Global art, photography and beyond filled Metro Toronto Convention Centre as the city’s most prominent art fair made its 23rd return
By: Anna Maria Moubayed
Over 90 galleries from across Canada, the U.S. and other countries came together from Oct. 27-30 at one of Canada’s biggest art fairs, Art Toronto, returning to the city for its 23rd edition after remaining online for the past two years.
Art Toronto showcased each gallery in individual booths featuring the artists and their works. Paintings, photographs, sculptures, 3D paintings and some interactive installations were presented as visitors strolled along the venue site inside Metro Toronto Convention Centre.
According to Mia Nielsen, director of Art Toronto, the exhibit was the place to be this week for early art collectors who might not have bought artwork from a professional creative before. When asked which booth she is most excited about, Nielsen says the vast array of wonderful art would make it hard to narrow it down to just one.
One notable aspect of the art fair was the Focus Exhibition — a 1,200-square-foot space where audiences can see both new and historic works from artists shown at the fair.
Titled “held open,” the Focus Exhibition features limited works of art curated by Marie-Charlotte Carrier, an assistant curator at Hayward Gallery in the UK. It “explores the manifold ways we relate to one another and the non-human,” according to the Art Toronto website.
Art Toronto was filled with art enthusiasts — some admiring, some critiquing, some shopping over 150 works of art by artists from around the world. Each gallery had a booth representative who would explain the idea or inspiration behind a piece.
But to get a booth at Art Toronto is not as easy as one might think. The application process to be featured at the fair begins months before the opening day. Each gallery is asked to provide a background on its history and a curatorial vision. They also submit a list of artists and the art they would like to showcase at the fair, said Nielsen, who has a background in art curating.
After that, a curatorial advisory committee selects the galleries.
“This is competitive as we have limited spots so galleries often put their best foot forward during the application process,” said Nielsen.
Canadian artist Maria Hupfield had two projects presented at this year’s Art Toronto fair with one being a large painting installation presented with Native Art Department International, a Toronto-based collaborative project with her husband Jason Lujan.
After nine years of living in Brooklyn, New York, this project was inspired by Hupfield’s return to Toronto in 2019, her renewed connection with the city, and the history of the Great Lakes Region art.
“Because I live in Toronto, the public is now witnessing [me as] a local artist with a front row seat to my projects, and a chance to be a part of my artistic career here at home,” said Hupfield.
The second featured project was a selection of monoprints made by Hupfield during her artist residency at Center [3], a not-for-profit centre for the education of the arts, based in Hamilton. Hupfield said the prints are an “exciting return to 2D” and are part of the artist’s recent exploration of colour.
“Since the art community is small and I have watched many of the careers develop over the years, I am really looking forward to seeing what folks have been up to, as well as some new faces,” said Hupfield. “It is exciting because of all the possibilities and potential, especially on the heels of a global pandemic, I expect to see a solid showing of committed artists who stand out against current trends.”
The art fair also featured panel discussions from industry professionals, allowing visitors to get insider knowledge from art world experts that cover various topics.
The panel discussions included speakers such as Cecilia Alemani, renowned artistic director and chief curator of High Line Art, Sky Gooden, founding Publisher and Editor of Momus, Rajni Perera, painter and sculptor and visual artist Manuel Mathieu.
Although the in-person event is over, the works that were featured at Art Toronto are available to be admired and bought until Nov. 13.
