The Collection

Kent Monkman (Canadian,Cree, b. 1965)
Installation
Purchased with funds from the Volunteer Committee Acquisition Fund (1956-2017) in memory of Shelagh Martin-McLaren, 2017

Why we chose this

In Nativity Scene, artist Kent Monkman imagines the birth of his alter ego, Miss Chief, who appears in many of his paintings, videos, installations, and performances. Here, he uses familiar and evocative objects like a Coca-Cola bottle, a Hudson’s Bay blanket, and draws on symbols from popular culture, sports, and Christianity to disrupt colonial narratives. His work opens up conversations about the harmful legacy of residential schools, inequality, representation, and re-frames Indigenous presence at the centre of history. This work was part of Monkman’s 2019 solo exhibition, Shame and Prejudice: A Story of Resilience at Museum London.

Desk
Gift of Glen Curnoe, London, Ontario and Lynda Curnoe, Toronto, Ontario, 2006

Why we chose this

Crafted in 1915 by George Cundick, this mission-style library table belonged to the grandmother of artist Greg Curnoe, and was used by Curnoe in his London studio. Greg Curnoe (1936–1992) was a key figure in the art movement called London Regionalism and known across Canada for his vibrant artwork which explored ideas of national identity, politics, culture, and place. Curnoe was also a member of the Nihilist Spasm Band, a co-founder of Forest City Gallery, and Canadian Artists’ Representation, an artist advocacy group.

Alfred Joseph Casson (Canadian, 1898-1992)
Oil on masonite
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. John H. Moore, London, Ontario, through the Ontario Heritage Foundation, 1978

Why we chose this

A.J. Casson was a member of the famed Group of Seven, painters who made a significant impact on Canadian art and whose work has been linked closely with ideas of national identity. In this artwork, A.J. Casson’s refined style blends design precision with natural beauty. Using simplified forms, muted tones, and minimal brushwork, he evokes a serene landscape in Ontario’s Algonquin region—reflecting both his commercial design background and the influence of fellow Group of Seven artists.