Over two weeks in the summer of 1991, two best friends sat with each other in Toronto sharing quality time. Though they were both artists, in this instance, one played the role of creator, and the other of muse, resulting in the arresting large-scale portrait, June (1991), on view now at the AGO.  

Renowned portrait painter Lynn Donoghue was known for creating depictions of friends and prominent figures in Toronto’s arts community. That summer, her sitter was another renowned Toronto-based artist and her best friend June Clark. Though the two had been friends for years, this marked their first artistic collaboration.

Later that year in December, Clark turned 50 and to mark this milestone her husband purchased the portrait from Donoghue as a surprise gift. It has been hanging proudly on the wall in Clark’s home ever since until recently loaned to the AGO in conjunction with her solo exhibition, Unrequited Love.  On view now, in the J.S. McLean Centre for Indigenous and Canadian Art on Level 2  (via FOYER – full article, linked HERE)