Vancouver businessman donates $22.8 million worth of artwork to National Gallery of Canada

Mona Hatoum, Undercurrent (red), 2008, ed. 1/3, cloth-covered electric cable, light bulbs, dimmer device, dimensions variable. Installation view, Galerie Max Hetzler, Berlin. Gift of the Rennie Foundation, Vancouver, 2024. © Mona Hatoum, Photo: Jörg von Bruchhausen, Courtesy Galerie Max Hetzler, Berlin | Paris. (National Gallery of Canada/submitted)

The National Gallery of Canada has received a gift of 61 iconic contemporary artworks from Vancouver businessman Bob Rennie and the Rennie Family, valued at $22.8 million.

The donation comprises of 40 works by Rodney Graham, 10 works by Mona Hatoum, pieces by Dan Graham, and three works by Ai Weiwei.

Rennie started collecting when he was 17, and the collection has been put together with Carey Fouks.

“We have always thought about custodianship, which is about making sure that artists are seen and their voices are heard beyond their life and beyond my life,” Rennie said in a statement.

“This is foundational to the collection. The National Gallery of Canada shares our values and our intentions. Values of preservation, conservation and allowing the works to travel to museums and venues, which are not only across Canada but within the broad reach of relationships the Gallery has cultivated across the world.”

Rennie and his family have now donated more than $35 million in gifts to the National Gallery of Canada, comprising over 260 artworks. In 2017, Rennie donated 197 paintings, sculptures and mixed-media pieces in celebration of Canada’s 150th birthday.

“We are most grateful to Mr. Rennie for this major donation and for his trust in us to share stewardship of these works on behalf of Canadians,” said Paul Genest, chair of the board, and Jean-Francois Bélisle, Director and CEO, of the National Gallery of Canada.

“We also want to acknowledge the National Gallery of Canada Foundation, who works tirelessly to cultivate relationships with philanthropic partners who share our passion to bring people together, especially in these divisive times, through shared experiences through art.”

The National Gallery of Canada says it will be able to make the collections available to Canadian and international museums in the future.

The Upper Contemporary exhibition gallery at the National Gallery of Canada has previously been renamed the Rennie Gallery.