The exhibition included oil paintings, watercolours and ink and wash scenes that Markovich created over a period of 15 years while working at MTO. These vibrant scenes depict the historical development and construction of well-known Ontario roads and bridges as well as activities of the ministry such as surveying and snow removal.

Over 100 of these original artworks, which have hung in MTO offices for more than half a century, have been revived through their recent transfer to the Government of Ontario Art Collection at the Archives of Ontario, Ministry of Government and Consumer Services. Through this transfer to the Art Collection, the paintings have been inspected, cleaned, conserved, reframed and digitized so they can be preserved and displayed for the enjoyment of the public and future generations. The Archives of Ontario, located on the Keele campus of York University, holds the Government of Ontario Art Collection in public trust and has a responsibility to preserve the Collection. The Art Collection is currently comprised of over 2,700 original works that include paintings, murals, drawings, sculpture, antiques and decorative objects which are on display in over 75 government buildings across the province.

About Moma Markovich

Moma Markovich was born in Belgrade, Serbia in 1902. He graduated from École des Arts Décoratifs in Paris.

He had an active career as artist, designing postage stamps for the Yugoslavian government, illustrating textbooks for school children and working as a freelance cartoonist.

During the Second World War, after escaping from a Nazi labour camp in Austria, Markovich made his way to Italy where he continued painting and remained until after the war ended. He came to Canada in 1951.

Four years later, Markovich was hired by the Ministry of Transportation – then the Department of Highways – as a junior draftsman. He eventually moved to the Art Section where he painted artistic renderings of transportation infrastructure across Ontario.

Markovich spent hours researching his works, ensuring accurate historical detail. He created almost 200 artworks while working at the Ministry of Transportation, and after retiring from the ministry in 1970, he created a series of 55 artworks for the Ministry of Natural Resources.

Moma died in 1977, at the age of 75.

You can explore digital reproductions of Markovich’s artworks in the Art Collection database.
Find out more about how MTO marked their 100th year on the MTO website.