Discover the fascinating universe of Marion Wagschal
OTTAWA, ON, Sept. 10, 2026 /CNW/ -- From September 11, 2026, to January 17, 2027, the National Gallery of Canada (NGC) presents Marion Wagschal: Cyclops and Other Tales, the first exhibition at the NGC dedicated to the Montreal artist showcasing seven decades of her creative work and studio materials, from the 1960s to the present day.
Organized by the National Gallery of Canada in partnership with Centre d'art CAB, based in Montreal, Marion Wagschal: Cyclops and Other Tales is curated by Anaïs Castro, Assistant Curator of Special Projects at the NGC, with Roxanne Arsenault, Director of Artistic Programming, at Centre d'art CAB.
Marion Wagschal is celebrated for her large-scale figurative paintings, many of which are self-portraits. Through a feminist lens, she captures the nuances and the complexities of the human experience, depicting aging, vulnerable and non-idealized female bodies with honesty and emotional intensity.
"Marion Wagschal's life has been shaped by displacement, migration and inherited histories. She transforms these deeply personal narratives into visual stories that resonate universally," said Jean-François Bélisle, Director and CEO of the National Gallery of Canada. "She helped advance feminist discourse through nearly four decades of teaching, and her legacy extends beyond her own artistic production. We're proud to recognize this artist, whose contributions have inspired generations of artists and important social conversations. We are also pleased to collaborate with Centre d'art CAB on this exhibition, a partnership that reflects our national mandate to champion significant Canadian artists and bring their work to audiences across the country."
"To enter Marion Wagschal's universe is to discover an intimate, raw, and deeply introspective œuvre that reveals the complexity of the female experience with power and beauty. We are particularly pleased to contribute to the national recognition of her work," added Anne-Marie Barnard, Executive Director, Centre d'art CAB. "Collaboration is one of our organization's core values. This project, carried out in partnership with the National Gallery of Canada, marks the first important artistic initiative for the CAB. I would like to thank the entire Gallery team and highlight the remarkable co-creative work led by the two curators, Anaïs Castro and Roxanne Arsenault. This exhibition reflects the rapport and trust they have built with each other and with the artist."
For the first time, this exhibition brings together studio materials and personal archival documents displayed in vitrines, including drawings, sketches, notebooks, and photographs, most of which have never been shown to the public. Alongside is a selection of her most iconic large-scale paintings, offering an unprecedented insight into her creative process.
Cyclops and Other Tales presents the dualities in Wagschal's oeuvre: desire and repulsion, the lived and unlived experiences that shaped her life, her vivid imagination and her astute sense of observation, her spontaneity and the deliberateness of her paintings.
Some of the works on display include Cyclops (1972), the earliest work that shaped her signature visual language, and Tales from the Schwarzwald as Told by My Mother (1980-2013), the two works after which the exhibition is named. Three paintings will also be shown for the first time: Wave (2017), Pariah (2008) and Untitled (2017).
Born in Trinidad and Tobago in 1943 to Jewish refugee parents from Germany and Lithuania, Wagschal immigrated to Canada at age nine. She developed an early interest in drawing and honed her artistic skills at Sir George Williams University (now Concordia University) in Montreal. Wagschal went on to teach painting and drawing for 37 years in the Faculty of Fine Arts at Concordia University. She was one of the first lecturer to introduce feminism into her department through her seminar titled Women and Painting.
To learn more about the work of Marion Wagschal, read Anaïs Castro's article in the NGC Magazine.
Opening Night Event
The exhibition officially opens to the public tonight at 6:00 p.m. EDT, as part of the Gallery's Free Thursdays Nights presented by BMO, with an intimate tour with artist Marion Wagschal, joined by curator Anaïs Castro, Assistant Curator of Special Projects at the NGC. For more details, visit gallery.ca.
About the National Gallery of Canada
Founded in 1880, the National Gallery of Canada is among the world's most respected art institutions. As a national museum, we exist to serve all Canadians, no matter where they live. We do this by sharing our collection, exhibitions and public programming widely. We create dynamic experiences that allow for new ways of seeing ourselves and each other through the visual arts, while centering Indigenous ways of knowing and being. Our mandate is to develop, preserve and present a collection for the learning and enjoyment of all--now and for generations to come. We are home to more than 90,000 works, including one of the finest collections of Indigenous and Canadian art, major works from the 14th to the 21st century and extensive library and archival holdings. Our dazzling, light-filled building is situated on the unceded traditional territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabe Nation, in Ottawa.
Ankosé – Everything is connected – Tout est relié
About the Centre d'art CAB
The CAB is an artistic campus based in Montreal. A non-profit organization, it is a multidisciplinary space for creation and exhibition that gives artists the freedom to experiment without external constraints or expectations. The center sets itself apart from contemporary art norms by prioritizing the artist and their creative process over the finished result. The project is currently under construction, and will offer artists' studios, exhibition and performance spaces, creation residencies, spaces for gathering, gardens, and a café. By valuing collaboration and supporting accessibility to art, the CAB aims to establish the ideal environment for creation; an inclusive, participatory environment for artists and the community. With an architectural project that is sustainable and carbon-neutral, the CAB is a welcoming space where heritage, the community, and creation meet to give rise to new artistic momentum.
SOURCE National Gallery of Canada
For all media requests, please contact: Josée-Britanie Mallet, Senior Media and Public Relations Officer, National Gallery of Canada, [email protected] | Pénélope Carreau, Public Relations Officer, National Gallery of Canada, [email protected] | For any interview requests with the Centre d'art CAB, please contact: Chloe Latour, Communications Manager, Centre d'art CAB, [email protected]
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