Welcome
Here's what's going on at The Robert McLaughlin Gallery.
Exhibitions on Now
Oliver Husain: I ♥ Snail
June 6, 2026 - November 1, 2026
I ♥ Snail is an immersive video installation by Oliver Husain that examines IMAX cinema as both an experimental film format emerging in the 1960s and a technology later mobilized as a tool of nation-building. The exhibition title is drawn from a sticker found in the archived papers of Toronto-based filmmaker Graeme Ferguson, one of […]
Stephen Andrews: The sum of the parts
June 6, 2026 - November 1, 2026
The sum of the parts brings together a constellation of works by Stephen Andrews that examine how systems of war, resource extraction, and global capital are permitted through complacency and constructed through incremental, often hidden acts. At the centre of the exhibition is The Robert McLaughlin Gallery’s recent acquisition of Cartoon (2007), a landmark work […]
Austin Henderson: Talking to Papou
June 13, 2026 - August 9, 2026
Talking to Papou is an exhibition of paintings, lithographs, and multimedia works by Austin Henderson inspired by his Greek Canadian grandfather, or “papou.” An avid traveller, gardener, volunteer, and lifetime resident of Oshawa, Henderson’s grandfather passed away in 1988 from AIDS-related complications, nearly a decade before Henderson was born. Over the years, it was difficult […]
Stories in Ink: Illustrations by Oscar Cahén
June 13, 2026 - January 3, 2027
Stories in Ink: Illustrations by Oscar Cahén Before joining the abstract artist collective Painters Eleven in 1953, Oscar Cahén had built a successful career as a publishing illustrator. Between 1950 and 1957, he produced more than three hundred illustrations for Canadian magazines while also gaining recognition for his abstract expressionist paintings. This exhibition presents rarely […]
Painters Eleven: Radical Colour
March 7, 2026 - August 23, 2026
Painters Eleven was the first abstract artist collective in Ontario. The Toronto group was founded in 1953 at the cottage of artist Alexandra Luke on the Oshawa–Whitby border. In the early 1950s, Toronto’s art scene was criticized for being conservative and unexciting. Painters Eleven was determined to shake things up and elevate abstraction within mainstream […]
Answering the Call: First Responders in Historic Oshawa
June 13, 2026 - January 3, 2027
In 2020, at the height of the global pandemic, communities came together to show support for first responders and health care workers. Painted rocks, handmade signs in windows, and messages posted on fences became visible expressions of gratitude and solidarity for those working on the front lines. Even without fanfare, frontline workers continue to show […]
Homage
September 6, 2025 - August 23, 2026
Paying homage is more than an act of reverence—it is a gesture rooted in respect and a way to acknowledge influence and inspiration. Artists often engage with the past to make sense of the present: responding to those who shaped them, the histories they’ve inherited, and the cultural forces that continue to shape our world. […]
What's New
June OPG Sunday: Swirling and Stamping
June 14, 2026
Please note that on Sunday, June 14, 2026 the RMG will be closing at 12:30 PM. This program is still available to participate in from 10:30 AM to 12:15 PM. This June, we are delighted to welcome the Oshawa Garden Club Butterflyway Rangers to our Backyard at the RMG for a special family-friendly experience! Young […]
Annual General Meeting
June 17, 2026
Join us for The Robert McLaughlin Gallery’s Annual General Meeting on Wednesday, June 17, from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m. Aaron Li Photography This year’s AGM is an opportunity to gather as a community, celebrate the work of the RMG, and reflect on a meaningful year of exhibitions, programs, partnerships, and public impact. Guests are invited […]
Events
Oscar Cahén: Young in Canada
Jun 18, 2026, 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Join us to learn about Oscar Cahén’s early career in Canada as an illustrator. Guest lecturer Jaleen Grove is a Canadian artist and art historian whose research focuses on the history of illustration in the United States and Canada, illustration research, and periodical studies. She has conducted extensive research on Canadian illustrators and magazines, including […]
Summer Camp 2026
Jul 6, 2026, 9:00 AM - Aug 28, 2026, 4:00 PM
Do you want your kids to dive into creativity this summer? We have got you covered! Our fun-filled, fine art camps are packed with inspired projects, interactive gallery activities, and active outdoor play! Here’s the best part: your children will come home with lots of creative art and stories while we take care of the […]
Backyard Story Time at the RMG
Jul 15, 2026, 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Experience the magic of outdoor story time at the art gallery! Through books, songs, games, and creative activities, storytellers from Oshawa Public Libraries will spark your imagination in The Backyard at the RMG! This event is free and no registration is required. Backyard Story Time at the RMG is hosted by, and offered in partnership […]
RBC Emerging Artist Residency Program
The RBC Emerging Artist Residency is a paid residency opportunity for emerging artists supported by the RBC Foundation’s Emerging Artist Project. The residency package presents artists with opportunities for professional growth, exhibition experience, and collaboration with RMG staff.
Check us out on Google Arts & Culture
Explore our Permanent Collection in an interactive and fun way and be sure to check out our first Online Exhibition Story about Isabel McLaughlin and Alexandra Luke, two women artists and collectors who were instrumental to the history and development of The Robert McLaughlin Gallery.