Art Galleries

Born Birrell Josef Mendelson on July 30th, 1944 in Toronto, Canada, Mr. Joe is a great Canadian original who has established himself as a consummate multi-media artist.

A self-taught guitarist since age eleven, Mr. Joe’s musical career spans four decades; he is a prolific songwriter and a recognized guitar master.

In 1975, Mr. Joe rescued some derelict paints from the garbage, and tried painting just to see what it was like. A distinct style soon evolved. Today, Mendelson Joe’s painting’s are internationally recognized as outstanding, unique, examples of contemporary Canadian art.

His work is housed at the Art Bank (a government-owned art collection), and in numerous private and corporate collections worldwide.

In March 2000 Mendelson Joe realized his longtime dream and exited the city of Toronto. He now resides in a log cabin surrounded by forest in the Almaguin Highlands.

For more information, visit their website

The Group of Seven Outdoor Gallery is an inspiring and dramatic mural collection featuring over 80 world-class reproductions of famous artwork by Tom Thomson and Canada’s renown Group of Seven artists.

The Gallery is a free public art experience that is designed to engage the community, residents, visitors and tourists alike. The murals are hand painted by select mural artists from across Canada, and are displayed on the exterior walls of businesses and public buildings throughout the Huntsville, Lake of Bays, and Algonquin Park region.

The public is encouraged to view the works at their own leisure through self guided tours. This year round attraction makes for an educational, fun and fascinating adventure for the whole family.

This outdoor gallery is a fun take on a driving tour. Most of the murals are in downtown Huntsville and can be explored on foot. You will then want to hop in your vehicle to explore the rest of the murals in surrounding communities and in Algonquin Park. Happy exploring!

For more information, visit their website

As a child, Wendy Moses could be found in the boathouse Saturday mornings on Lake Rosseau, enjoying art classes with her grandmother, Alexandra Luke – a member of the Painters Eleven. Her love of art led her to picturesque Partridge Lane, located a few kilometers outside of Bracebridge, where, in 1998, she opened the Alexandra Luke Gallery, named in honour of her grandmother. Wendy paints with watercolour, acrylic and oil. Her subjects are mostly flowers and scenes of nature that shy away from realism into abstraction. She is also a photographer with a keen eye and good sense of composition. Gallery open by appointment or chance.

For more information, visit their website

Janice’s studio / gallery is open weekends, Mayi-sh to October-ish and whenever the ARTrail Muskoka purple banner is out! (otherwise by appointment 705-644-1030). **Health protocols in place.

For more information, visit their website

Eclipse Art Gallery is focused on the Canadian Artist and showcases their work to a wide audience at Deerhurst Resort in Muskoka. They gallery strives to maintain a high standard of art work that truly expresses the landscape and rugged character that is Muskoka. With a select group of recognized artists as well as new faces, Eclipse Art Gallery balances an array of different art works to entice all art lovers.

For more information, visit their website

Welcome to Muskoka’s hottest new artist collective. Featuring twenty of Muskoka’s best artists from the Gravenhurst area who have come together to form an amazing new creative hive, right in the heart of town.

Housed in the historic Albion Hotel: Gravenhurst’s most recognizable building, Arts at the Albion invites you to experience the energy and passion housed within these old walls.

For more information, visit their website

Krysia Bower is a multi-faceted artist who creates large woodblock prints and transforms antique Muskoka Cottage windows into works of art.

The property on which Krysia and her husband live in Muskoka inspires her paintings and multi-media installations and go on to form part of the landscape in the gardens and woodland trails.

Her methods are unusual and the results are striking.  She uses a router to carve out designs on large sheets of plywood, applies inks and acrylics to the surface, and pulls off prints in brilliant colours.  Her technique of applying all of the colours at once, before printing, results in vibrant, one-of-a-kind works or art.

Cut mirrors and coloured glass beads on panes of glass in the form of stylized flowers play with reflected light on windows and French doors.  These confections, suitable for both indoor and outdoor areas, delight the eyes as you pass them by.  So many of the old cottages are disappearing because of renovations.  Krysia has been salvaging what is left of these old, old windows and doors and giving them new life for people to enjoy for many more years to come.

For more information, visit their website

Watercolour & Acrylic Paintings. Landscapes & Historical. Studio and Gallery is open most days throughout the year.

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Greatly influenced by her Muskoka environs and her love of nature, Margo’s watercolour paintings are serene yet radiate vitality both in colour and movement. Floral focus is inspired by her love of gardening.

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Catherine is a self- taught artist who works with the ancient medium of egg tempera. She has developed a sophisticated style that represents the Muskoka Landscape with a truthfulness for the common place themes and a passion for the extraordinary in the vast forest landscape and the elements of nature.

A member of the Muskoka Autumn Studio tour for 19 years and a member of Artists of the Limberlost Open Studio Weekend

Open  by appointment

For more information, visit her website

The Algonquin Art Centre is a world-class art gallery showcasing some of Canada’s foremost wilderness and wildlife artists. Located on the shores of Found Lake in beautiful Algonquin Park, the Centre is built upon a long tradition of artists in Canada’s wilderness parks – from Tom Thomson to Michael Dumas – and organizes annual exhibits that explore this connection. The Centre grounds feature a gallery, boutique gift shop, and art studio offering art classes and programs for all ages and skill levels.

Open June – Mid October

For more information, visit their website

The Chapel Gallery is an art gallery in Bracebridge that features renowned exhibits throughout the year.

Housed in a reconstruction of the first Presbyterian Church in Bracebridge, the Chapel Gallery hosts exhibitions of art and craft by local Muskoka as well as provincial artists. Exhibitions are selected by the Gallery Committee and change every three to four weeks.

For more information, visit their website

The Muskoka Lakes Museum’s own Art Gallery is named the Catto Gallery in honour of the museum’s founder, Marion Catto. This space is used to host a new art show each month from June to October, featuring local artists.

For more information, visit their website

The Tree Museum is located on a 200-acre woodland lot that combines the pleasure of a walk in the woods with the surprise of contemporary site-specific sculpture. It is 2.2 kilometers from Doe Lake Rd to the centre of the site, and about 1 kilometer to the first sculpture. You park your car in the field as you turn in off Doe Lake Road. The installations are permanent, and the site is open year round. This is a self-directed tour with signs and information to help you enjoy the experience. Please wear hiking boots/runners – this is a walk in the woods, with rock climbing.

For more information, visit their website

Annex is a place where you can come to relax, be creative and learn. We are a group of local business owners dedicated to expanding the art world through classes and workshops, events and a place to appreciate local talent. As a proud member of the Muskoka Arts and Crafts you will find stunning talent under our roof. Let The Cat Go Fine Art and Craft Studio and Annex Art Collective have come together to create this neighbourhood space. Our space can be rented for large and small events, parties and just a really good time. 

For more information, visit their website

Bonnie Bews paints in the art form of Hinterglas (reverse glass painting).  Her preference in medium is watercolour, graphite or charcoal, this is applied to frosted glass giving the work luminosity, translucency and depth.

Bonnie draws and seeks her inspiration from Muskoka’s natural environment. Reflecting on the majestic wildlife to the delicate hummingbirds are illustrated amongst the flora and fauna in her whimsical way.

Visit Bonnie’s unique studio/gallery in a restored livery in the historical area of Bracebridge, Muskokaville.

Be certain to observe her 14’x20’ glass mural depicting Muskoka’s rich history on the back wall.

Address: 5 McBride Lane, Bracebridge, Ontario P1L 0A1
Hours: Mid-June to mid-September 10am-4:30pm (closed Wednesdays). All other times, open when the purple banner is out or by appointment

For more information, visit their website

Steps from downtown Bracebridge, Heron’s Nest Studio Gallery (https://www.facebook.com/heronsneststudiogallery/) is home to visual artist, Wendie Donabie. Working with a variety of mediums – acrylic, oil, watercolour, Chinese and acrylic inks as well as mixed media, her style tends towards realism. The intimate, 2-room gallery also features stained glass by Maureen Haines, (https://www.facebook.com/logcabinglassstudio/), artisan designed furniture by Conel O’Regan (http://happenstancedesign.com/), Stained Glass lanterns & jewellery by Pat Whittle (http://www.patjwhittle.com/), decorative metalwork by Blacksmith, Deb Harkness and more. The work shown at Heron’s Nest always draws its inspiration from the natural world around us. And because of Wendie’s deep concern for wildlife, she donates a portion of her sales to Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary to support their rehabilitation work in Muskoka.

Wendie’s own artistry reflects her love of nature and concern for the environment. The twisted weave of tree roots along a forest trail, a white-tailed deer peering in a patio window, a rainbow-coloured sunset, water cascading over giant boulders or simply a sudden flash of inspiration; these are some of the triggers that stir and awaken her creative spirit. When her muse entices her to the easel to share this experience with the world, she will experience a pleasant fluttering in her gut, light headedness, sometimes goose pimples rising on her skin.

In 2014 Wendie was honoured to receive the Muskoka YWCA Women of Distinction Award for Arts, Culture and Creative Energy.

We are open by appointment or chance until spring.

COVID-19 Protocols: As of July 13, everyone is required to wear a face covering when entering any public place in Muskoka. This applies to Heron’s Nest. In addition, we have hand sanitizer and plastic gloves available.

Heron’s Nest online store

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Since Pat moved to Muskoka in 2002, she has been compelled to create works in encaustic, printmaking, acrylic and oil. Her art has won many awards and is proudly displayed in galleries and art shows.

Visit Pat’s portfolio on her website to see her beautiful pieces and to make inquiries.

For more information, visit their website