ART TORONTO / OCTOBER 23–26, 2025 / Media Preview, October 23
Edition 26 of this international art fair looked pretty good for the media preview despite the lack of gallerists. It was a time for final touches and some probably waiting for the evening opening party in support of the McMichael Canadian Art Collection when collectors will get a first look at the works in the booth of over 100 galleries.
Installation view of Art Toronto, 2025
Mia Nielsen, the director of the fair was proud to talk about the amount of artist content from the indigenous community not just from Canadian but also from South American galleries and even including an Australian Gallery at the fair. Nielsen’s curation of Generations, an exhibition of different generations of Canadian artists, including Harold Town, Joyce Weiland, Gathie Falk & John Kissick as well as contemporaries, like Meera Sethi, Erika DeFreitas and Michèle Pearson Clarke was very impressive. Added to this mix there is a good representation by diverse artists such as Ningiukulu Teevee, Shuvinai Ashoona, Catherine Chan, Audie Murray and the late Rita Letendre.
Mia Nielsen, director of Art Toronto
Latin American galleries from Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Peru and Costa Rica provided a good look at their contemporary art scene, curated by Karen Huber, who is based in Mexico City. It provided an opportunity for the fair to have some representation with Arte Sur Latin America comes to Toronto. “Art Toronto continues to grow its global perspective while staying deeply rooted in Canada’s creative spirit,” says Nielsen. “This year we welcome exciting new voices from across Latin America while celebrating the legacies and fresh visions shaping contemporary art in Canada.”
OTTO Galleria, Buenos Aires, Argentina
The Focus Exhibition which was curated by Dr. Zoe Whitley had some challenging works as part of Art Toronto and RBC’s Discover Program; works by Galleries such as BAND (Toronto), Central Art Garage (Ottawa), DURAN CONTEMPORAIN (Montréal), Franz Kaka (Toronto), SSEW Project 縫合計劃 (Markham), The Blue Building Gallery (Halifax), United Contemporary (Toronto) and Wil Aballe (Vancouver). There will also be the regular panel talks and guided tours by art professionals, always a draw for Art Toronto.
Jane Corkin of Corkin Gallery, a veteran of Art Toronto fairs, stood next to one of her artists’ works, Mneme (1984) by Leopold Plotek. Corkin was very pleased with Barbara Astman’s Woven Stories #38, and she spoke of Astman receiving the Order of Canada award.
Jane Corkin in front of Mneme (1984) by Leopold Plotek, oil on canvas 98 x 72 inches
Barbara Astman, Woven Stories #38, 2013, woven cotton, nylon thread, 47 x 63 inches
There were plenty of works that caught my eye like That 90’s Painting (2025) by Sonny Assu represented by Equinox Gallery (Vancouver). There was a familiar work of Kristine Moran, The Gardener House (2025), represented by Daniel Faria Gallery. At Odon Wagner Gallery’s (Toronto) booth my eye was drawn to a female portrait. It was like walking around a candy store at the fair. Occasionally I would bump into another media person walking in an art filled daze.
That 90’s Painting, 2025 by Sonny Assu
Kristine Moran, The Gardener House, 2025, oil on canvas, 48 x 60 inches
I stopped at IOTA Studios and talked to artistic director, Mirelle Bourgeois. The Halifax based organization does not have a physical gallery but represents and promotes artists. One of their artist Jordan Bennett had a motorcycle as a work, titled LNUK Motorcycle (2025) that used sealskin, birch bark and moose hide. The artist contemplated riding the motorcycle to the fair but then recanted. It is likely a wise decision.
IOTA Studios artistic director, Mirelle Bourgeois in their booth
Jordan Bennett, LNUK Motorcycle, 2025, Indian Scout Bobber motorcycle, vinyl, sealskin, 42 x 68 x 39 inches
Amber Sandy’s clever Mary Birchkin Bag using deer hide, porcupine quills and silver seed beads was a subtle, but fun take off on designer bags in our culture. Her bags filled the booth of Ceremonial / Art (Vancouver). At United Contemporary I saw another work by artist Jake Kimble, titled Heavy Operator Equipment, an archival print. There was something about the naked figure on a heavy piece of construction equipment that was evocative.
Amber Sandy, Mary Birchkin Bag, deer hide, porcupine quills and silver seed beads
Jake Kimble, Heavy Operator Equipment, archival print
I loved Michael Nicole Yahgulanaas’s Trout (2024), represented by Gallery Jones (Vancouver). Another familiar artist’s work Served by Ross Bonfanti, a teddy bear with a half dozen knives in its back, got my attention. I have always been drawn to Bonfanti’s dark humor. He was represented by Rebecca Hossack Art Gallery (London UK).
Michael Nicole Yahgulanaas, Trout, 2024, acrylic on canvas, 60 x 40 inches
Served by Ross Bonfanti
Everything To Do With Living was a collaboration between Olga Korper and Taglialatella Galleries and had a darkened space with neon & video works by several artists including Kelly Mark, Barbara Steinmant and Ben Johnston. Mark’s work depicts the smoke of two cigarettes converging repeatedly.
Everything To Do With Living
RBC had a collection of works in an enclosed blue space. The salon style installation did not seem to do the works justice but included some great art regardless. The representation of the old Matador Club hanging at the entrance was fun. It advertised Dancing but alas there was none. The old after hours club was an old hot spot that had succumbed to development.
Matador Club
RBC’s collection booth
I hope in the future there is a more organized Media Preview with a short but informative guided tour and introduction. This year’s Art Toronto, like our Blue Jays, managed to hit one out of the park.
Opening Night / October 23, 7 – 10 pm
The opening night is reserved for collectors and supporters of the Art Toronto Fair and the funds raised help to support the McMichael Gallery in Kleinburg. The four-hundred-dollar ticket gets you to support a worthy cause while looking at art and chatting with artists and gallerists in attendance.
I talked with Christopher Cutts of the Chrisopher Cutts Gallery (Toronto), and he voiced some frustration at trying to attract the hordes of visitors in the fair. He admitted it is typical of most fairs whether it is in Miami or in Toronto. The opening night was busy, and people were going to the bar and lining up for food when not looking at the art.
Christopher Cutts in his booth
I stopped at The Drey’s booth and chatted with its director Drey Simpson and one of the gallery’s artists, Peter Hastings, whose work had been popular with collectors.
Drey Simpson, director of The Drey
Peter Hastings in front of his works
Patrick Macaulay, director of Open Studio, that specializes in print production and sales, met me near the desert cue and we caught up on news about the gallery. Not a lot of artists run centres represented at Art Toronto, as it is primarily a commercial fair. Macaulay was hopeful that sales would pay for the gallery’s participation.
Patrick Macaulay, director of Open Studio
I saw Jamie Angell with a friend, Martha. Jamie had a gallery for 25 years with a great reputation for promoting young artists.
Jamie Angell with a friend
Artist Sandra Brewster caught some interest in her works, photo-based gel transfers Blur #20 & Blur #24, represented by Olga Korper Gallery. The blue dots on the labels showed interest in a potential purchase.
Sandra Brewster in front of her works
Grace Kelly, represented by Abbozzo Gallery, posed for a pic in front of her work. I had seen her work at the Artist Project earlier this year.
Grace Kelly in front of her work
Clint Roenisch of Clint Roenisch was busy talking with visitors.
Clint Roenisch, director of Clint Roenisch Gallery
At Arterial Toronto Gallery I talked with gallery associates Noash Irani, Oeyda Deyna and Sara Sattan. They had just closed a sale and there was an empty spot on the wall of booth.
Noush Irani, Jeyda Deyna and Sara Sattari from Arterial Toronto
It was great to see the place alive with energy and visitors engaging in the art works. It was good to meet some of artists represented and to catch some of their excitement. The excitement of opening night was contagious and a good start to another year for Art Toronto that presents new opportunities for a lot of artists.
Text and photo: Phil Anderson
*Exhibition information: October 23 – 26, 2025 / METRO TORONTO CONVENTION CENTRE
North Building, Exhibit Hall A & B, 255 Front Street West. Hours: Fri – Sat 12 – 8 pm, Sun 12 – 6 pm