Across two exhibitions, this season examines the role of the museum, considering how its practices shape cultural memory and meaning.

Sameer Farooq, Restitution Series (Masks), 2020, ink jet print on Hahnemühle, photo Gloss 260, Dibond mounted, 66 cm x 101.6 cm. Hart House Collection HH2021.001, University of Toronto. Courtesy of the artist.

Sameer Farooq: The Fairest Order in the World

February 7 – May 3, 2026
Opening Reception: February 7, 2026, 2 – 4pm
Curated by Mona Filip

Cape Breton born, Toronto based artist Sameer Farooq presents a solo exhibition that offers a deeply poetic space to reflect on the fraught and violent histories of art and anthropological museums, their colonial origins, structures, and impulses.

Sameer Farooq, If it were possible to collect all navels of the world on the steps to ASCENSION, 2019, fired clay on stepped display, 200 cm x 244 cm x 140 cm. Courtesy of the artist. Photo: Steve Farmer

With The Fairest Order in the World, Farooq probes notions of provenance, repatriation, and repair, composing a series of new and recent sculptures and images to articulate unique ideas for repurposing the emptied spaces of museums devoid of their spoils. Mining the possibilities offered by sustained engagement, Farooq invites us to envision what the museum might become through the mechanics of restitution, what it may shift to collect and document, and what kind of experiences it could nurture.

Organized and circulated by Dalhousie Art Gallery.

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Images (left to right) F. H. Varley, Study of a Corythosaurus Dinosaur Skeleton, n.d., charcoal on paper, 30.5 cm x 22.6 cm. Collection of the Varley Art Gallery of Markham. Deaccessioned from the Art Gallery of Ontario. Gift of Kathleen McKay, 1979. Interior View of the Royal Ontario Museum with Corythosaurus Skeleton. City of Toronto Archives/TTC Fonds 16, Series 71, Item 9774 (Corythosaurus intermedius, Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto – June 13, 1933)

Sketching the Past

February 7 – May 3, 2026
Curated by Anik Glaude

In the 1950s, Frederick Varley wandered the halls of Toronto’s Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) with pencil in hand. Sketching the Past invites visitors to share in the careful observations he made, and to think about why we visit museums: to see, record, and reflect. Varley visited the ROM several times, sketching in the Natural History and Art and Culture galleries, where the Chinese collection was his favourite subject. His curiosity extended beyond objects to his fellow visitors, particularly in the dinosaur galleries, where smartly dressed groups could be seen admiring the specimens.

Varley’s keen eye for detail is evident in his documentation of fossils and sculptures, from soaring dinosaur skeletons to intricate cultural artefacts, rendered with the same precision and care as the portraits for which he was best known. Through these sketches and historical photographs, we can also see how objects were arranged and displayed, offering insight into the museum’s approach to storytelling and interpretation at the time.

Alongside these glimpses of the past, the exhibition offers a quiet reflection on how museum collection practices, display methods, and storytelling have evolved, shaping the ways we remember and imagine our shared cultural heritage.

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Associated Programs

Winter Exhibitions Opening Reception
Saturday, February 7 | 2 – 4pm
Free | Registration not required

Join us for the opening of our 2026 Winter Exhibitions at the Varley Art Gallery. The afternoon will feature in-gallery talks by exhibiting artist Sameer Farooq and curator Anik Glaude, along with hands-on art activities for visitors of all ages. Light refreshments will be provided.

Lunch and Learn with Sameer Farooq
Wednesday, March 11, 2026 | 12:30 – 1:30pm
Free | Online | Registration required

Take your lunch break with us and join a free online talk with Sameer Farooq, featured artist from the Varley Art Gallery’s winter exhibition Sameer Farooq: The Fairest Order in the World. This session offers insight into Farooq’s creative process and current work.

Curator’s Corner
Sunday, April 19, 2026 | 2pm
Free | In-person | Registration is encouraged

Step into our Collections Gallery and explore the Varley Art Gallery’s historical works with a guided curator tour by Anik Glaude. Hear the fascinating stories behind the artworks, learn about Fred Varley, his drawings, and the history of the collection.

About the Varley Art Gallery of Markham

The Varley Art Gallery of Markham is a vital cultural hub for artists and diverse communities. A municipal gallery, we create meaningful conversations about Canadian art and society. We inspire local and regional audiences to engage with art through outstanding exhibitions and rich public and educational programs relevant to the communities we serve. We support artists from York region and seek to broaden access to the arts for diverse artists and cultural groups. We also share and celebrate the life and work of F. H. Varley, a founding member of the Group of Seven.

The Varley Art Gallery is situated on the traditional territories of Indigenous Peoples including the Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabe. We are committed to reconciliation, partnership and enhanced understanding.

Varley Art Gallery of Markham
216 Main Street Unionville
Markham, ON L3R 2H1
varley@markham.ca
905.477.7000 ext. 3261

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Public Hours
Tuesday to Friday | 12pm – 4pm
Saturday and Sunday | 10am – 5pm
Monday | Closed

Admission:
Free

Accessibility:
Our venue is accessible, with automatic door openers to enter the building and exhibition spaces. One accessible washroom is available.

For more information, please contact:
Jessica Li, Communications
jessicali@markham.ca