The Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) has introduced an innovative experience that’s putting a new spin on how visitors engage with art. Until November 19, 2024, the AGO’s Art Rate Monitor invites guests to discover how their heart responds to various artworks. In partnership with Zulu Alpha Kilo and WXM Tech, this first-of-its-kind activation combines wearable heart rate monitors with beacon technology to track each visitor’s heartbeat as they explore the gallery’s vast collection.

Free with general admission, the Art Rate Monitor provides a unique opportunity to experience art with measurable insights. Once visitors strap on a heart rate monitor, they can explore four floors of art, while their physiological responses to certain pieces are recorded. Upon completing their tour, each visitor receives a personalized, shareable digital “wrap report” that highlights the pieces that sparked the strongest reaction, those that calmed them, and the colors that held their attention. The report also identifies each participant’s “art persona,” assigning them a playful identity like Muse, Powerhouse, or Dreamer.

What’s Capturing Visitor Hearts?

Early data suggests that modern art is making quite an impression on Toronto visitors. The most captivating work for the 20-30 age group is Gerhard Richter’s Helga Matura (1966), a sensitive photo-painting that has been found to slow down heart rates, suggesting a calming effect. For those in their thirties, Otto Dix’s Portrait of Dr. Heinrich Stadelmann (1922) is a standout, captivating viewers with its eerie, satirical realism. Meanwhile, Kazuo Nakamura’s Landscape (1963) has a unique hold on visitors over 40, making hearts race with its lush detail in the J.S. McLean Centre for Indigenous & Canadian Art.

Plan Your Visit

The Art Rate Monitor is free with general admission to the AGO. The gallery offers complimentary entry for Ontarians under 25, AGO Members, Annual Passholders, and Indigenous Peoples. For everyone else, ticket prices range from approximately $20 to $25, with various discounts available. Whether you’re new to art or a seasoned aficionado, this is a rare chance to learn what moves you—literally and figuratively. For more information on tickets and memberships, visit the AGO’s website.

Don’t miss this chance to connect with art—and yourself—in a completely new way!

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