FAITH FYLES: IN FULL BLOOM (EXHIBIT AT OAG)

FAITH FYLES: IN FULL BLOOM

Faith Fyles (1875-1961) was the first woman appointed as a botanist with Canada's Department of Agriculture. The exhibition, Faith Fyles: In Full Bloom, taking place at the Ottawa Art Gallery, traces her distinctive dual careers at the Central Experimental Farm: first as a botanist and then as an artist, with both roles often merging into one project. Fyles collected botanical specimens, researched plant diseases and documented plants and fruits. She successfully navigated a gendered bureaucracy while creating and sharing knowledge about Canadian agriculture during its rapid expansion in the early 20th century. 

The exhibit reminds us of the rich history of the Farm and the wealth of scientific research that has and continues to take place there. It is also a reminder of how precious the Farm is as an agricultural and horticultural resource -- one that Heritage Ottawa is committed to protecting. 

The exhibition is a collaboration between the Ottawa Art Gallery and Ingenium-Canada's Museums of Science and Innovation. It runs until September 27, 2026. Other contemporary female artists' works are also on display as part of the exhibition that bring an expanded complexity to Fyles' legacy. 

Watch our video for insight into the value of the Central Experimental Farm by CLICKING HERE.