Masters Gallery Ltd.

Art need not be intimidating, and it need not break the bank. At Masters Gallery we’ve built our business around those two basic beliefs, and our feelings haven’t changed since the day we first opened our doors. That was back in 1976, making us one of the oldest art dealers in the city. We are also one of the few galleries in Canada to carry both contemporary and historical works. Our goals always been to seek out the finest examples from a broad spectrum of Canadian painting, drawing and sculpture. Whether a piece was created in 1890 or the present, we focus on one thing: quality.

Don’t know us? Drop in for a coffee and cookies sometime. You’ll find we don’t put on airs here. To our way of thinking, a gallery should be a fun place to visit. The art scene can be bewildering enough if you’re new to it. When you walk into Masters, we want you to just enjoy looking around. Indeed, if you’re on unfamiliar ground, that’s exactly what we suggest you do—look at art, read about art, ask lots of questions and develop a feel for the type of work you like.

Contrary to popular perception, you don’t have to spend exorbitant amounts to acquire good art. Even so, buying a painting on impulse can still be a costly mistake. It takes a lot of thought, a little help and a financial plan to build a collection that has value. And that’s where we come in. Since value is a function of quality, we counsel our customers on how to buy the best work for the money they have available.

Evaluating early work is relatively straightforward. With the passage of time, every artist assumes a place in history, based on his or her contribution to Canadian art culture. The value of a particular piece is then dependent upon subject matter, date and condition.

Investing in contemporary art is a more subjective endeavour. There are times when a piece of art just doesn’t seem right after you’ve lived with it for a while. At some galleries, that would be a problem—your problem. At Masters, we encourage you to take work on trial.