Influential portraits featured

Some of Ontario’s most famous faces are now on display at Queen’s Park as part of a new public exhibition of portraits.

Melissa Raftis had a sneak peak and has the details.

The exhibition is called “About Face” and it features portraits of well known Ontarians, from historical figures to modern pop culture icons.

Nearly 100 of these pieces are on display at the office of Lieutenant Governor David Onley.

Organized in collaboration with Library and Archives Canada, the display showcases a diverse group of artists, athletes, academics, business people. For example, the oldest portrait is of Alexander Graham Bell. And the newest feature Justin Beiber and Annaliese Carr.

Some other highlights include a self portrait of astronaut Chris Hadfield, taken from the International Space Station, actor Christopher Plummer, Six Nations runner Tom Longboat. There is an Andy Warhol of Wayne Gretzky. And a commissioned portrait of current NHL’er Nazem Kadri who is the first Muslim player to join the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Lieutenant Governor of Ontario David Onley called the exhibit inspiring: “It’s inspiring quite frankly to see so many different people from so many different backgrounds, races, ethnicity who have the common denominator of having been born and raised or spent most of their lives in Ontario. Made their careers and reputations in this province. It’s inspiring. I think it will be for everyone who comes through.”

There are some well known local personalities on display as well. There’s a photo of Russ Jackson from his final year in the Canadian Football League. And Lincoln Alexander who was the first black Lieutenant Governor.

The exhibition officially launches Wednesday and will be on display to the public on selected days during tours of the legislative assembly.