TORONTO.- This fall, the Art Gallery of Ontario’s (AGO) Henry Moore Sculpture Centre celebrates its 50th anniversary. A landmark of modern art and architecture, in recognition of the Centre’s enduring place in the city and the joy and inspiration it has brought to generations, the City of Toronto is proclaiming November 13, 2024, Henry Moore Day.

The AGO invites visitors to join them in marking the occasion by sharing their photos and recollections of time spent with Henry Moore’s art on social media, using the hashtag #MooreMemories.

Opened in the late autumn of 1974, the creation of the Henry Moore Sculpture Centre was inspired by the famed British artist’s unprecedented donation of 101 sculptures, 57 drawings, and 150 prints to the museum that same year. Motivated by a belief that “art is international,” Moore’s extraordinary gift made headlines around the world. Designed by Toronto architect John C. Parkin in partnership with Henry Moore expressly for the display of his art, today the Centre features rotating selections of his prints and drawings, plaster works, and examples of his bronze casts and direct carvings in stone and wood.

“Henry Moore’s deep commitment to direct carving, his close observation of the natural world, and forms that invite multiple points of view have made him among the most significant sculptors in the Western tradition,” says Adam Welch, Associate Curator, Modern Art, Art Gallery of Ontario. “While Henry Moore’s bronze sculptures are known the world over, here in one light-filled space, visitors, artists, and students can explore many facets of his artistic output – seeing his large-scale plasters, drawings, prints, and the natural objects that inspired him. It’s a unique, beloved space in our city, and a destination for modern art. We look forward to the next 50.”

Toronto’s connection to Henry Moore dates to 1966 when his monumental bronze sculpture Three Way Piece Number Two: Archer, better known simply as The Archer, was selected by Finnish architect Viljo Revell to complement the new City Hall building as a symbol of the city’s global outlook. A source of contention, after City Hall declined to purchase it, citizens raised the funds needed to acquire the sculpture, which still stands today.

Today, the AGO is home to the largest public collection of his art in the world.

“We are delighted to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Henry Moore Sculpture Centre with our friends at the Art Gallery of Ontario and the City of Toronto,” said Godfrey Worsdale, Director, Henry Moore Foundation. “Henry Moore’s remarkable gift, coupled with his belief that art is meant to be shared and experienced across borders, continues to resonate deeply today. The Centre has become a cherished space for visitors from Toronto and around the world to encounter Moore’s powerful and evolving vision.”