The Gershon Iskowitz Foundation

The Gershon Iskowitz Foundation is a Canadian private charitable organization dedicated to the advancement and promotion of the visual arts in Canada. It was established in 1985 by the artist Gershon Iskowitz, who sought to support Canadian artists by providing financial assistance and fostering public appreciation for visual arts.

History and Purpose

Gershon Iskowitz founded the foundation as a way to give back to the Canadian arts community, recognizing the support he had received through the Canada Council over his career. The foundation’s mission centers on preserving, exhibiting, and promoting artistic works in Canada, as well as encouraging research, publication, and public education related to visual arts. It is responsible for managing the inventory of Gershon Iskowitz’s own artistic works, although it is not primarily tasked with promoting his oeuvre.

The Gershon Iskowitz Prize

One of the foundation’s most significant initiatives is the Gershon Iskowitz Prize, established in 1986. This annual award is given to a professional Canadian visual artist who has demonstrated artistic maturity and success and who is poised to create a significant body of work or advance their research in the visual arts. The prize aims to empower artists to continue their creative development with confidence.

Since 2006, the prize has been presented in partnership with the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO). The Gershon Iskowitz Prize at the AGO includes a $75,000 cash award and a solo exhibition for the recipient at the gallery, thereby providing both financial support and public recognition. Past recipients have included notable artists such as General Idea, Françoise Sullivan, Michael Snow, Rebecca Belmore, and Allison Katz, the 2023 prize winner known for her innovative approach to painting.

Contributions and Legacy

In 1995, on its tenth anniversary, the foundation donated 148 works by Gershon Iskowitz — including paintings, watercolours, drawings, prints, and sketchbooks — to 32 public gallery collections across Canada, enhancing public accessibility to his art. The foundation’s ongoing activities and the prize continue to play a vital role in supporting Canadian visual artists and enriching the country’s cultural landscape.

Business Registration: 119235042RR0001

Website: iskowitzfoundation.ca