Installation view of Art Toronto 2026
This year’s 27th Art Toronto was a hive of activity on a busy Saturday with 100+ Galleries and a lot of art loving attendees. New Director of the Fair Emily-Jean Alexander admitted that participation in this year’s fair was down 10% but despite a faltering economy had done well. She said other Fairs south of the border had not all done as well. A new addition at this year’s Fair was a section where collectors could talk to advisors to help them seek art works that would work best for them. It is important to develop new collectors in Canada. According to many gallery directors I talked to, there were plenty of sales and the evening preview party went well. Alexander has not been shy about lending her voice on the need for government support for the arts.
New Director of Art Toronto Emily-Jean Alexander
Christopher Cutts was happy guiding clients around his booth and posed in front one of his artists John Abrams new work The Road to Paris. Abrams uses film classics as subject for his wonderful paintings. Lots of other artists represented here such as Ron Martin and Rae Johnson to name but a few. Cutts has been in the art business for 40 years and the Cutts booth had a good assortment of top artists.
Christopher Cutts in front of John Abrams new work, The Road to Paris
Likewise, Patel Brown Gallery had lots of great artists on display like Shellie Zhang, Swaphaa Tamhane, Shary Boyle and Kim Dorland. Talking with the directors of some larger galleries at the Fair I asked them about the effect of tariffs on them travelling to Fairs like Miami. Some are fortunate to have represented artists living in the US so they could still get sales in the US. So, it was hurting Canadian artists looking for a larger market. Some galleries still look at Fairs in Europe to help them get the necessary sales.
Shary Boyle, Faces, 2024, stoneware glaze at Patel Brown Gallery
Gallery owner Jane Corkin was ecstatic about this year’s fair and took time for a photo in front of one of her top selling artists Tom Campbell. He had just had two sales. Corkin has been busy for many years as well and represents a top rouser of artists. The Corkin Gallery has a forty-year history as well.
Jane Corkin with Peter Campbell: Flowering Tree
I stopped by Abbozzo Gallery (Toronto) where I chatted with artists Adrienna Matzeg and Emily Pope who were both excited about the fair and having visitors see their work. I was then greeted by Director/Founder Ineke Zigrossi who chatted with me about the opportunities for galleries at the Fair and how important it was.
Director, Staff and artists of ABBOZZO Gallery (Ineke Zigrossi is the second from left)
Later I had a similar conversation with the Director of the Fredricton New Brunswick Gallery, Gallery on Queen Fine Art who had just sold a piece to the McMichael Gallery in Kleinburg for their Collection. Director Nadia Khoury was pleased about the sale and the opportunities for more visibility for the Gallery.
Director Nadia Khoury, Gallery on Queen, Fredricton
My eye caught the work of artist Matthias Verginer, Space Siblings at Gallerie LeRoyer (Montreal and Toronto). There seemed to be lots of sculptural work throughout the Fair which worked well. Larger works like Matthias Verginer’s Intake Girl was sold for $31,800 from Galerie LeRoyer (Toronto, Montreal).
Matthias Verginer, Space Siblings, linden wood, crayon, pencil
I chatted briefly with Drew Simpson Director of the Drey Gallery in Toronto. His both was doing well with sales of John Nobrega’s Nun series oil on panel plus the textile works of Savanneh Garvin with her series of knit and stitched Mohair. Indeed, some galleries had works priced that were assessable to new collectors and art lovers.
Drew Simpson Director of the Drey Gallery
John Nobrega: Nun series, oil on panel
de Montigny Contemporary in Ottawa specializes in the effects and influences of technology with art works. Indeed, with all the discussions on the effects on AI on the art world it seemed fitting to have such a gallery exploring technology and art. I chatted with Chantelle Fawcett and Bridget Phillipps of de Montigny about their participation in the Fair and they told me that the public reaction to the art was great.
Chantelle Fawcett and Bridget Phillipps of de Montigny
There were not a lot of international galleries at the Fair this year, but I did chat with Dr. Lesmeister of Galerie Isabelle Lesmeister of Regensburg, Germany, and she stressed the importance of them participating in the Fair. Likewise, Roya Khadjavi of Roya Khadjavi Gallery of New York had plenty of good things to say about their participation.
Roya Khadjavi of Roya Khadjavi Gallery of New York
Arte Sur had the participation of about a dozen galleries curated by Karen Huber and presenting artists from South and Central America as well as Mexico. There was also a daily tour of the sur galleries by Karen Huber.
Art Toronto 2026 also had a variety of great installations spread through out the Fair which broke up some of the commercial context of the Fair. There were plenty of cafes, bistros and benches to take a much-needed rest for the feet and eyes after taking in so much colourful and wonderful thought-provoking art.
The importance of art to community and keeping it accessible was just one of the conversations being held in one of the afternoon panel talks. Panelists all talked of the importance of staying relevant to their audience and attracting viewers to their galleries.
Panel Talk
On my way out from the Fair I stopped in a booth of the Art Canada Institute thar had a Canadian Art Inspiration Student Challenge yearly and now in its 7th year it invites students in Grades 7-12 from across the country to submit original works inspired by Canadian artists. They get cash prizes and the opportunity to get displayed at venues like the Art Toronto. Next deadline is November 18th. Seems like a great opportunity to nurture more interest in the arts.
The booth of the Canadian Art Inspiration Student Challenge
Leaving the Fair I heard many bells. Indeed, there were many bells from around the world in this room an installation of bells, all set to ring at different intervals depending on each bell. They had different themes like the number of births in Canada in a day; a ring for each birth was set by a small computer. This incredible project which took four years was created by Rich Leon of Ottawa at his Salon Des Bananes. Leon had the help of many volunteers for this fascinating project.
Rich Leon of Ottawa from Salon Des Bananes with his bell
Emily-Jean Alexander and her team have managed to offer a great treat for eyes of visitors with this year’s 27th edition of Art Toronto. In a world with a shortage of hope, it brings a great break and a glimmer of wonder from all the creative spirit on display.
Text and photo: Phil Anderson
*Exhibition information: Art Toronto, October 29 – November 1, 2026, Metro Toronto Convention Centre, North Building, Exhibit Hall A & B, 255 Front Street West. Hours: Fri – Sat 12 – 8 pm, Sun 12 – 6 pm.