AGO to Feature Jewish Artists

An upcoming exhibition at the Art Gallery of Ontario will highlight the work of three prominent female artists in the post-war era. Titled “At Work,” the display will feature the works of Eva Hesse and Canadians Betty Goodwin and Agnes Martin. Both Hesse and Goodwin are also Jewish artists who have been highly recognized in the industry.

Hesse was a German sculptor who gained fame in America after graduating from New York’s School of Industrial Art. Her art career was cut short when she died of a brain tumor at the early age of 34. Still, Hesse’s work has been shown posthumously in reputable venues such as the Guggenheim Museum. AGO’s “Eva Hesse: Studiowork” will include 50 of the artist’s test pieces to showcase Hesse’s method in creating her sculptures.

Likewise, Goodwin was also known for her sculptures. The multi-platform artist, who grew up in a Jewish neighbourhood in the east side of Montreal, was also a painter, printmaker and installation artist. Goodwin’s work was previously displayed at the National Gallery of Canada in 1996. Five years before her death in 2008, she was also elected as an Officer of the Order of Canada. Her At Work display, called “Betty Goodwin: Work Notes” will feature 100 of her sketches from the AGO’s special collections.

Meanwhile, “Agnes Martin: Work Ethic” will showcase 12 paintings from the Saskatchewan native, loaned from the Whitney Museum of American Art. The AGO will open the At Work exhibition to the public on September 22. For more information, visit www.ago.net.