A Giant Leonard Cohen Exhibition Is Coming to Toronto

The AGO is paying homage to one of Canada’s greatest creative forces, offering the public an unparalleled and immersive look into the genius of novelist, poet, and singer–songwriter Leonard Cohen. On show from December 7th for AGO members and from December 10th for the public, “Everybody Knows” is the first museum exhibition to immerse patrons in the holdings of the Leonard Cohen Family Trust. Curated by Julian Cox, the AGO’s deputy director and chief curator, the exhibition showcases archival notebooks, lyrics, letters, and instruments, as well as Cohen’s photographs, drawings, and digital creations from over the years. Rare concert footage will be shown in two large-scale multimedia installations on loan from Montreal’s Musée d’art contemporain.

With such a comprehensive and unprecedented collection of Cohen’s works — and by presenting his known, public creations alongside his private notes, correspondence, and mementos — “Everybody Knows” allows the public to better appreciate Cohen’s all-encompassing creative vision and gain a deeper understanding of his unique creative process. Given the international renown of Montreal-born Cohen, “Everybody Knows” is surely a candidate for broader exhibition and travel, but the AGO experience will set the standard.

Feature Image: Leonard Cohen, Self-Portrait CIRCA 1972 © Leonard Cohen Family Trust