Michael Adamson: A Private Collection at John Mann Gallery

Michael Adamson: Private Collection exhibition installation shot at the John Mann Gallery (then named 13th Street Winery) March 5 - 26, 2022

Michael Adamson: Private Collection
John Mann Gallery (formerly 13th Street Gallery)
March 5 – 26, 2022

In spring 2022, the John Mann Gallery presented a landmark exhibition of paintings by acclaimed Canadian artist Michael Adamson, drawn primarily from the John Mann Collection. Featuring approximately 25 works, the exhibition offered a rare look at Adamson’s early and mid-career paintings—works that trace the evolution of his distinctive language of layered grids, gestural mark-making, and abstracted landscape forms.

This special presentation was enriched by a direct collaboration with the artist, who contributed several additional works from his studio on consignment. Together, the exhibition provided a comprehensive view of Adamson’s painterly trajectory, emphasizing the clarity, risk, and vibrant energy that define his practice.

Since the show’s opening, the response from collectors has been exceptional. Seventeen major Adamson paintings have been placed in private collections, reflecting both the strength of the artist’s market and the continued interest in significant examples of his work from this period.

Today, seven outstanding paintings from the Mann Collection remain available—each one a compelling example of Adamson’s early vision and the creative foundations that would shape his later career. These works represent an exceptional opportunity for collectors seeking high-quality pieces by a leading figure in contemporary Canadian abstraction.

Michael Adamson is a leading figure in contemporary Canadian painting, celebrated for works that occupy a compelling space between abstraction and landscape. Known for his signature use of vibrant colour, layered textures, grids, discs of pigment, and horizon lines, Adamson’s paintings balance structure with spontaneity, inviting multiple readings and sustained engagement. As The Globe and Mail observed, his canvases “hover so tantalizingly between abstraction and landscape that you end up unwilling to settle for any single reading.”

The invitation showcases Michael Adamson: Private Collection, a landmark 2022 exhibition at the John Mann Gallery (formerly 13th Street Gallery).

Featuring roughly 25 paintings, the show offered a rare glimpse into Adamson’s early and mid-career development—highlighting the layered grids, gestural marks, and abstracted landscapes that define his signature style.

Collector’s Note: Michael Adamson represents a compelling opportunity for collectors: a painter with a distinctive, evolving visual language; solid institutional and exhibition credentials; an established gallery and auction presence; and a market that shows both stability and upside. For collectors aiming to assemble a thoughtful portfolio of contemporary Canadian art, acquiring Adamson’s works — especially larger, well-provenanced canvases — could offer both aesthetic satisfaction and long-term investment potential.