The National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa has received a donation of 24 contemporary artworks from Vancouver-based collector and real estate tycoon Bob Rennie and his family. The gift includes works by American artists Kerry James Marshall and Christopher Williams, and Canadian artists Brian Jungen and Jin-me Yoon, bringing the total number of works donated by the Rennie family to the NGC since 2012 to 284.
This major donation significantly strengthens the national museum's holdings of pivotal contemporary art, particularly introducing 17 works by photo-conceptualist Christopher Williams to the collection for the first time. The gift includes historically significant pieces like Marshall's 'Wake,' which addresses the transatlantic slave trade, and works by recent Governor General's Award winner Jin-me Yoon. It underscores the role of private collectors in shaping public institutions and ensures these works will be accessible for reflection by all Canadians.