African and Oceanic

For the first time the AGO is presenting a gallery dedicated to the display of historical African art, the renowned, recently donated Frum collection. One the world’s finest collections of sub-Saharan art, the Frum collection is mainly composed of figurative sculptural works from West and Central Africa, dating from the 14th and mid-20th century.

Designed by Toronto-based Shim-Sutcliffe Architects, the AGO's African collection is located between the Henry Moore Sculpture Centre and the Inuit gallery, and highlights the relationship between sculptural works from different cultures. The works have been assembled on the basis of aesthetic criteria rather than ethnographic or historical interest.

The Oceanic collection consists of approximately 1,200 works of Australian Aboriginal art, including some of the most significant works outside Australia. A small sampling of this collection is on display adjacent to the Samuel and Esther Sarck Gallery for Inuit art. Battle shields, bark paintings and a major collection of boomerangs are highlights of the collection. The new AGO embraces world cultures, enthusiastically exploring the central role art plays in cross-cultural encounters.

African & Oceanic Collection Facts

• 82 - works in the African collection
• 3,000 - square feet of space in the African gallery
• 328 - Boomerangs in the Oceanic collection
• 1,200 - works in the historical Australian Aboriginal collection