RETIREMENT Not in the Cards as TOAF Turns 65 …
The Toronto Outdoor Art Fair Turns 65 and looks pretty good. Over 350 artists filling Nathan Phillips Square with another 65 online artists and over 120 first time participants. Canada’s largest and longest running fair will have over 170,000 visitors over 3 days and generate much needed income for artists (about 2 million expected).
Talked with several first-time participants at TOAF such as Lilly Mia Black of Scarborough and Olivia Jaszczur of Guelph and they were excited to get their work out to the public.
Lilly Mia Black
Olivia Jaszczur
Executive and Creative Director of TOAF, Anahita Azrahimi says “Toronto Outdoor Art Fair has always been about creating meaningful connections between artists and the public.” She was busy talking to media and visitors alike.
Executive and Creative Director of TOAF, Anahita Azrahimi
David Liss, independent curator, practicing artist and writer was giving art tours and curated an exhibition at the Koffler Arts Gallery Don’t Look Back celebrating the legacy of TOAF’s impact on the art community.
David Liss (left) giving a tour at TOAF on July 10, 2026
MOCA curator, Rui Pimenta has put together a special program for TOAF, The Art Nest with artists Peggy Baker, Max Dean, Naomi Dodds, Micah Lexier, and Ed Pien “to reflect on artistic longevity, practice, and what it means to move forward creatively. Not retirement, a retreat forward.”
David Liss (left) and Rui Pimenta (right) at Art Nest
Max Dean – the partner of artist Martha Fleury who passed away in 2023 – is letting the public take ownership of her art works by giving them away and cataloguing where they might go. I talked with a new art collector, Sarah, who was happy to acquire a Martha Fleury work and now wanted to know more about the artist. There were over 1200 works of art by the artist given away.
Embracing, installation by Max Dean with Martha Fleury’s painting
Sarah, a new collector, with one of Martha Fleury’s work
I chatted briefly with Montreal artist Julie Desmarais. She was in the middle of an art sale of one of her colourful landscapes. I talked as well with artist Nahum Flores who has shown before at TOAF and he was enjoying talking with the public. Ash Godley, another new participant was gearing up for a busy weekend at her booth. Many artists like Godley were based in Toronto but others such as Anastasia Tiller came from Lethbridge NL and Michael Martins was from Brampton.
Nahum Flores
Ash Godley
Anastasia Tiller
Michael Martins
TOAF had its usual mix of art practices and craft. There were some mixed media artists like Michael Xavier De Francesca who works with MDF board by carving and painting it.
Michael Xavier De Francesca
Once again, the organizers treated the Toronto public to a wonderful fair of artwork by many artists and enriched the cultural fabric of the city. 65 and looking good.
Text and photo: Phil Anderson
*Fair information: July 10 – 12, 2026, Nathan Phillips Square, Friday & Saturday: 10am – 7pm, Sunday 10am – 5pm.