A City of Art: Discovering Ottawa’s Gallery Gems

Every day, right in the heart of Ottawa, art brings visual vibrancy to our community’s daily life. You don’t need a ticket or a tour guide, just a curious eye. In the corridors of City Hall and along the bustling path to Rideau LRT Station, art blooms. Free and open daily, Karsh-Masson Gallery, City Hall Art Gallery and Corridor 45|75 offer more than just walls, they are spaces that support artists in the community, offer opportunities for artistic exploration and allow art to be experienced by everyone. Public Art Program: Exhibitions section This year marks 40 years of the City of Ottawa Public Art Program, a milestone celebrating four decades of creativity, community, and commitment to making art a part of the everyday. Since 1985, the Program has had a mandate to promote and increase opportunities for artists in the City of Ottawa. Today, the Exhibitions section of the Program coordinates dynamic, thought-provoking shows that spotlight both professional established and emerging talents, local and international, with Corridor 45|75 devoted exclusively to local artists. On now, at Corridor 45|75 until July 6, is Coalescence: Selections from the City of Ottawa Art Collection. In celebration of the Public Art Program’s 40th anniversary, this exhibition presents reproductions of 40 artworks from the City of Ottawa Art Collection, reflecting the rich diversity of media, styles, and subject matter within the Collection. A short trip away at Ottawa City Hall, Sébastien Gaudette’s Langage éphémère (Ephemeral Language), is running until August 7 at Karsh-Masson Gallery. Just down the hall at City Hall Art Gallery, the 44.4 Mother/Artist Collective shares an intimate reflection on motherhood and artistry in Don’t Worry, I’ll Only Show You the Good Parts, open until June 1. All three galleries are thoughtfully programmed through a public Call for Proposals every two years, with submissions reviewed by a peer assessment committee. This process results in a rich lineup of exhibitions that continue to evolve with Ottawa's creative community. Every year, at least one exhibition celebrates the new additions to the City of Ottawa Art Collection, for example WORTH IT: 2024 Additions to the City of Ottawa Art Collection. Upcoming events Looking to connect more deeply with artists in your community? Join us:

• Sunday, June 1 at 2 pm: Artists’ tour with the 44.4 Mother/Artist Collective at City Hall Art Gallery
• Sunday, July 20 at 2 pm and 3 pm: Back-to-back artist tours with Sébastien Gaudette at Karsh-Masson Gallery and Sarah-Mecca Abdourahman at City Hall Art Gallery

Stay in the loop about exhibitions and events via the Public Art Program newsletter, or follow them on Facebook and Instagram. With three accessible galleries woven into everyday spaces, our exhibitions are waiting to be discovered by everyone, every day.