumie, Lynne Marsh, Scott McFarland, Jason McLean, Michael Merrill, David Merritt, Evan Penny, Sandy Plotnikoff, Jon Pylypchuk, Leslie Reid, David K. Ross, Mark Ruwedel, Michael Snow, Mark Soo, Derek Sullivan, Ron Terada, Joanne Tod, Stephen Waddell, Daniel Young and Christian Giroux.

Paper | 182 pages
23 x 30.5 cm (9 x 12 in.) 
Publication Date: 2012

Jonathan Shaughnessy, Heather Anderson, Andrea Kunard, Christine Lalonde, Ann Thomas

Les bâtisseurs. La biennale canadienne 2012 is the National Gallery of Canada’s second exhibition of new Canadian art acquired over the past two years, and features over 100 paintings, sculptures, drawings, videos and multimedia installations created by more than forty artists. In placing emergent practices alongside long-established Canadian artists who have been instrumental in “building” a context for Canadian art today, Builders offers the opportunity to appreciate the range of aesthetic accomplishment in this country.

FEATURED ARTISTS: Vikky Alexander, David Altmejd, Benoit Aquin, Melanie Authier, Jim Breukelman, Michel de Broin, Edward Burtynsky, Lynne Cohen, Chris Cran, Max Dean, Susan Dobson, Marcel Dzama, Brendan Fernandes, Robert Fones, Will Gorlitz, Terence Gower, David Ross Harper, Faye Heavyshield, Dil Hildebrand, David Hoffos, Simon Hughes, Elisapee Ishulutaq, Sarah Anne Johnson, Brian Jungen, Myfawny MacLeod, Qavavau Manumie, Lynne Marsh, Scott McFarland, Jason McLean, Michael Merrill, David Merritt, Evan Penny, Sandy Plotnikoff, Jon Pylypchuk, Leslie Reid, David K. Ross, Mark Ruwedel, Michael Snow, Mark Soo, Derek Sullivan, Ron Terada, Joanne Tod, Stephen Waddell, Daniel Young and Christian Giroux.

Paper | 182 pages
23 x 30.5 cm (9 x 12 in.) 
Publication Date: 2012

Lori Pauli with an introduction by Joseph Mulholland

Only recently has the name Margaret Watkins come to be cited in the annals of 20th century photography. Born and raised in Canada, Watkins became a driving force at one of the most important photography schools in America. Her photographs, most notably her still-life images, now key works in the history of early advertising photography and classic examples of modernist photography, have earned her special recognition within the history of the medium.

Softcover | 160 pages 
22.1 x 28.8 cm (8.7 x 11.3 in.) 
Publication Date: 2012

Lori Pauli with an introduction by Joseph Mulholland

Only recently has the name Margaret Watkins come to be cited in the annals of 20th century photography. Born and raised in Canada, Watkins became a driving force at one of the most important photography schools in America. Her photographs, most notably her still-life images, now key works in the history of early advertising photography and classic examples of modernist photography, have earned her special recognition within the history of the medium.

Softcover | 160 pages 
22.1 x 28.8 cm (8.7 x 11.3 in.) 
Publication Date: 2012

Catherine Crowston, Josée Drouin-Brisebois, Jonathan Shaughnessy 

With a focus on six Canadian contemporary artists who emphasize material excess, ornamentation and theatricality in their production, Misled by Nature features spectacular installations that explore hybridity, natural processes and the viewer’s experience.  The catalogue accompanies an exhibition by the National Gallery of Canada, the Art Gallery of Alberta, and Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art.

Featured artists: David Altmejd, Lee Bul, Bharti Kher, Tricia Middleton, Yinka Shonibare, and Sarah Sze. 

Paper | 72 pages
17.5 x 25 cm (6.9 x 9.8 in.) 
Publication Date: 2012

Catherine Crowston, Josée Drouin-Brisebois, Jonathan Shaughnessy 

With a focus on six Canadian contemporary artists who emphasize material excess, ornamentation and theatricality in their production, Trompé par la nature features spectacular installations that explore hybridity, natural processes and the viewer’s experience.  The catalogue accompanies an exhibition by the National Gallery of Canada, the Art Gallery of Alberta, and Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art.

Featured artists: David Altmejd, Lee Bul, Bharti Kher, Tricia Middleton, Yinka Shonibare, and Sarah Sze.

Paper | 72 pages
17.5 x 25 cm (6.9 x 9.8 in.) 
Publication Date: 2012

Arnaud Maggs: Identification is a survey exhibition that follows the Canadian artist’s production over four decades. Focusing on seminal and recent works, it showcases Maggs’ various working strategies and subject matter. Each work on display records in some way the people, places and lived experiences that have marked the artist. The exhibition is accompanied by a 240-page full colour bilingual catalogue, which contains an essay by the exhibition curator; Q&As with the artist, and a chronological biography.

Softcover | 240 pages 
24.5 x 29 cm (9.6 x 11.4 in.) 
Publication Date: 2012

Ann Thomas

American Photographs 1900-1950 is the fourth in a series of publications focusing on selected masterpieces from the Photographs collection of the National Gallery of Canada. The first half of the 20th century marks a lively era in American art history when photography was first celebrated as an art form. The catalogue highlights masterpieces from such photographers as Lisette Model, Alfred Stieglitz, Edward Steichen, Walker Evans, and Edward Weston.

Paper | 196 pages
20.5 x 26.5 cm (8 x 10½ in.) 
Publication Date: 2011

Ann Thomas

Photographies américaines 1900-1950 is the fourth in a series of publications focusing on selected masterpieces from the Photographs collection of the National Gallery of Canada. The first half of the 20th century marks a lively era in American art history when photography was first celebrated as an art form. The catalogue highlights masterpieces from such photographers as Lisette Model, Alfred Stieglitz, Edward Steichen, Walker Evans, and Edward Weston.

Paper | 196 pages
20.5 x 26.5 cm (8 x 10½ in.) 
Publication Date: 2011

Josée Drouin-Brisebois

The National Gallery of Canada is the commissioning institution for the 54th International Art Exhibition at the Venice Biennale featuring the work of acclaimed artist Steven Shearer. Under its pop-cultural surface, Shearer’s work is surprisingly complex and insightful. By showing us aspects of popular culture from many different points of view, he exposes the false hierarchy of high and low art and prompts us to consider the more interesting differences between the cultural industries and the art world. The generously-illustrated catalogue published to accompany the Venice exhibition highlights Shearer’s paintings, text-based works, sculptures and photographic compilations.

Paper | 257 pages 
19 x 25.5 cm (7.5 x 10 in.) 
Publication Date: 2011

English, French and Italian