Special Exhibits

Special exhibits are always plentiful at Ottawa-area museums. Here are just a few of the current and upcoming temporary exhibits, in order of end date:

Current Exhibits

Leonardo da Vinci – 500 Years of Genius

May 2 – September 2, 2019
Canada Science and Technology Museum

The most comprehensive exhibition on Leonardo da Vinci to tour the world is coming to Ottawa during its first ever visit to Canada! This special immersive experience was created by Grande Exhibitions in collaboration with the Museo Leonardo da Vinci in Rome and a number of experts and historians. See and interact with over 200 unique displays, including machine inventions, life-size reproductions of Leonardo’s Renaissance art, entertaining animations giving insight into his most notable works, and touchscreen versions of his actual codices. The experience includes the world’s exclusive Secrets of Mona Lisa exhibition.

Pterosaur: Flight in the Age of Dinosaurs

June 15 – September 2, 2019
Canadian Museum of Nature

This blockbuster exhibit from the American Museum of Natural History reveals the weird and terrifying flying creatures that dominated the prehistoric skies. Journey through the Mesozoic (252 to 66 million years ago) with the largest flying animals that ever lived. Learn more about them through fossils, impressive models, and unique interactives.

Gauguin: Portraits

May 24 – September 8, 2019
National Gallery of Canada

The National Gallery of Canada is hosting the first ever in-depth investigation into one of the 19th century’s most influential and complex artists: Paul Gauguin. Explore how the French artist gave symbolic meaning to his subjects through his portraits of models, fellow artists and even himself. See 65 carefully selected works by Gauguin including paintings, works on paper and three-dimensional objects from public and private collections around the world. 

Butterflies in Flight

October 6, 2018 – October 14, 2019
Canadian Museum of Nature

Enter a world of brilliant live butterflies! Experience a warm and relaxing tropical environment with flowering plants and hundreds of live butterflies.

Special exhibits at the Ottawa Art Gallery (OAG)

April 12, 2019 – various end dates
Ottawa Art Gallery 

The always-free OAG presents five new special exhibits featuring interactive sculptures, collaboratively-made art and a massive video projection created by local, national and international artists. Don’t miss Carbon + Light: Juan Geuer’s Luminous Precision, Howie Tsui: Retainers of Anarchy, Wrapped in Culture, Cheryl Pagurek: Connect, and Pranayam.

Highland Warriors

June 7, 2019 – January 12, 2020
Canadian War Museum

Discover the origins and culture of one of the most iconic and enduring military figures: the Highland soldier. Over a hundred artifacts — from fearsome broadswords to resplendent tartans — connect the fierce and respected clan warriors to the proud military traditions of Highland regiments in Canada today.

Neanderthal

May 17, 2019 – January 26, 2020
Canadian Museum of History

This major exhibition from the Muséum national d’histoire naturelle (France) provides new insight into Neanderthals based on the most recent scientific discoveries. See exceptional fossils rarely shown to the public from Europe’s most prominent research institutions. Discover how Neanderthals lived throughout Eurasia for 300,000 years before mysteriously disappearing 30,000 years ago. And learn how this species of the genus Homo is much more like us than we previously thought!

UNCEDED – Voices of the Land

May 3, 2019 – March 22, 2020
Canadian Museum of History

This breathtaking multimedia installation brings together the past, present and future of the Indigenous experience, as seen through the eyes and minds of 18 distinguished Indigenous architects and designers from across Turtle Island (North America).

Upcoming special exhibits

Portraits of Courage: President George W. Bush’s Tribute to America’s Veterans

June 28 – September 3, 2019
Canadian War Museum

Inspired by Sir Winston Churchill’s essay Painting as a Pastime, President George W. Bush began to paint. He painted some of the men and women who were under his command during his time in office and who he later encountered through the work of the Bush Center.

For more museum exhibits and happenings, check out our online Event Calendar.