On December 17th, Toronto hosted the year-end Art Battle at The Great Hall, with 12 artists and three rounds of battles. I found this event, which has been happening since 2001, very exhilarating as a first-time attendee. Encountering a live art tournament was exciting. The participants painted their canvases in just 20 intense minutes, using various techniques and the viewers participated by voting for the artists. It was hard to choose just one.
The name Art Battle gives the idea of a war, which is a perfect depiction of this event. Inside the hall, it was arranged as a modern-day colosseum, with spectators seated in rows and were able to stand a few feet away and also could to swirl around the artist at their performance time. Using paint and brush like swords, these artistic gladiators clashed in a battle of creativity.
Getting ready
As the competition began, the artists furiously painted, their brushes dancing across canvases. There were lights, music, crowds, and the 12 artist competitors were divided into two groups. From each group, two artists were selected by online voting for the final battle. It was a wonder to see how the artists showed their creativity in the middle of the cheerful cacophony. I had the opportunity to talk with one of the them, Kyla Yager, who was getting ready for her first round. It was very interesting to know that she channels her ADHD and mental health journey into intuitive painting. She enjoys the cheering and music, and it gives her energetic feelings while she paintings. Despite not making it into the final round, her divergent painting showed an intuitive flow of vibrant color, emotion, and abstraction.
Kyla Yager with her painting, All eyes on me. Courtesy of the artist
Tyler Ball, another artist, made it to the final round with his two landscape paintings: “Frosty Sunset”, and another one that depicted twinkling sunlight with golden hues. It was hard to choose between Tyler Ball and Yana Litus. Yana also painted a serene winter scene featuring a snow-covered pine tree and house.
Yana Litus (left) and Tyler Ball (right)
Walking around the artists, merely feet away from them, made me so enthusiastic, and it was great to see their energy. In the second round, Mania showed her creativity by using an airbrush, and got selected to go to the final round.
Artwork by Mania with air brush on her final round
Time ticked away as the tension mounted. Each round is 20 minutes, with the MC’s countdown echoing through the hall like a drumbeat, urging the artists to finish on time. After the time is up, the artworks are displayed, and the audience votes for their favorites.
The competition goes on
This month’s winner, Nisreen Askar, shared her experience in an overjoyed and happy speech. She said that in her first round, she painted a rainy city view. After looking at the other competitors, she decided to change direction and painted a guitar. She told us that it was challenging for her to decide what to paint in her final battle, and she chose to paint something youthful. She saw that the audience was young, felt the battle, and put all the vibrant colors together to show that enthusiasm.
Event Champion Nisreen Asker
Joining in the battle is a great opportunity for young artists to gain publicity, get noticed, attract new clients and sell their artwork. In the hall, there were paintings on display to buy and take home on the same day. The silent auction unfolded like a high-stakes game, with bidders furiously tapping away on their phones, adding an extra layer of excitement to the already electric atmosphere.
Paintings from the battle
Throughout the event, the atmosphere was vibrant, with music pulsating through the speakers, and the energy of the crowd propelling the artists forward. As I left, I couldn’t help but feel inspired by the creativity that filled the room. Art Battle Toronto is more than just a competition – it’s an immersive experience that brings people together, sparks imagination, and celebrates the beauty of art. And the excitement doesn’t end there – mark your calendars for January 11th, 2025, when Art Battle Toronto returns for another thrilling round of artistic competition!
Text and photo: Nusrat Papia