Curated by Imani Dominique and inspired by the aesthetics of local record stores, “The Gift Shop” is an interactive and immersive art gallery. Located at ByWard Market from June 14 - July 18, this pop-up shop will sell prints from local QTBIPOC artists and create an environment that is conducive to art exploration and discovery.
“The Gift Shop 3.0” features artwork and performances by: Aieysha Haws, Anddre Mafra, Angel, Animativespace, Anthony Sawyers, Ehiko Odeh,,Jet Bailey, Kaya Joan, KaylaPl, Laneigh Ramirez, LOWERCASE, Mamic, Pixel Heller, SARA, Sara Sue Vallée, Siobhan Bodrug, Sol Lae (Chasing Laika), SpokenbyT, Tolu Ahmed, Ubuntu Art House, Wandy Cheng, and Yinkore.
Through engaging professional development workshops and creative activations hosted in the space, this exhibit also provides emerging and mid-career artists with an opportunity to incubate their businesses and develop their entrepreneurial skills.
“The Gift Shop” is a space for artists to develop their business skills, build community, and celebrate their craft.
Learn more: https://shopthegiftshop.ca/collections/pixel-heller
One of Toronto’s favourite events, OCAD University’s annual graduate exhibition, returns from May 1 to 5, showcasing work by more than 800 emerging artists, designers and digital media makers.
The city’s largest free art and design exhibition opens on Wednesday, May 1 at 6:30 p.m. with a celebration and party in Butterfield Park at 100 McCaul St. This year’s presenting sponsors are Hullmark and BGO, along with sponsor Fitzrovia and media sponsor blogTO.
GradEx 109 features work by graduating students in every undergraduate program, with sales of artwork and a special exhibition of medal-winning student work in the Great Hall at 100 McCaul St. A supplemental online exhibition will also launch on May 1 at ocadu.ca/gradex.
“When you visit GradEx 109, you will be inspired and moved by the tremendous talent, creativity and ingenuity of these emerging artists and designers who are poised to contribute to Canada’s creative industries and other sectors, including advertising, manufacturing, product design, gaming and sustainable technology,” says OCAD U President and Vice-Chancellor Ana Serrano.
On Friday, May 3 from 12 to 5 p.m., the TIFF Lightbox Gallery at 350 King St. W., will be converted into a screening lounge where the public can watch short films by graduating students in the Experimental Animation program.
Visitors will also get an introduction to the Fineline.art marketplace, a collaboration between OCAD U and the Fineline Co-operative, from May 2 to 5 in the auditorium at 100 McCaul St. This new art marketplace offers meaningful art for purposeful homes and accelerates OCAD U alum art businesses.
Among the artists, designers and digital media makers showing their work at GradEx 109 is artist and designer Pixel Heller, whose creative journey is deeply influenced by her identity as a woman of Afro-Caribbean descent. Her larger-than-life work features two seven-foot-tall prints depicting her as the Moko Jumbie, a traditional masquerade character with roots in West Africa.
Learn more: https://eportfolio.ocadu.ca/exhibitor/details/0f3f900f-95b9-4716-bb13-3d16ab2883d7
For eager collectors, an opening-night ticket offers an exclusive first look at fair, but if you’re just there to take in the scene, you’re in for a treat Thursday evening. Starting at 6:30 p.m., artists Pixel Heller and Xica Dieffenthaller-Lee Poy will be performing Moko Jumbie in the Main Aisle of the Better Living Centre — a dance inspired by the carnival traditions of Trinidad and Tobago. “It will be a one-night-only performance,” says Fried, “and the kicker of the whole thing is it happens on stilts.”
If you miss the performance, you can still see more from Heller. A multidisciplinary artist from Winnipeg, she’s currently a student at Toronto’s OCAD University, and as part of the fair’s Untapped Emerging Artists program, she’ll be presenting a selection of her paintings in Booth U15.
Learn more: https://theartistproject.com/home/pixel-heller/