The art lover’s guide to galleries in Bloor-Yorkville

Aficionados, collectors, aesthetes and artists alike know that engaging with art has the power to inspire, transform, delight and even move you to tears. In Toronto, there’s no better neighbourhood than Bloor-Yorkville to explore art galleries, behold stunning pieces and immerse yourself in a creative environment.

The premier destination for food, fashion, shopping and wellness, Bloor-Yorkville is also the cultural heart of the city, offering a plethora of opportunities to browse extraordinary artwork, discover new artists and spend hours wandering from gallery to gallery.

As the summer draws to a close, the annual Yorkville Murals event (August 23 and 24) returns and turns Yorkville Avenue into a vibrant outdoor art lover’s playground. This 50,000-square-foot interactive extravaganza—featuring large-scale murals, live painting, art talks, pop-up shops, immersive installations and much more—is fabulously fun (and free!) and is open to everyone.

Strolling through Yorkville Murals is also a great way to kick off a self-guided art walk through the world-class galleries that fill the neighbourhood.

Canadian Fine Arts (33 Hazelton Ave.) Spotlighting the contributions of Canadian artists, this gallery showcases contemporary, modern and historical Canadian art, including works by the Group of Seven. Its knowledgeable staff are also keenly skilled in sourcing and placing pieces with collectors.

Galerie de Bellefeuille (Yorkville Village, 87 Avenue Rd.) This award-winning gallery from Montreal features colourful collections—including painting, photography, sculpture and mixed media—from contemporary Canadian artists and hosts exhibits for acclaimed artists from around the world.

Galerie LeRoyer (162 Cumberland St.) Looking for art that skews towards the cool and avant garde? Then pop into the Toronto location of the Montreal-based Galerie LeRoyer, specializing in contemporary and modern Canadian artists, including Rock Therrien, CSRK, James Verbicky and Stikki Peaches.

Hazelton Fine Art Galleries (1255 Bay St.) One of Toronto’s most diverse galleries, Hazelton Fine Art boasts the work of more than 100 artists spanning contemporary art, historical painting, bronze and Inuit sculpture and Indigenous art, including multiple pieces by Norval Morrisseau.

Ingram Gallery (24 Hazelton Ave.) This 5,000-square-foot, multi-level gallery hosts guided tours, lectures and social events. Visit the 2nd floor Collectors’ Den for a rotating selection of historical Canadian artwork, or peruse rare, out-of-print and limited-edition art publications in the lower-level Book Shop.

Liss Gallery (112 Cumberland St.) Emphasizing contemporary and fine art—including painting, photography, sculpture and prints—this gallery has curated shows for some of the most famous names on the planet, including John Lennon, Anthony Hopkins, Bernie Taupin and artist Peter Max.

Loch Gallery (16 Hazelton Ave.) Originally based in Winnipeg, Loch Gallery’s Toronto location opened in 2003 and displays original 19th- and 20th-century Canadian artwork, as well as exhibits of historical art from Europe, Britain and the United States.

LUMAS (159 Yorkville Ave.) German collectors founded LUMAS in Berlin 2004 with the goal of making the fine-art world more accessible to broader audiences. The Yorkville location hosts both luminaries and emerging artists and is the worldwide chain’s only presence in Canada.

Luminato Gallery (26 Hayden St.) Celebrating the transformative power of art and featuring innovative work from both established and emerging artists, this new gallery focuses on contemporary and abstract pieces from local and international talent.

Mira Godard Gallery (22 Hazelton Ave.) One of the Bloor-Yorkville neighbourhood’s oldest and most revered destinations for art since 1962, the Mira-Godard Gallery’s three storeys hosts a collection of paintings, photography, sculpture and prints, and is beloved by collectors, museums and Canadian auction houses.

Since fine dining is the perfect complement to fine art, don’t forget to fuel up between galleries at some of Bloor-Yorkville’s outstanding eateries, including Alobar, a Michelin-starred cocktail bar and à la carte restaurant; the iconic Morton’s The Steakhouse for mouth-watering steak and seafood; Café Boulud, where chef Daniel Boulud’s team serves breakfast, lunch, dinner and weekend brunch; or the newly opened Mar’aa, located on the 51st floor of the Manulife Centre, where you can dine on Middle Eastern cuisine while surrounded by breathtaking city views.

To learn more about Yorkville Murals or to explore all the arts and culture the neighbourhood has to offer, visit Bloor-Yorkville BIA.