MMFA2024: TWO BY TWO, TOGETHER

TWO BY TWO, TOGETHER

Bringing together over 80 recent additions to the MMFA's collection

September 11, 2024 – October 5, 2025

With this exhibition, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (MMFA) is opening a window into its collecting practices. Two by Two, Together, which brings together a rich selection of works from all over the world that have been acquired over the past five years. Most of them are being shown to the public for the first time and are grouped together in such a way as to create a dialogue between them, while showcasing the Museum's many collecting areas of interest.

Two by Two, Together unveils some 80 diverse works that shine a spotlight on works made in a wide range of artistic disciplines by artists from Quebec, Canada, and around the world. Visitors can admire important paintings by Peter Doig, Pierre Dorion, Wanda Koop, Stéphane La Rue, Robert Clow Todd, Claude Tousignant, Robin F. Williams and Lawrence Paul Yuxweluptun; sculptures by Louise Bourgeois, Stanley Février, Giuseppe Penone and Kishio Suga; graphic works by Tony Lewis, Nicolas Party and Rembrandt; photographs by Herbert List and Robert Mapplethorpe; and an early Chinese cosmic board (Liuren Shipan) from the Sui Dynasty.

The MMFA's permanent collection is one of the oldest in Canada and consists of close to 47,000 art works and objects from five continents, dating from the Neolithic era to the present day. This collection grows each year through donations, purchases and bequests.

Stéphane Aquin, Director of the MMFA, stated:

"In continuously developing the collection, the MMFA is committed to presenting works by artists who have long been marginalized and underrepresented. We aim to offer our audiences an increasingly inclusive experience, through the diversity and richness of acquisitions from every corner of the globe and spanning thousands of years of history."

Iris Amizlev, Curator of Special Projects at the MMFA and curator of the exhibition added:

"Most of the works in Two by Two, Together are grouped together, such as to create a dialogue between them based on their subject, medium, form, function or period. Through these juxtapositions, we hope to provoke new and enlightening interpretations of the Museum's collection." 

Aside from the creations shown in the exhibition, other recently acquired artworks can be found in the Museum's permanent collection galleries, identified by special labels. In addition, a new rotation of works in the galleries adjacent to Two by Two, Together highlight new contemporary acquisitions by such artists as Esmaa Mohamoud, Christina Quarles and Kareem-Anthony Ferreira.

The acquisition process

Every potential acquisition is subject to the same rigorous process in order to evaluate whether it is a pertinent addition to the MMFA's collection.

The curatorial team conducts extensive research to determine if the object will enhance the MMFA's collections, either by adding depth to or diversifying it, or by introducing new perspectives.

Works are also evaluated by the Conservation department to assess their condition. Factors such as instability, damage or inadequate restoration attempts might influence acquisition decisions.

If the results of these investigations support an artwork's inclusion in the Museum's collection, curators present their acquisition recommendation to internal and external acquisition committees. Each of the four acquisition committees includes at least one member of the MMFA's Board of Trustees as well as external advisors. If committee members agree with the recommendation, and this recommendation is approved by the Board of Trustees, the acquisition can proceed. The work is then catalogued, photographed and restored, as necessary.

Credits and curatorial team

An exhibition organized by the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts.
It is curated by Iris Amizlev, Curator of Special Projects, MMFA

Visit the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts website to check on the opening hours and to purchase your tickets online.