Ottawa’s Blue Barn Group: Mid-Century Modern Art
October 3–13, 2026

Reception: Saturday, October 3, 2–5pm

RSVP your attendance to responses@wallspacegallery.ca

 

James Boyd, Abstract, 1958, oil on canvas, 38 x 54 in. $7500

In honour of Ottawa’s 200th anniversary, Wall Space Gallery is delighted to present an exhibition celebrating the profound legacy of Modern art within our local creative community. This legacy can be traced to Ottawa’s historic Blue Barn Gallery, which was guided by a mission to support and promote Canadian artists regionally, nationally, and internationally.

Victor Tolgesy, Moonflower, 1958, cast bronze, 20 x 12 x 6 1/2 in. $5000

The Blue Barn Gallery may have first been associated with its physical space but was later defined by the sentiments it promoted. Originally operating under the direction of artist Duncan de Kergommeaux within his mid-century furniture store, The Little Blue Barn, the Blue Barn Gallery was not only a hub for the arts, but was also the catalyst for an informal and thriving arts community in Ottawa.

Featuring the work of Canadian artists, the gallery prominently supported those working within the region. Among others, it highlighted the work of local artists Gerald Trottier, James Boyd, Victor Tolgesy, and Georges de Niverville, alongside de Kergommeaux himself. Together, these artists, and others associated with the gallery, came to be known as the Blue Barn Group.

Duncan de Kergommeaux, My Rainbow #4, 1967, acrylic on canvas, 60 x 60 in. $12,000

Upholding the mission of the original Blue Barn Gallery, Wall Space Gallery is proud to support local artists and their families, highlighting this legacy as a celebration of our community and shared artistic history. Ottawa’s Blue Barn Group: Mid-Century Modern Art is an exhibition that offers visitors the rare opportunity to collect and connect with the art that helped shape Ottawa’s artistic identity.

Gerald Trottier, Untitled Mosaic Mural Maquette, 1960, paper cuts on board, 4 1/4 x 7 5/8 in. $700

Ottawa’s Blue Barn Group showcases work created during this exciting mid-century modern period and features pieces by Gerald Trottier, James Boyd, Victor Tolgesy, George de Niverville, and Duncan de Kergommeaux. 

Learn more about the exhibition and the history of Ottawa's Blue Barn Group HERE.

Georges de Niverville, Untitled, 1954, oil on canvas, 32 x 34 in. $5000