The Henry Moore Sculpture Centre
© 2007 Art Gallery of Ontario
The Art Gallery of Ontario is known internationally for its extraordinary and extensive collection of Henry Moore works. The Henry Moore Sculpture Centre at the AGO originally opened in 1974, to house Moore's original gift to the AGO, now totalling more than 900 sculptures and works on paper.
Visitors can now view Moore's plaster and bronze maquettes, and the stones and bones that inspired him. They can listen to Moore explaining why he became a sculptor and how bronzes are made from plaster, and hear exactly how Toronto's Mayor Givens lost an election over Moore's sculpture, The Archer. Also available is rare archival footage directing the installation of the centre in 1974, and of the arrival, crane and all, of Moore's eight-ton Large Two Forms, now a city landmark at our northeast corner. Organized into different self-contained stations, the centre engages the visitor in a variety of interactive activities.
Henry Moore has always been an important artist for the city of Toronto. In 1958, Finnish architect Viljo Revell won an international competition to design Toronto's City Hall. Revell admired the work of Moore and recommended that the city purchase one of his bronze sculptures for the new building. A controversy over cost erupted, and the sculpture, The Archer, became the most talked about work of art in the history of the city.
The Art Gallery of Ontario grateful to The Henry Moore Foundation for its generous support.
Al and Malka Green have generously agreed to support the important educational components of this remarkable facility.
The Art Gallery of Ontario gratefully acknowledges the generous support of CBC Television and CBC Radio for the donation of rare archival audio-visual material. The CBC's contribution represents a strong commitment to the arts community and greatly enriches the Henry Moore Sculpture Centre. 
The Art Gallery of Ontario is funded in part by the Ontario Ministry of Culture. Additional operating support is received from the Volunteers of the AGO, the City of Toronto, the Department of Canadian Heritage and the Canada Council for the Arts.
List of works:
Henry Moore
British, 1898-1986
| Henry Moore Sculpture Centre Atom Piece (Working Model for "Nuclear Energy"), 1964-1965 Draped Reclining Figure, 1952-1953 Draped Reclining Woman, 1957-1958 Draped Seated Woman, 1957-1958 Reclining Figure, 1951 Reclining Figure, 1956 Reclining Figure on Pedestal, 1959-1960 Three Piece Reclining Figure No. 1, 1961-1962 Three Piece Reclining Figure No. 2: Bridge Prop, 1963 Two Piece Reclining Figure No. 2, 1960 Two Piece Reclining Figure No. 9, 1968 original plaster H. 238.8 cm Gift of Henry Moore, 1974 #74/6 (AGW179) Two Piece Sculpture No. 7: Pipe, 1966 Upright Motive No. 8, 1955-1956 Upright Motive No. 1: Glenkiln Cross, 1955-1956 Woman, 1957-1958 Working Model for "Locking Piece", 1962 original plaster w/fibreglass base H. 97.8 cm w/o base; 103.8 cm w/base Gift of Henry Moore, 1974 #73/87 (AGW163) Working Model for "Oval with Points", 1968-1969 Working Model for "Reclining Figure: Lincoln Center", 1963-1965 Working Model for Two Piece Reclining Figure: Points, 1969-1970 Working Model for "UNESCO Reclining Figure", 1957 | Bronze Maquettes Horse, 1978 Girl Torso, 1966 Standing Woman: Bonnet, 1975 Maquette for Two Forms, 1966 Stringed Head, 1938 Reclining Figure: Goujon, 1956 bronze, 8/9 H. 24.1 cm Gift of Henry Moore, 1972 #72/45 (AGW120) Maquette for Helmet Head No. 6, 1975 Snake Head, 1961 Snake Head, 1961 Maquette for Three Way Piece No.1, 1964 Maquette for Reclining Figure: Angles, 1975 Seated Woman in Chair, 1956 Small Maquette No. 1 for "Reclining Figure", 1950 Head, 1955 Reclining Figure: Bone, 1974 Small Seated Figure, around 1936 Half Figure, 1952
| Plaster Maquettes Maquette for Double Oval, 1966 Reclining Figure No. 6, 1954 Half Figure Relief, around 1959-1960 Maquette for Square Form with Cut, 1969 Fragment Figure, 1957 Two Piece Reclining Figure: Maquette No. 5, 1962 Seated Figure, 1949 Maquette for Head II, around 1972 Maquette for Head, 1937 Plaster Cast of Bone Fragment, around 1959-1960 Reclining Figure, 1938 Top Half of Form at left in Time-Life Screen: Maquette No. 4, 1952 Maquette for Head: Lines, 1955 Upright Motive: Maquette No. 5, 1955 Seated Figure: Armless, 1955 Seated Woman with Crossed Feet, 1957 Small Relief, around 1955 Top Half of Form at right in Time-Life Screen: Working Model, 1952 Two Piece Reclining Figure: Maquette No. 8, 1966 Corner Sculpture, around 1952 Head: Cross Hatch, 1961 Family Group, 1947 |