The Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) is pleased to announce the endowment of the curatorial position of modern and contemporary art, hence to be known as the Carol and Morton Rapp Curator, Modern and Contemporary Art. The endowment is a meaningful expression of the Rapps’ longstanding leadership, advocacy, and support of the AGO, its programs and collection. Kitty Scott will be the first curator at the AGO to hold this title.
Commenting on their donation, Carol and Morton Rapp said, “We are pleased to endow this position at the AGO, and we are confident that the institution will continue to champion contemporary art and artists across Canada and the globe. We have cherished our relationship with the Gallery for many years, and are proud to see its collection expanding, its audience diversifying and its international reputation growing.”
“It is an honour to hold this newly endowed position,” said Scott. “It helps to ensure the AGO’s continued commitment to supporting the best of contemporary art here in Toronto.” Scott has held the position of Curator, Modern and Contemporary Art at the AGO since 2012 and during the course of her career she has always maintained a strong international profile. Last year Geoffrey Farmer selected Kitty Scott as the curator for the Canadian Pavilion at the Venice Biennale in 2017. She was also recently appointed co-curator of the 2018 Liverpool Biennial, and as a member of the Advisory Team for BNLMTL 2016 presented by La Biennale de Montreal and co-produced with the Musee d’art contemporain de Montreal (MAC).
The Rapps share an abiding love for modern and contemporary art, and have donated many works to the AGO by leading international and Canadian artists including Lewis Baltz, Marcel Broodthaers, Jim Dine, Richard Hamilton, Barbara Hepworth, Jasper Johns, Suzy Lake, Andy Warhol and Joyce Wieland. In 1988 they endowed the Carol & Morton Rapp Gallery, which is now a beautiful contemporary prominent space in the Frank Gehry-designed south tower of the AGO.
In addition, Carol Rapp has been a highly influential and active AGO volunteer since the 1960s, including service as a member of the AGO’s Board of Trustees. In 2009, Carol and Morton Rapp were honoured by the establishment of the Rapp Lecture in Contemporary Art, a fixture in the Toronto cultural calendar. The lecture series features distinguished international leaders in the contemporary art world, including artists, curators, critics, scholars and other luminaries, focusing on critical ideas in contemporary art and culture.
“There could not be a more fitting match than the Rapps’ name with our modern and contemporary curatorial department,” said Maxine Granovsky Gluskin, President of the AGO Board of Trustees. “Their leadership in the contemporary art community has been steadfast for many years, and is exemplified by this extraordinarily generous gift. Carol and Morton are among the AGO’s most generous patrons, and their passion and advocacy has been transformative for the Gallery for nearly 50 years. With the naming of this position, their legacy will live in perpetuity at the AGO, inspiring future generations.”
About the AGO
With a collection of more than 90,000 works of art, the Art Gallery of Ontario is among the most distinguished art museums in North America. From the vast body of Group of Seven and signature Canadian works to the African art gallery, from the cutting-edge contemporary art to Peter Paul Rubens’ masterpiece The Massacre of The Innocents, the AGO offers an incredible art experience with each visit. In 2002, Ken Thomson’s generous gift of 2,000 remarkable works of Canadian and European art inspired
Transformation AGO, an innovative architectural expansion by world-renowned architect Frank Gehry that in 2008 resulted in one of the most critically acclaimed architectural achievements in North America. Highlights include Galleria Italia, a gleaming showcase of wood and glass running the length of an entire city block, and the often-photographed spiral staircase, beckoning visitors to explore. The AGO has an active membership program, and the AGO’s Weston Family Learning Centre offers engaging art and creative programs for children, families, youth and adults. Visit ago.net to learn more.
