This year’s Artist Project moves to the Enercare Centre with over 300,000 sq. Ft of space and over 300 artists, almost half of them new to the Artist Project. At the media preview the new artistic director, Emily-Jean Alexander, talked about how the new space allows them to increase the number of participating artists, almost 50% of them new to the Project. She is no stranger to art fairs, as she worked for Chicago and New York art fairs. Alexander started working at Art Toronto back in 2013 and this year she will be the director there as well.
Artist Project director, Emily-Jean Alexander
The layout seemed to work well with the booths spread out and lots of room for the many art installations/sculptural works in the Project. There was also some performance for the opening night party called The Art of the Game, inspired by sport, movement and play. It seemed to make sense with FIFA happening this year.
Installation view of the Artist Project
I talked to artist Lesley Luce who uses collage to piece together art works that look very tactile. I thought the work was made of textile at first. She was excited about the new location and hoping that more participating artists will mean more visitors to the Project.
Lesley Luce in front of her work
Alexander also highlighted that the bigger venue allowed the use of space to spread out installations and sculptural works. The colourful installation by Gabriel George Echoes of The Divine, Kerala India was inspired by the head gears of Theyyam, India. Though constructed of different material from Canada the artist’s aim was to reach many different cultures.
Gabriel George with his installation, Echoes of The Divine, Kerala India
Jemma Chapman, a British architect, who arrived in Canada and wanted to tell stories of the many places she visited through an interactive work using digitally produced stamps. The Toonie Stamp Project was getting many curious visitors.
Jemma Chapman in her booth
I stopped by Toronto based painter, Miles Ingrassia’s booth. It was his fourth time at the Project, and he said that he had met participants who returned yearly and had benefited from the sales. He had sold three of his colourful paintings of playful youth already. New artists to the Project like Emma Chlumecky of Windsor Ontario were happy to have a booth and get the attention of the opening crowds.
Miles Ingrassia surrounded by his paintings
Artist, former architect Sanghoon Kang had participated in the Project last year and was back this year after a successful exhibit in Seoul, Korea. Painter, Rachel Sardella was new to the Project, displaying her abstract landscapes. Carrie Chisholm showed her mixed media work on a corner wall and was looking forward to exploring some of the 300 artist booths at the event. Her friends, artists Ross Bonfanti and Sandra Tarantino shared a booth and did collaborative works using a variety of materials. The works were playful and fun with pigeons and other creatures made of ceramics and cement.
Work by Carrie Chisholm
Chelsea Brant had an installation Stand Tall Fit In with colourful free standing painted dandelions that depicted human connection and, for some of us, hoping for spring, a colourful moment. Mallory Tolcher’s Dress Code used reclaimed jewellery to create basketball nets connecting sport, art and fashion.
Chelsea Brant with her installation Stand Tall Fit In
Omar Canales-Cisneros was back at the Project from last year but with his own booth. He seemed pleased with the new venue and the opening night crowd. I liked Brian Harvey’s painting of the old Imperial Pub, recently closed. He also had a painting of Sneaky Dees on College Street which is still open. I also liked painter Ned Palmer’s urban paintings of Bloor West and Spadina.
Omar Canales-Cisneros in his booth
Brian Harvey, Imperial Pub
Abstract artist, Cherie Daly, had been showing her work at the Project for years. She was in a cheerful mood and very positive.
Cherie Daly
I talked with Untapped Artist Sydney Hanson of Markham who works with textiles painting and silk screening on them. She was excited about the opportunity to display her work. Raegan Little’s ceramic and mixed media installation Unbalanced was whimsically wonderful with its assortment of recreated objects made from ceramics including iPhones with cracked screens, a plate of spaghettini and an empty box of Tim Bites.
Untapped Artist Sydney Hanson
Raegan Little’s ceramic and mixed media installation, Unbalance
Figurative painter Michael Bedford had his own booth, and it was year one for him. Artist Emmy Tran had some colourful work and for the daring had a curtained portion of X rated works. Painter Lindsay Liboiron had sold several of her painted creatures and was happy with her start at the Project. Brandon Kennedy seemed busy explaining his colourful abstract style to visitors. Montreal artist, Neltje Green was fresh from a successful exhibit at a Toronto gallery and was looking at more sales at the Project.
Michael Bedford
Emmy Tran in her booth
Lindsay Liboiron
Brandon Kennedy with visitors
Artist Tommy Feiler, who also teaches at Durham College uses found footage of home movies from eBay to create digital photographs. He was impressed with the quality of work in this years Artist Project. Another painting that attracted me was One Among the Herd by Oliviana Cinco oil and acrylic on canvas. As I calculated my way through the busy crowd at the opening night I could relate to the herd of sheep.
Tommy Feiler in front of his work
Oliviana Cinco, One among the Herd
Over the weekend there will be plenty of other programming such as Art Walks, performance and even a tapestry workshop Sunday at 3pm. Indeed, this year’s Artist Project seemed to have something for everyone and it looked like the inclusion of 50% new artists gave it a fresh look in a new venue, an exciting development for Toronto’s art community and a good opportunity for art collectors to purchase new work.
Text and photo: Phil Anderson
*Exhibition information: Artist Project, March 26 – 29, 2026, Enercare Centre Hall A, Exhibition Place, 100 Princes’ Blvd, Toronto. Hours: March 26, Opening Night Party, 6 – 10 pm, March 27 & 28, 12 – 8 pm, March 29, 12 – 6 pm.