July 11 – 13, 2025
Nathan Phillips Square
Friday & Saturday: 10am – 7pm, Sunday 10am – 5pm.
Get ready for a vibrant summer at Nathan Phillips Square, where the Toronto Outdoor Art Fair (TOAF) is celebrating its 64th edition! This charitable non-profit organization, Canada’s largest and longest-running juried contemporary outdoor art fair, showcases over 400+ independent visual artists from across the country. This year’s edition boasts a province-led Artists Zone uniting the country, featuring Atlantic Canada, Northwest Territories, and Unique Quebec for the first time. With a common thread running through the programming, Art Nest curated by Myta Sayo, a Students Zone, and more, the fair promises to be an exciting experience.
The art tour, led by curator David Liss, kicked off with Tracy-Mae Chambers’ striking installation featuring yarn and netting that waves around trees and the square. Her piece explores connections between Indigenous and settler communities, with red threads symbolizing both the struggles and injustices faced by Indigenous peoples, as well as the courage and love that guide humans toward healing.
Tracey-Mae Chambers, Hope and Healing Canada, installation art
Nearby, Jess Young’s flock of porcelain pigeons reflected her own experiences of displacement during COVID, as a metaphor of resilience.
Jass Young, Pigeons, installation
Freshly graduated student Neltje Green’s vibrant paintings capture her memories of walking around the city and invite viewers to reflect on the personal and collective meaning of place.
Neltje Green, booth A6, 2d work. Introducing herself and her art
Meanwhile, Frédéric Belleau’s “Nostalgic” series brings childhood cartoon characters to life through prints and paintings, tapping into shared moments of pop culture that resonate with everyone.
Frédéric Belleau, booth 538, “Nostalgic”
Two newcomers to the exhibition are Luanne Dominix, a self-taught water-based painter from Newfoundland, and Clothilde Allen, a photographer from Montreal. Dominix’s work explores the beauty of rural life through food, land, and tradition, while Allen’s photographs focus on nature’s presence in the city.
Luanne Dominix, booth 310, with her proud parents
Clothilde Allen, booth 359, photography and digital media
The fair features a diverse range of artists, including queer artist Saif Al-abedi from Iraq, who blends Arabic calligraphy, Middle Eastern roots, and queer identity in vibrant works. Kyla Yager, a queer ADHD artist, is back for her second time at the fair, creating dynamic compositions that capture her environment’s energy through live painting, speed painting, and murals.
Saif Al-abedi, booth 512, photography and digital media
Kyla Yager, Booth 410, paintings
Nearby, Harry Kooy, a retired auto mechanic turned artist, showcases intricate mechanical pieces crafted from steel, copper, brass, stone, and wood, including a notable work featuring a deer skull that adds an unexpected element to its mechanism.
Harry Kooy, booth 29, 3D works, Stirling engine, kinetic sculpture
Beyond paintings and photographs, the fair features a diverse range of artists, including jewelry makers and ceramic artists creating beautiful home accessories like vases and bowls. The event also offers fun activities for kids, live music, and dance performances. Mark your calendars for the 11th to 13th, when you can enjoy it all, along with delicious food and drinks.
Text and photo: Nusrat Papia