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Portrait of a Patron: The Dukszta Collection

Installation view of Portrait of a Patron: The Dukszta Collection

Works by:

Stephen Andrews, Terry Berkowitz, Bob Daignault, Cathy Daley, Patrick De Costa, Marc de Guerre, Andy Fabo, Tom Falus, Oliver Girling, Rae Johnson, Bryan McBurney, Dr. James I. MacDougall, Barbara Mercer, Michael Merrill, Charles Pachter, Evan Penny, Fabrizio Perozzi, Goran Petkovski, Vince Pietropaolo, Phil Richards, Max Streicher, Yves Tessier, Jim Vacola, Olaf von Brinckenhoff, Ewa Wilczynski, Tony Wilson, Paul Young

Portrait of a Patron: The Dukszta Collection

January 19–March 13, 2010

University of Toronto Art Centre

Preconceived notions of what constitutes an art collector will be left at the gallery door upon entering Portrait of a Patron: The Dukszta Collection. The 70 portraits by 27 artists in this exhibition are a very personal record of Janusz Dukszta’s life, his friends and the family that surround him, and the ideas and passions that propel him. These portraits differ from staid or traditional portraits of record in every imaginable way, including their sardonic approach. Gordon Hatt, guest curator sets out to explore the degree to which Dukszta, “co-authored the artistic program that is his life” and how religious allegory and group portraits of family and friends played an important role in this story telling.

Portrait of a Patron reveals that contemporary portraiture continues to pose fascinating questions. In exploring the artist-patron relationship, it underscores the importance of the patron in shaping collections. In short, it will challenge the visitors’ notions of what a portrait may be.

Art with Insight Panel Talk

Tuesday January 19, 2010, 6pm
Featuring Gordon Hatt, Phil Richards, Rae Johnson, and Michael Merrill
University of Toronto Art Centre

Publication

Our Supporters

We gratefully acknowledge the project support of The Scott Griffin Foundation, as well as a benefactor group of close to 70 individuals and foundations, Manulife Financial and Peter Allen.

Title Image: Michael Merrill, Janusz In his Glory, 1984. Acrylic on canvas. 165 x 162 cm. Collection of Janusz Dukszta.

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