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. In this way, tribute becomes not only a recognition of influence, but also a means to challenge, reinterpret, and build upon it.
Drawing from The Robert McLaughlin Gallery’s Permanent Collection, this exhibition explores how artists pay homage—to individuals, pivotal events, and shared experiences. Within these gestures of tribute lie acts of resistance, care, and the reclaiming of stories. Whether evoking ancestral knowledge, responding to collective grief, or reimagining iconic images, the artists in this exhibition use memory as a tool for both reflection and transformation. Together, these artworks remind us of the enduring power of art to honour and connect—inviting us to consider what, and who, we choose to remember.
Pete Smith (Canadian, b. 1975); Dougie’s Tree; 2017; oil on canvas; Gift of the artist, 2018
About the Permanent Collection
The Robert McLaughlin Gallery’s Permanent Collection includes more than 4,700 works, featuring nationally significant modern Canadian abstraction, the world’s largest collection of works by Painters Eleven, and growing holdings of contemporary and public art. We collect with intention—reflecting diverse voices, lived experiences, and the evolving issues that shape Canadian art and our local community.
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