Thomas J Price’s Moments Contained at the AGO

On July 30, 2025, the AGO unveiled Moments Contained (2022), a 2.7-meter-tall bronze sculpture by renowned artist Thomas J Price. In this video, he delves into the conceptual and technical background of his monumental work, sharing his hopes for how the sculpture will function as a piece of public art. “I want to put these fictional people into this material of power at scales which we associate with monuments, in public places normally designated for the people we look up to.”

Moments Contained is the first public artwork acquired by the AGO’s Department of Arts of Global Africa and the Diaspora. This acquisition was made possible by the generous contributions of a group of donors, the majority of whom are from Toronto’s Black and Caribbean communities.

For more stories like this from the world of art and culture, read Foyer, the AGO’s digital magazine, at https://readfoyer.com/

00:00 Introduction
0:34 The technical aspects of creating Moments Contained
1:38 The significance of bronze as a material
1:53 The person depicted in Moments Contained
2:33 Installing the sculpture outside the AGO
3:29 Public reception of the sculpture
4:06 Closing credits

Thomas J Price. Moments Contained, 2022. Bronze, height: 9’ (274.4 cm). Art Gallery of Ontario. Purchase, with funds from Anonymous; the David Yuile & Mary Elizabeth Hodgson Fund; David W. Binet; the Haynes-Connell Foundation; an Anonymous Family; the Gordon and Lorraine Gibson Family Foundation; Chandaria Family; Steven & Lynda Latner; Charles Lesaux, Aaron Nugent & Becky LeBlanc, Ella Nugent; Mascoll Family; Dr. Liza & Dr. Frederick Murrell; Sekyi-Otu Family; Kevin Jerome Crouch in honour of Kaliyana John; Tyrone & Life Edwards; Kevin, Nevaeh, Keenan & Cali Johnson in honour of Monica Johnson; Karen Arcuri; Tracy McFerrin & Michael Dickstein; and Jill Homenuk, 2023. © Thomas J Price. 2024/116

Co-Directed by Simone Aziga and Matthew Rolfe
Produced by Simone Aziga and Malene Hjorngaard
Directors of Photography: Justin Lawrence and Jo Barran
Edited by Matt Rorabeck
Audio Recording and Post-Production Support: Fraser Wrighte