Interviewing Our 8 Vibrance Artists

Twist Gallery is very excited to showcase our new exhibit Vibrance, and give you a chance to get to know the 8 talented artists on a deeper level to better understand their artistic process. Vibrance is centred around life’s moments, both in the mundane and the exciting, encouraging our intertwined connectivity of the human experience. We asked our artists some questions about the ‘vibrancy’ of their work. To find out more, keep reading!

Twist Gallery is very excited to showcase our new exhibit Vibrance, and give you a chance to get to know the 8 talented artists on a deeper level to better understand their artistic process. Vibrance is centred around life’s moments, both in the mundane and the exciting, encouraging our intertwined connectivity of the human experience. We asked our artists some questions about the ‘vibrancy’ of their work. To find out more, keep reading!

Amanda Pistillo

Amanda is a self-taught artist whose work is centred around the feeling of joy, the tranquility of being happy, and extending that to others. She hopes to entice a feeling of inspiration and motivation in others to create their own unique art work

  • How does the title ‘Vibrance’ connect to you and your art?

"Vibrance" to me and in terms of my art is about the light that radiates within your heart and soul. It is that powerful energy that brings forth happiness and love! Each piece that I create is a one-of-a-kind creation always made with lots of love and with the hope that they bring happiness to others! 

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  • All of your paintings are centred around John Lennon. What aspects of his life inspired your work? 

John Lennon's empowering mission for a world with peace and love coupled with his never-ending call for inner courage and strength are very inspirational to me. I wanted to try and capture the light and radiance of his heart and soul within my artwork.

  • How have you cultivated such a unique style of painting?

I love to create art, it helps to centre me and brings me so much peace. Over time I have learned to exercise a sense of courage when creating my art, just being totally free. I enjoy using a rainbow of colours within my work, along with an edgy/sweet kind of look. I never have an exact plan of how the piece will turn out, I just go with the flow and try to be fearless. I've found that the best process for me when I'm creating my art is to just listen to my heart and let go of any control.

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  • Do you have any advice for beginner artists who are nervous to explore new mediums and areas of art?

I think it's really important to be yourself and to have a sense of fearlessness when creating your art. There are going to be people who will have opinions about what you have created and want to change your style of art, but always remember how unique you are and to never conform to other people's expectations. Always believe in your art and in who you are. Your art is a reflection of you, and all of your divine creativity and your beautiful soul! Always remember to keep persevering, try new techniques, and always always stay true to yourself!

Daniella Williams

Daniella is keen on expression, keen on capturing the moments that truly make us human. Whether it be alone, with a partner, in a public setting with strangers… she makes sure to grasp deep emotion in a way that makes the viewer feel comfortable and understanding. Daniella focuses on all of the little details that are incredibly important in the final composition of her piece, and will make sure to capture every angle and shadow. 

  • How does the title ‘Vibrance’ connect to you and your art? 

I wanted to be a part of Vibrance because I felt that the concept and title of the show was one that reflected the overall essence of my work. My paintings emphasize colour and dynamic imagery of people in mundane scenes. Therefore, when I begin a painting my end vision is a scene where I have pushed the colours and skin tones of the subjects in unexpected ways. I want my paintings to be vibrant and energetic as well as probe the viewer to ask questions about the narratives I develop.

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  • Why have you explored the themes of intimacy, self-reflection and voyeurism with your Domesticity collection?

My work touches on themes of intimacy, self-reflection and voyeurism because I’ve always been concerned with the idea of being perceived. I want to explore the tension and discomfort that exists in this as an individual but then paint it in a way that feels intimate to the viewer. As curious humans we love to get a look into the psyche and inner experiences of people around us; hence our fixation on social media and consuming images. Similarly, I have struggled with my own body image, and self-perception as a young bi-racial woman in an age of internet and image consumption, so it's always felt important to create paintings about these ideas.

  • What is the narrative behind the Domesticity paintings?

The Domesticity series paintings are meant to follow the domestic lives of four young adults who share a home. Their relationship to one another is ambiguous and highlighted by their inherent separateness in each scene. The setting of each painting is clearly a home yet none of the inhabitants ever meet the others gaze or interact. Domesticity was meant to be a look inside a troubled home life, one that looks bright and beautiful at first glance but harbours tension and restlessness at a second glance.

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  • How do you choose your muse for your paintings? (Are they friends of yours? Models? Strangers?)

The subjects of my paintings really depend on where I am and what I’m feeling inspired by at the time. A lot of my most recent pieces were of friends who I had sit and act out different scenarios and narratives for me. Whereas many of my other paintings are of strangers I capture in passing. For instance, my newest painting “In A Sea Full of Women’ was a collage of several people I observed on different beaches in Italy and Greece. Mainly what I look for in my subject is a sense of mundanity, I want them to look like everyday people and to tell some kind of story in their expressions or body language.

Sandra Lambert

Sandra has a spirit that can be seen directly through her paintings. She focuses on the things that make her happy and takes inspiration from the little parts of life that may be overlooked otherwise. High saturation and crisp lines in her art convey an intense wave of emotion and expression. 

  • How does the title ‘Vibrance’ connect to you and your art? 

My first love in painting is colour. I’ve always been attracted to fresh, bright colours - colours that remind me of summer gardens or brightly coloured insects and birds. Loving the colours in nature, I’ve wanted to capture that feeling of freshness and aliveness without limiting myself to representation. So, it’s more of a desire to express the essence of an experience of nature - fields, sunset, fruit, flowers, insects, birds - the vitality that, at our core, we share with the natural world.

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  • What attracted you to painting utilizing such rich saturated hues?

When I discovered acrylic gouaches- especially the Japanese colours- I fell in love with them. I rarely mix them, instead using them straight from the tube. They convey the intensity of my emotions and my experience of being saturated with the beauty of the world around me - an intensity that is difficult to convey in words, other than poetry, but seems to come more easily in the language of paint.

  • What would you say your biggest inspiration has been during your art journey?

I am like a sponge, soaking up visual stimuli- natural and urban landscapes and the work of other artists. I think it was John Berger who talked about the importance of receptivity in the act of painting. That resonates for me- what you take in then moves through you and into the paintings. It’s not that you don’t need to learn techniques and practice a hell of a lot, but I think it’s good to stay open and receptive to the world around you and the impulses of your own soul.

  • What drives you to create? How does it impact your personal growth?

I don’t really know what drives me to paint, other than I’m not happy if I’m not making something. And there’s nothing like the feeling of being completely absorbed in making a piece of art; it’s that loss of self-consciousness, that sense of rightness, of doing what I’m supposed to be doing. Also I never get bored- there’s always a new idea and something new to learn and try, and you can never get complacent because you can never really capture what you set out to capture so it’s always in front of you like a breathtaking view that is never reached because it’s always just around the next bend in the road.

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  • How do you know when to stop, when do you really know when a piece is finished?

I used to overpaint more than I do now. I didn’t trust what I was doing and was trying too hard and worrying about the end product. I do that less now and trust more in the process. It helps to work on 2 or 3 pieces at a time so you don’t get hung up on getting one perfect. Maybe that is something I’m learning from painting- perfection is not where it’s at in art or in life- instead it’s trying, experimenting, failing sometimes and succeeding sometimes, but keeping on working with an open mind and a playful spirit. Also there are happy accidents - ‘mistakes’ that turn out to be wonderful surprises. I’m trying to keep that attitude in regards to other parts of my life - what we hope and expect often do not occur but sometimes what seems ‘wrong’ can turn out to be a gift.

Allen Ford

Allen, a man well versed in our society’s natural fast pace and how our minds can interpret the advertising all around us, excels in collage style art that encourages the viewer to expand their horizons across many places. He uses second-hand bright and colourful advertising materials to create a whole new piece of art, enticing a sense of unusual inspiration from many different things at once.

  • How does the title ‘Vibrance’ connect to you and your art? 

Excellent question! I feel vibrancy in my art is found in creating new meaning with the posters. Originally all these posters have a clear meaning and intent.  Take the huge panel with the Andy Warhol poster from the AGO exhibit. Originally that poster had a very clear purpose. But rip it, tear it, and mash it up with other posters, and something new and unexpected is created with its own energy and meaning. To me that is vibrant.

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  • Your collages reinterpreted old advertising posters from across the city. How do you see advertisements subconsciously affecting our decisions making as consumers?

Advertisements affect our decisions just as all other forms of inspiration do. We are first triggered not by the entirety of something but by one single element of it. It's like being at a club...or an opening night of an art show! You see somebody across the way, you don't know them but the way they wear their hair, or stand, or hold their glass connects with you. Advertising is no different. We see or hear a word, see an image or a colour, and it sticks. And you then want to know more.

  • What does your artist process look like?

It looks like a mess! When I am in full creating mode, my apartment...err...studio is literally strewn with posters and panels. I then proceed to mimic a squirrel in a park digging for nuts. I know a specific poster is buried somewhere, I just need to find it! There is usually one core poster fragment I build around. It might feature a word or sentence, or perhaps an image or colour. With that foundation, I simply look to then build around it as I add, shuffle, rotate, and rip other poster fragments in. I rarely have a defined image I am looking to create though. It is very much a process that is about finding the finished image. And when do I know something is finished? When I get a tingle on my arms, a smile on my face, and start nodding. Then I know I have created something!

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  • What do you hope the viewer draws from engaging with your work?

I like to imagine viewers of my work as a kind of urban archaeologist. This art requires viewers to reconstruct what they see, but also imagine and parse what they can't. I feel viewing my art also asks people to be creative themselves. These posters, once all ripped and torn, all fragmented words and images, ask every viewer to create their own meaning, find their own inspiration.

Eleanor Lowden

Eleanor’s art will take the viewer to a universal happy place - a beautiful garden, which holds the power to be exactly what we need as humans. She makes sure to share her beautiful imaginations in a way that is inviting while also exciting.  

  • How does the title ‘Vibrance’ connect to you and your art? 

It’s such a pleasure to be part of the Vibrance Show at Twist Gallery. I think my work often reflects a certain vibrance, the colours and the mood and the settings that inspire me. I’m thrilled to be showcasing my work with this group of artists whose work I admire.

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  • What inspired you to create your Joyful Garden Series during the pandemic?  

I began my Joyful Garden series during the pandemic in the summer of 2020. I was living in a condo with no garden of my own. During lockdown we were all limited and my outings were mostly to walk my dog. I started noticing gardens and outdoor spaces and gained a new appreciation for them. I began creating my garden series around this time, I felt like I finally had a garden of my own. It was my own form of abstract art that also felt very liberating and fun.

  • Do you have a favourite place to create?

I create in my home studio, I love the early morning hours the most. I’m up at 5:30 am and I paint until 7:30 am. when I walk my dog. I then come back and grab a coffee and paint for another few hours. But the early morning hours are still the best.

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  • Do you ever hit a creative block? How do you overcome it as an artist?

I rarely have a creative block. I am always looking for more time to paint. If I have a day I don’t feel like painting, I always have administrative work to do. My website or my books or my Instagram…..All things that need to be done! 

Phero

Phero’s lust for life and appreciation for all shines through his digital and painted art pieces. His idols, exuberant and talented, bring a sense of inspiration to the viewer for this kind of vibrancy in their own life. He combines mediums to fully grasp expression and emotion in his subjects. 

  • How does the title ‘Vibrance’ connect to you and your art? 

Vibrance, to me, means full of life and energy, vibrating at the highest possible power or potential. I feel like my pieces are exactly that they are full of energy, they show movement in their stillness because they are vibrant.

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  • What inspired you to paint these POC pop culture icons?

I draw my inspiration or choose my “subjects” based on things I believe in or I enjoy. I love hip hop culture which is why a lot of my pieces are so deeply linked to hip hop and the surrounding elements.

  • What does your artist process look like?

I usually start it with a mood board or a reference board where I gather pictures of the subject and try to figure out how I can capture them. Then, I start to pencil things in lightly (or outline things digitally), and then I start to drop colour in places and see how the composition comes together, making alterations where I need to.

  • What attracted you to painting with and utilizing such rich, saturated hues?

Early on my artist journey when I was trying to develop my unique style, I wanted something where people would be able to easily identify my work immediately. I found the easiest way to do that was to use vibrant colours. It is easy to unify an exhibit when the colours are the same across all pieces.

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Rahul Ohja

Rahul’s abstract mind encourages the viewer to step out of their comfort zone and feel the emotions of life that may be previously unexplored. He uses colours and shapes in a way that has an other-worldly effect, a way that will inspire creativity in a vibrant and fun manner. Read for further tips for beginners that Rahul was nice enough to share with us. 

  • How does the title ‘Vibrance’ connect to you and your art? 

I believe vibrance is a state of being full of energy and life. My thoughts and variant emotions represent my belief in colours being a central part of all living beings and non-living objects.

I love working with bright sparkling colours & textures in creating bold, vibrant, and colourful abstract art. I try to reinvent myself through my artwork and observe the world with extreme detail — from colour to line, and light to shadow. I do this  because it fulfills me, helps liberate me, enriches me. 

  • How have the events in your life influenced your creative process? 

As beings, I believe we are all creators – some masterful with their words, others captivating through their actions and outliers, like myself, through our ability to enthrall with colours on canvas. I have trotted the globe, living and serving in three continents and hence, it is safe to say that my creations transcend cultural and geographic contexts to offer any beholder a sight worth more than what meets the eye. Predominantly through abstract work, I use colours, brushes and strokes as media to explore parts of my own subconscious that have been shaped, ostensibly, by experiences I do not vividly remember.

  • What attracted you to painting in the style you have come to adopt?

I do abstract art! I believe every colour has a meaning, it speaks of something, when many colours blend it has a language, a language that has nothing to do with realism or perfectionism... it’s just so powerful… and that is where abstract is born. I direct these colourful, bold, and boundless  abstract language onto canvas and try to connect to people with an aim to sooth, to heal, to energize and help them search for inner peace and tranquility and give life a real meaning!

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  • Do you have any advice for beginner artists who are nervous to explore new mediums and areas of art?

Abstract art can be a challenge. Beginners may believe that it is very easy, and anyone can do it. For those who have created abstract artworks or have taken a course, know that things can get a little complex. Creating an abstract piece requires certain skill sets.  Don’t let the challenge turn you away. If you are a beginner , there are some tips you can keep in mind to start your journey as an abstract artist. You have to keep the following three main components of abstract artwork in mind: 

1. Composition: While composition plays an important role in all types of artworks, it is especially essential in abstract art. Since abstract art is generally vague, it is important to have a focal point in your painting to capture the viewers’ attention. The shape, size, and placement of the objects on the canvas help create a good composition. 

2. Colour: Since there aren’t any objective rules when it comes to abstract art, it can be easy to get carried away with the colour. However, it is advised to not throw all the colours on your palette onto the canvas before calling it a day. In fact, think about your colour palette before you even pick up the brush. Ideally, choose a limited number of colours and try to get creative with them. Mix these colours on the canvas to create an endless stream of changing shades and colours instead of picking a different tube every two minutes.  

3. Texture: While using the right colors and composition, to ensure that you create an attractive piece of artwork, the texture makes the abstract painting really stand out. You can use various techniques and materials to add texture to your painting. In fact, you can just apply the paint more thickly in places. However, make sure that the texture is consistent throughout the artwork. Even if you have multiple different ideas on how to add texture, leave the rest for your next projects and only use one or two techniques per painting.

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Nicole Dimt

Nicole guides you to the future through vivid colours and unique shapes with impeccable attention to detail and design. Her art is limitless, combining a magical imagination with real-world vibrancy that will leave the viewer craving more. 

  • How does the title ‘Vibrance’ connect to you and your art? 

Vibrance is the perfect word to describe my art. Every piece I make incorporates multitudes of every colour, which is the main goal of everything I create. In my work, I use the most saturated version of every colour I can, as I want my art to be eye-catching, as well as remind myself, and viewers, of the fascination and the joy that being a child once brought. I use vibrant colours so that my art feels lighthearted, fun, and just a little chaotic.

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  • The subject in your artwork varies from nature and cityscapes to self-portraits. How do you decide on what subject to focus on? 

My undergrad and the assignments it gave me are what opened me up to exploring many different subject matters within my art. I like to keep a very open-ended and diverse portfolio, and like to play with as many styles as I can. Anything can inspire me. Whenever I see a picture, or another artwork that I like, I get inspired to make something just like it, no matter what it is.

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  • Do you prefer an abstract or realism style? Why?

It's hard to choose between the two - I often refer to my art as "abstracted reality," because that's exactly what it is. I always start my artworks with a reference of something from real life, such as nature, architecture, or fabric, and edit it digitally to create new wonderlands and worlds, which I then replicate. I would say this is my natural style. Granted, I do love to play with pure realism, and have a few pieces that showcase that in this exhibition. I like to create realism pieces when I find a reference that catches my eye, and I want to test my skill and

  • What would you say your biggest inspiration has been during your art journey?

My biggest inspiration throughout my art journey has definitely been all the amazing artists, and friends I met during university. My professors, peers, and mentors are who pushed me to be the artist I am now, and showed me new worlds and possibilities within painting. Many of these people helped me come up with themes and motifs, and really helped me connect with my art and understand it for what it is - something that did not come easily to me. It has been amazing to be around such creative people in my life, and this has continued post-grad into my workplace where I work as a concept artist, surrounded by brilliant minds who are fluent in the digital arts. 

We hope you enjoyed getting to know a little more about the talented artists behind Vibrance! Don’t forget to come check out the exhibit, on from October 4th - 29th.

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Introducing our #Vibrance Artists

Twist Gallery’s October 2022 exhibit #Vibrance, on from October 4th to 30th, is a dynamic, joyful, and effervescent interpretation of what it means to live, to feel, and to dream. Spotlighting eight exceptional artists from Toronto, this exhibit garners the unrestrained power of light, hue, and texture, inviting the viewer on a journey into colour itself. Through a fearless employment of colour and bold brush strokes, these artists open the door of creativity for the public. Don’t miss #Vibrance’s Opening Reception, taking place on October 6th from 6-9pm. Click here to RSVP.

Twist Gallery’s October 2022 exhibit #Vibrance, on from October 4th to 30th, is a dynamic, joyful, and effervescent interpretation of what it means to live, to feel, and to dream. Spotlighting eight exceptional artists from Toronto, this exhibit garners the unrestrained power of light, hue, and texture, inviting the viewer on a journey into colour itself. Through a fearless employment of colour and bold brush strokes, these artists open the door of creativity for the public. Don’t miss #Vibrance’s Opening Reception, taking place on October 6th from 6-9pm. Click here to RSVP.

Daniella Williams

Daniella is a local Toronto painter that is centralised around community and relationships, everywhere from friends and the neighbourhood beyond. She prioritizes creating narratives that are expressive in their use of colour, paint handling and subject matter. Daniella strives to push the colour palette of the atmosphere and skin tone of her subjects towards one that comes off as vibrant and imaginative; giving the figures life and vitality. Her paintings are marked by themes of intimacy, self-reflection and voyeurism, but they are most importantly defined by the juxtaposition of the bright vibrant manner which they are painted in. Expressive brush strokes and an imaginative colour palette provides the lens for her work and aligns her paintings with the #Vibrance of life as a human being in this world.

Allen Ford

Allen has chosen collage as a medium because it so beautifully reflects how we experience and remember the things we see, and how advertisements have become such a large part of what we take in. created these collages from advertising posters ripped down, torn from, and peeled off of hoardings and walls in Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa. In their original form, each poster was the result of an intentional creative process directed by marketing and design teams. Decisions were dictated by business goals, creative briefs, target audiences, and budgets. Every element was considered and directed towards a specific outcome. Once these advertisements have been pasted and posted on the streets of cities, their makers have ceded absolute control of their work. Instead, he transforms the specific images, taking them in new directions based on his own experiences and perspectives, inviting the viewer to do the same. 

Eleanor Lowden

Toronto native Eleanor has been painting professionally for about 35 years. Her work is an interpretation of life from a happy point of view. Her style plays with patterns and repetition of forms, it is both illustrative and impressionistic too. She is inspired by many things: country roads, umbrellas, trees, polka dots, mass cultural objects, people, dogs, and most recently, spring flowers. Through these differing subjects, She is continually exploring unique compositions while creating bright, luminous paintings with her own unique colour palette. 

Nicole Dimt

Nicole, a 23-year-old painter from Toronto, got very inspired by futurist architecture and landscape while roaming Downtown Toronto at the start of her third year of university, and integrated these themes into her artwork very quickly. In her art, Nicole reflects on her childhood, projecting feelings of joy, innocence, and wonder. Nicole’s art relies heavily on the use of highly saturated and vibrant colour, as well as line, and shape. Nicole’s artwork, with themes of architecture, nature, and technology, depicts futurist, dystopian, and psychedelic wonderlands full of overwhelming detail, pattern, and fascination. Nicole’s art can be described as “organized chaos.” Nicole’s art also works hand-in-hand with the digital world, collaborating with heavy photo manipulation, colour inversion, and total distortion, adding an unnatural or synthetic quality to her paintings. This added quality to her works speaks upon the narrative of the grasp that the digital world has had on us, and how it has warped our perception of reality.

Amanda Pistillo

Amanda is a self-taught artist with a passion for designing mixed media artwork, exploring the freedom and wonder of art. Her artwork is always created with the sincere hope that they provide happiness to others, as one of the goals in designing her artwork is to encourage others to create in their own unique artistic style. Amanda's heart is at the centre of her design process, always guiding her to create with love. She presents her John Lennon Collection, as she was inspired by his passion to bring love and peace into the world.

Rahul Ojha

Rahul, as a creative by nature, his mind wanders the depths of his innermost self and the ideas and experiences that make up his core. With time, his art has evolved with his personality. While up for interpretation, his work is, in a way, a depiction of his journey through the rollercoaster of life. You can consider Rahul’s work as his life as told on canvas through acrylics and mixed media. Viewers and patrons can find meaning and the rawness of human emotion that stirs the soul. Each piece exudes sensitivity and connection, creating a visual and emotional experience that goes beyond what is in sight.

Phero

Ahmed, artistically Phero from Cairo, Egypt, is a classic 3rd generation kid; exploring a unique balance of the arts, culture & lifestyle of his ancestral origins and his surroundings. Drawing was (and still is) his form of creative expression, it is what grounds him and what helps him move through life. Phero loves all mediums of art and his own style evolved many times throughout the years. He takes great inspiration from superheroes, music, and sports - which is very evident in his works. He combines digital and traditional media in ways that are exuberant and vibrant, inviting the viewer to feel as strongly as he does when he sees his passions come to life.

Sandra Lambert

For Sandra, painting is both a playful and intense experience. Her paintings are containers of emotion. Within their boundaries she feels free to play; to lose (or find!) herself in the pleasure of sensory exploration. She enjoys exploring the use of various techniques and media to express the essence of experience. Her #Vibrance paintings represent three different approaches; three small panels on the left shock the senses with pure, intense colours in flat organic shapes. The two small panels on the right are more spontaneous, loose and lyrical. The two larger panels are dense, layered and lightly textured through the technique of scratching back. All the paintings are pulsing with colour and a sense of power, though contained exuberance. 

#Vibrance ties together the excitement and exhilaration of life and its passions and love. The combination of expression and vibrancy in this exhibit will ensure viewers have a new appreciation for livelihood and the possibilities of exploring your mind. Remember, don’t miss out on #Vibrance’s Opening Reception on Thursday, October 6th, from 6-9pm! 

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Surfacing Opening Reception: A Huge Success!

Our opening reception was a huge success on Thursday, June 2nd! We curated a space that encapsulates the spirit of PROJECT ART TORONTO and it turned out looking amazing..

Our opening reception was a huge success on Thursday, June 2nd! We curated a space that encapsulates the spirit of PROJECT ART TORONTO and it turned out looking amazing. The Surfacing Exhibit displays passion, hard work, collaboration, and creativity. Ewa Stryjnik is the director of PROJECT ART TORONTO, an art studio where artists can rent the space, attend art classes, or workshops. 

The turn out was amazing and we just wanted to thank everyone for coming! This event brought together many people around the Queen West community to acknowledge the result of expression and skill. We were pleased to host such a meaningful experience for our amazing guests and artists.

The Surfacing Exhibit is showing 21 studio artists’ supportive and passionate work, most of which were created during the times of Covid-19. Their pieces represent a time when the group encouraged each other to create, explore, and grow.

While the art was observed, our community was achieving something much more meaningful, a night of face to face communication and personal connection. Something many have lost within the past few years.

Our own Twist Gallery communications team showed up to the event in support of Twist Gallery because we love seeing the gallery filled with art and art lovers!

We are so pleased to be a part of PROJECT ART TORONTO’s exhibit and allow them to use our space to display their Surfacing pieces. It was an absolute pleasure working with a larger team this month. While we are not often approached by groups, this community allowed for an easy transition and cohesive selection of pieces to work with. PROJECT ART TORONTO utilized our space and gave us something to really admire: their passion and hard work. Ewa and PROJECT ART TORONTO’s studio artists truly love being artists and they inspire our audience to start a passion of their own, whether that be art or anything you are passionate about. 

The artists also came together during the Opening Reception to surprise Ewa with flowers and a card to show their appreciation!

Ewa Stryjnik not only inspires artists to continue their passion for art. But guides each artist to maximize their creative potential. This was perfectly displayed during our installation day and throughout our Opening Reception. Styjnik’s energy churned our blank canvas gallery into a perfectly curated template for students to display their art and a cohesive journey for patrons to participate in. While she envisioned where each piece thrived, she communicated that to her students and worked with them to find a balance between visual satisfaction and the space as a whole.

We would just like to say thank you again for coming to the Surfacing Opening Reception! We had a great time, and we hope you had a great time as well! The Surfacing Exhibit is open until June 25th, so if you missed the Opening Reception don’t worry, come experience Surfacing at Twist Gallery all month long at 1100 Queen Street West. We are open every Tuesday-Friday from 11:00am-6:00pm and Saturday from 11:00am-4:00pm. 

Looking forward to seeing you again and hearing your thoughts on the Surfacing Exhibit!

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Unconventional Wedding Ideas to Make Your Day Even More Unique

Your wedding day is supposed to be the most magical day of your life– full of love, friends, and family. That being said, traditional weddings aren’t the only way to go..

Your wedding day is supposed to be the most magical day of your life– full of love, friends, and family. That being said, traditional weddings aren’t the only way to go. Having personalised, different touches will give you and your guests a special experience that will leave a unique memory and inspire everyone to think a little bit outside of the box. Whether it is the wedding venue, food, or decorations, creativity will always shine through. At the end of the day, always do what makes you and your partner happy. Here are some ideas to inspire you: 

1. Unique Wedding Cake

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Flavours aren’t the only thing you can customise in your wedding cake. There are so many unique options to do instead of your standard white tiered wedding cake. Going for a cake made of donuts, cupcakes, crepes, (or sushi?!) allows for your guests to actually enjoy a piece of cake without the mess and stress of cutting it evenly. Top it off with customised bobble head figurines of you and your partner for an extra touch of humour and cuteness.

2. Not-So-Typical Outfit

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There is no denying that a long extravagant white gown is beautiful, timeless, and symbolic of a wedding day. That being said, there is nothing more symbolic than a statement outfit. Try a white pantsuit or 2 piece set instead of a traditional ball gown. It is both bold and memorable to step outside of the typical expectations. If you still want to wear a dress, opt for a short and breezy dress– perfect for summer and more comfortable to dance in all night! Speaking of comfort, always keep a pair of comfortable dancing shoes with you. Your feet will thank you later.

3. Book a Cool, Modern Art Gallery Instead of a Regular Event Hall

event space toronto

Let’s face it… we should leave the event halls for business conferences and high school proms. The wedding venue is the very basis of your special day, and choosing a venue that is beautiful and unique, enriched with art and culture can completely transform the magical feeling of celebrating love. In Toronto, there are countless galleries and event spaces to choose from– most notable Twist Gallery on Queen St W. This space offers open, high ceilings, huge beautiful windows, and is lined with incredible art from local artists to help you celebrate your day. Call (416) 588-2222 for more information.

4. Toss Out Bouquet Toss for a Fun New Game Instead

event space toronto

As fun as tossing the bouquet is, the game is admittedly not very exciting or inclusive to every wedding guest. If you’re opting for an outside wedding, consider setting up cornhole, bocce ball, or giant jenga to ensure all your guests can join in the fun. If your venue is indoors, have interactive games like Connect 4, Chess, and Tic Tac Toe stations. Add a DIY craft station to encourage creativity and allow your guests to leave you special little gifts to commemorate the magical day.

5. Audio Recorded Guest Book

event space toronto

You’re probably wondering what we mean by an audio recorded guest book. Well, it’s exactly that: a guest book full of sweet messages that you can listen to over and over! Your guests can leave you messages that will create the sweetest playlist of all time. Have both audio and written guest books if you want double the love!

6. Unique Centrepieces

unique wedding venues toronto

Although flowers and greenery are undeniably beautiful, they are basic wedding centrepieces that do not necessarily “WOW” a crowd. We suggest doing something more personal, something that reflects you and your partners personalities and can be sent home as wedding gifts for your guests. Pile 5-10 of your favourite books on each table, books that tell your loved ones the stories that moved you and the words that left their mark on you. They will likely not be reading during the wedding, but they can take home the book that stood out to them the most, and hopefully pass it on to someone else they love after.

At the end of the day, all that matters on your wedding day is you and your partner celebrating your love with the people who mean the most to you. Everything else is just details– but within these details is where you can get creative, exciting, and fun. Create unforgettable memories in unique ways by expressing your love with these little tips!

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Meet the Gestures Artists

With work so breathtaking, words are necessary to describe the beauty of Gestures. Twist Gallery’s two-month-long exhibition displays 8 local Toronto artists’ brush strokes, showing just how intentional and deliberate each stroke is.

With work so breathtaking, words are necessary to describe the beauty of Gestures. Twist Gallery’s two-month-long exhibition displays 8 local Toronto artists’ brush strokes, showing just how intentional and deliberate each stroke is. Experience the feelings illustrated in this exhibition, it is sure to leave a mark


→ Join us at 1100 Queen Street West, Tuesday to Saturday from 11 AM to 6 PM ←


Gestures Opening Reception

Join us for light appetizers, refreshments, music, and a chance to meet the artists.

Thursday, April 7th, 2022 | 6 pm to 9 pm

1100 Queen Street W


Along with the incredible works done by our various artists it is important to us that we get to know each artist more personally. We asked each artist to send in a short paragraph explaining a bit about who they are in order for us, and you to feel more connected to them outside of their work! All of the artists from this exhibit have such incredible stories and explanations for why they love their craft, and we invite you to learn more about how they came to be who they are, and why they decided to create. Keep reading to get the full story!

MEET THE GESTURES ARTISTS

Alice Kelso

Alice Kelso is a Canadian artist, teacher, and social advocate. Though based mainly out of Hamilton and Toronto, she has also shown her work at pop-up exhibitions in the UK. As a graduate of OCAD University's painting program (BFA) and Sheridan College's social services program (SSW), she teaches (and learns) through an anti-oppressive and holistic framework. Alice's work is abstract but representational and her process is expressive and cathartic. It showcases the patterns created by natural growth through texture, mark-making and colour harmonies; conceptual interconnectivity between art and science, people and the world around them.

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Andrea Higgins

Andrea is a contemporary self-taught artist with a background in music, film and dance. 

Her work is physical and improvisational, driven by emotion captured through an abstract lens. She describes her works as a dance with one's self, spontaneous and free, releasing energy and emotions in a limitless direction. 

Similar to the way music creates a soundtrack to our lives, colours play a role in the background of our everyday moments yet carry meanings that vary from person to person. 

Andrea lives and works in Toronto, Canada.

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Andrea Rosara

Andrea Rosara is an interdisciplinary artist from Venice, Italy. He works primarily in the media of painting and drawing and has an interest in printmaking. He holds a Bachelor’s of Fine Art and a Master’s of Fine Art/Visual Studies in Painting, Drawing and Printmaking from the Accademia di Belle Arti di Venezia. Andrea has exhibited his work in a wide variety of solo and group exhibitions in Venetian galleries and art festivals including Atelier 3+10, the Festival of Contemporary Art Giudecca, La Fenice Gallery, Techwood Venezia, and Accademia di Belle Arti di Venezia. He is now based in Toronto, Canada.

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Caroline Chorazy

Caroline Chorazy is a self-taught, Toronto-based abstract artist specializing in acrylics and gold leaf. She draws her inspiration from natural elements in an attempt to capture organic movement and flow in all of her artwork. Her use of gold leaf and pigment gives each piece a unique gesture and ability to change appearance or shape in cohesion with the room and light.

Event Space Toronto

Moses Salihou

Moses is a contemporary artist whose artwork reads like visual poetry; subjective & limitless in its interpretation.  His inspiration and creativity are sourced from his surroundings, the environment and his imagination.  Moses’ creative process is guided by a desire to establish a dialogue through his work without setting any limits.

As a versatile artist, Moses uses various supports (canvas, paper, reclaimed materials) and mediums (oil, acrylic, watercolour, pigment and charcoal).  Originally from Cameroon, Moses now calls Toronto home and his artwork is proudly featured in private collections in Canada and abroad.

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Seokhoon Jun

Seokhoon Jun loves family, friends, and nature. Currently studying art therapy at Toronto Art Therapy Institute with an interest in how art and spirituality come together in life. Glad and grateful for the opportunity to connect through art.

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Valentina Youkhanna

Valentina Youkhanna is a self-taught artist who has always had a creative side since childhood. She spent a lot of her time as a kid drawing, colouring, and painting. In her early 20s, she began painting with acrylics and it’s been love ever since. She is not only passionate about the arts and creativity but also had a career as a mental health worker and facilitated art groups for those facing mental health and addiction challenges. In her late 20s, Valentina decided creativity would take the main seat in her life and pursued an education in hairstyling which ultimately led her to work in both professions. By 2019 she would dedicate and commit more time to her creative outlets and left the mental health sector to solely focus on her hairstylist career and art. 

Valentina is passionate about healing through art and believes everyone is creative. She believes everyone has gifts and talents in the arts but as time goes on and people “grow up” they forget what it means to play, to have fun, and let your mind be creative. She hopes to see more people tune into their intuition and create from the heart and soul to express or heal. She values community, supporting one another and believes there is abundance for all in the art world and no need to compete because as she states, “no two people can draw the same line.”

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Vian Ewart

Vian’s early career was in the graphic side of journalism. About 15 years ago Vian had the opportunity to go to the Gallery School at the AGO, and then the Toronto School of Art, and then the three-year adult art course at Central Tech Art School. For several years since, Vian has been part of the ProjectArt studio group in Toronto. He has also been involved with a number of group exhibitions from the Praxis Gallery to Lennox Contemporary to Don Valley/Forest Hill and most recently Gallery 1313. Last year he completed a couple of commissions in Canada and the U.S.

Event Space Toronto

We hope to see you there!

This exhibit is one of the longer ones, and we felt that this was necessary due to the complexity and emotional depth inherent in a lot of the artists pieces. We hope that this blog post gave you some insight into why each artist decided to express themselves through this medium, and how their art has helped shaped their life. We are excited to see you at the new exhibit Gestures and hope this work will inspire you in the way it was meant too.

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Get to Know the Artists From Chromatics! March 2nd-26th

This month Twist Gallery has chosen 7 local Toronto artists to be a part of our Chromatics Exhibit. Each of these artists has their very own unique inspirations, creative processes and messages they display in their art.

This month Twist Gallery has chosen 7 local Toronto artists to be a part of our Chromatics Exhibit. Each of these artists has their very own unique inspirations, creative processes and messages they display in their art. Their artwork communicates the same theme of expressing themselves through the use of bold and vibrant colours. How they use and express these colours is entirely unique.

→ Join us at 1100 Queen Street West, Tuesday to Saturday from 11 AM to 6 PM ←

Liz Szymczak

Liz Szymczak’s painting journey started in 2018 as therapy for anxiety, post-heart attack. She initially started painting rocks that she gathered from her walks at the lake. From there she jumped to small canvases, and now Liz’s largest piece to date is 36” x 48” and she hopes to go even larger! Painting opened up in her a well of creative energy that lay dormant for most of her life. Now painting is her sanctuary! All of her work is intuitive and many of her works have appeared to her in dreams. Liz’s only hope is that her art makes the viewer feel- because that is what makes life so beautiful!

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Tamar Kevorkian

Tamar is an Armenian Canadian painter born in Beirut, Lebanon. Tamar grew up in Montreal, where she studied Fine Arts at Concordia University and Photography at Dawson Institute of Photography. Her infinite imagination and inspiration from her life experiences along with the influence of Pablo Picasso give life to an empty canvas.

Tamar’s preferred mediums are acrylic, oil pastel, charcoal, and ink, using brushes and palette knives of various sizes. She brings forth harmony to explore and create the visual imagery of her cubist graffiti paintings. Now living in Toronto, Canada, Tamar actively paints both on canvas and on digital media.

Art should have no boundaries, therefore I paint freely and boldly because Art always matters.
— Tamar Kevorkian

Judith McKay

Judith McKay is a Toronto-area abstract surrealist artist. Her intensely coloured, vibrant landscapes and portraits are influenced by magical realism and surrealistic dreams. The concept underlying her work is that of inseparable and contradictory opposites. The playful duality of abstract and representation—altering perception and reality. Interconnectedness and dissolving boundaries permeate her work—one element flows into another, merging and mixing, creating something altogether new. We think we recognize the places and people in these paintings but they are not as we remember them.

Her artworks featured at the Chromatics exhibit depict powerfully ethereal women spirits and sensual flowing skies, birds, and flowers in vivid, hopeful colours. Her mission in creating these works is to offer an alternative elsewhere, an escape from the chaotic world we find ourselves in. She uses acrylic on canvas; painting with swirling motion to give a sense of floating in ambient air. 

Recent exhibitions include the Loft Gallery Group Exhibition, The Artist Project, Toronto Outdoor Art Fair, HIRAETH, a solo show at the Urban Gallery, Toronto and FUSION, a shared solo show with Moses Salihou at the Freedom Factory Gallery, Toronto. Her work can also be found in private and corporate collections across Canada, the US, and overseas.

Adeeba Aslam

Adeeba comes from a deeply artistic family of painters, potters and clothing designers with roots in Pakistan. She is a self-taught artist who derives inspiration for her work from her spirituality, lived experiences and interactions with her community.

Over the past several years Adeeba has been trained with and is currently under the mentorship of a prominent Canadian artist, Catherine Shea.

Influenced by expressionist painters, Adeeba typically doesn't have a plan before exploring the canvas. She works with acrylic paint and selected mediums using unconventional tools and techniques to create her abstract pieces. Using bold colours, spatial and organic structures, Adeeba’s paintings evoke an ethereal depth and drama in telling her stories. The process of painting is both a deeply emotional and meditative experience for Adeeba.

Adeeba’s work has been featured at various locations in Toronto, where she was born, raised and currently resides.

For more information about her work, contact adeeba.aslam@gmail.com. Check out her Instagram: @adeeba.aslam.art.

Andrea Higgins

Andrea is a contemporary self-taught artist with a background in music, film, and dance. Her work is physical and improvisational, driven by emotion captured through an abstract lens. She describes her works as a dance with one's self, spontaneous and free, releasing energy, and emotions in a limitless direction. 

Similar to the way music creates a soundtrack to our lives, colours play a role in the background of our everyday moments yet carry meanings that vary from person to person. 

Andrea lives and works in Toronto, Canada. Check out her Instagram: @andreahigginsart.

Unique Wedding Venues Toronto

Giuseppe Mandarino

Rooted in Italian tradition, Giuseppe was born in November 1976 and raised in the Downsview neighbourhood of Toronto. Giuseppe has been passionate about putting paint to canvas since his childhood. Experimenting with his artistic style by fusing a combination of textures, colours, and mediums his creations are one of a kind pieces developed through emotions, surroundings and human connections. Giuseppe speaks through his work, and each paint stroke is an expression. His art is created to channel feeling, movement, and inspiration for those that view it. With a love for his hometown of Toronto, Giuseppe has created custom work for an array of local art collectors, entrepreneurs, and admirers. The world that surrounds us has inspiration everywhere if we take the time to notice it, which Giuseppe displays on his canvas.  

Do something you really enjoy and it will never feel like work. I’m grateful for my family’s support, and for the opportunities I have been given.
— Giuseppe Mandarino
Unique Wedding Venues Toronto

Kim Benoit

Creating art is the perfect occasion for an artist to explore happiness. Experiencing art is a mindful activity which allows time and space to experience an emotion. In the paintings from Kim’s series “What Is Happiness?”, she proposes to expound on happiness. What aspects of art make someone feel good? Making a painting that aims to have someone explore their happiness or even to guide them to feel happy is no easy task. She needed to find a visual vocabulary to define happiness. All artists choose a palette to convey the mood. Dark colours can be calming or depressing, bright colours can be uplifting or overwhelming. The use of space can attract or repel. Loose brush strokes and flowing organic shapes can be freeing or disorienting. Strict movement and controlled geometric shapes can evoke safeness or confinement. All of these elements affect the experience. In Kim’s series ‘What Is Happiness?’ She selected paintings that are bright, flowing, and organic for the Chromatics exhibition. To see Kim’s other paintings which express stricter controlled geometric expressions, go to kimbenoitart.com.

The artist’s portion of the proceeds of the sale of these paintings will be donated to research and programs which support people with a mental illness.

Unique Wedding Venues Toronto

We hope to see you there!

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Valentine's Day Date Night on Queen Street West

This Monday February 14th is Valentine’s Day and whether you’re spending it with your significant other, your friends, or your family, Queen Street West provides you with a whole day of fun local places to explore.

This Monday February 14th is Valentine’s Day and whether you’re spending it with your significant other, your friends, or your family, Queen Street West provides you with a whole day of fun local places to explore. Queen Street West is known for trendy retail stores, unique coffee shops, and a large cluster of art galleries in the city. Walking along this street makes you feel like you’re in the city. Trendy cafes surrounding you, art from creative people, and the CN Tower poking out from between the skyscrapers. Below are some options of the fun things to do on Queen Street West. It’s your day, so if exploring the city is something you love to do then follow the list below, but if just going to a café is your thing, then grab a cup at the place listed to try something new.

Photo taken by Twist Gallery.

Frankie’s Diner 

Located at 994 Queen Street West, start the day off right with some diner styled breakfast food. They also serve draught beers. This local diner is handmade fresh and has been open since 1977. They are open for dine-in, curb-side pickup, and delivery. There’s just something about diner food and the atmosphere with your loved ones. It’s both delicious and comforting.

Photo from Frankie’s Diner’s Facebook.

Birds

If you’re in the mood to shop come shop at Birds, located at 1114 Queen Street West. The clothes are vegan, sustainable, and made ethically in Canada. They also have a “ReNesting” section which allows you to resell the clothes you bought there as long as it is still in re-sellable condition. If it isn’t then they offer to take the item anyways to donate it to a local charity who raise money through recycled cloth.

Photo from Birdsofna’s Instagram.

Euclid Farms

 Located at 913 Queen Street West, Euclid Farms is a flower shop. Spoil your loved one or spoil yourself because self-care is important too. This local flower shop is chemical free so making a purchase here you know you are getting great quality flowers. They grow their flowers in eleven yards in West Queen West and Roncesvalles.

Photo from Euclidfarm’s Instagram.

Helen and Hildegard

Located at 1174 Queen Street West, they are a cute local shop that sells beauty products, candles and essential oils, home products, and tea ware. Walking by their window their designed mugs will pop out at you. They also sell organic teas. They even have a Valentine’s Gift Guide on their website to check out this weekend.

Photo from HelenandHildegard’s Instagram.

Café Neon

Café Neon is an artsy hip café to visit to warm up on these cold winter days. Located at 1024 Queen Street West, get take-out or dine-in and admire the unique art pieces that line the walls. The café offers breakfast, lunch, a wide selection of coffee and baked goods. They also sell baked breads, wine, and beer to order from their website. This place is sure to warm you and your loved ones up.

Photo from cafe_neon’s Instagram.

Fonda Lola 

Located at 942 Queen Street West, Fonda Lola is a great dinner place for your Valentine’s Day dinner. You’ll know you’re in the artsy Queen Street West scene from the decadent plates served. This restaurant offers Mexican cuisine and several Margaritas. They also have a “sassy yet classy” drink list which is perfect if that’s your vibe too. 

Photo from Fonda Lola’s Instagram.

Twist Gallery

Finish your day with some art or visit during the day as you can spend some time admiring six different local Toronto artist’s pieces. Twist Gallery is located at 1100 Queen Street West. From February 2nd to February 26th the current exhibition is Crossing Boundaries. Crossing Boundaries showcases the beauties of the world that have inspired the six artists. Six different styles and many different locations you can travel to multiple places in this one gallery. Twist Gallery is open from 11am-6pm. The Gallery is a New York style loft, and the windows offer a cute aesthetic overlooking the hustle and bustle of the city decorated with fairy lights.

Event Space Toronto

Photo taken by Twist Gallery.

Celebrate Valentine’s Day locally this year by browsing shops, eating at a café or diner food, or exploring some art from local Toronto artists. Especially because it’s still cold outside, walking store to store is a great way to warm up as well! We hope you come visit Twist Gallery with your loved ones and we look forward to seeing you!

Also Read: Event Space Toronto, wedding venue Toronto, Wedding Reception Toronto

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5 Locations in Toronto to Inspire your Creativity

Whether you’re a writer, an artist, photographer, or just love being creative; we’ve all experienced artist’s block. Lucky for us, there are plenty of artistic places in Toronto to spark inspiration. Or just some fun things to do during this pandemic.

Whether you’re a writer, an artist, photographer, or just love being creative; we’ve all experienced artist’s block. Lucky for us, there are plenty of artistic places in Toronto to spark inspiration. Or just some fun things to do during this pandemic. There isn’t much we can do right now, but these are a few creative spaces in Toronto that you may not have been to or even heard about.   

1.     Graffitti Alley

Graffiti Alley is located within Toronto’s Fashion District. The corner of Rush Lane and Portland Street is where Graffiti Alley begins. It runs south of Queen Street from Spadina Avenue to Portland Avenue. The art displayed reflects social activism and the Queen Street West city art vibe. The whole alleyway is covered in graffiti so you’re sure to find some inspiration surrounded by that much art. Especially for photography, street style photos would be perfect in this location.

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Image from @graffitialleyt.o on Instagram

2.     Angel Wings at Calii Love  

 Street artist Colette Miller created these pair of angel wings located at 367 King Street West. These wings are sure to inspire with the bright teal background and blue ombre wings. Sit by the wings and create your own angel wings. Or if you’re a writer, maybe the angel wings will inspire some ideas on a fantasy world. And if you still have artist’s block, you can at least take a creative Instagram photo standing in front of these wings.

3.     Pink Park

Also known as, June Callwood Park, this Pink Park is a cool little park that not many people know about. Go to 636 Fleet Street to find this unusual pop of pink amongst June Callwood Park’s greenery. The park also has amazing greenery if nature is your thing. Great contrasted pictures between the green and pink are sure to come out. Or experiment with contrasting and mixing unusual colors together like the way the pink and green make you feel.

4. Crown Flora Studio

Crown Flora Studio is a gift shop located in Parkdale at 1233 Queen Street West. Catch some LA vibes with this building’s pink walls. The plants that surround the building add some great greenery if you like the outdoors. Browse the outside, but also the inside where there are a variety of plants and flowers.

Event Space Toronto

Photo From @curiocitytoronto on Instagram

5.     Twist Gallery Crossing Boundaries Exhibit

The last place you can visit to gain inspiration is at our gallery. Twist Gallery is located on 1100 Queen Street West. You can basically be inspired by travelling to 6 places in one. Travel with the artist in our gallery and find some inspiration. The current exhibit, running from February 2nd to February 26th, is called Crossing Boundaries. The artwork displayed is art inspired by the artist’s trips or a specific time period. Looking through these pieces is sure to spark some inspiration for an art project, writing, or photography. Get to know the 6 artists and more information on their pieces here. And come visit us to get the real feel of having this many different locations surround you.

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Crossing Boundaries Exhibit 2021

I think we can all agree, everyone misses being able to travel! Although border restrictions remain tense amidst the pandemic, Crossing Boundaries, may remedy everyone’s desire for exploration and travel.

I think we can all agree, everyone misses being able to travel! Although border restrictions remain tense amidst the pandemic, Crossing Boundaries, may remedy everyone’s desire for exploration and travel. During March 2021, Twist Gallery will feature 8 talented and local artists, who’s works perfectly reflect the beauty of all the various places in the world.

Caroline Piette

Caroline Piette, Vaybe, is a visual artist largely inspired by the 90’s culture which surrounded her as she grew up. Early internet era, video games, and anime are all elements from her childhood which frequently pop up in her works. 

Initially, she began painting to express her desire to escape the conventions of the real world. However, she now aims to consolidate expression, colour and simplicity through her canvases. 

Through her art, Vaybe evokes feelings of nostalgia which she hopes resonates with her viewers as well. 

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Farzaneh Ali Hosseini

Farzaneh is an oil painter who uses her talents to explore the realm of fundamental interactions between forces which govern life. Through her expressive representations of landscapes, Farzaneh wishes to tell the story of life. 

Nature and it’s perpetual metamorphosis as a factor of human development and expansion are only one among the many great inspirations Farzaneh has top of mind. All in all, Farzaneh wishes to inspire viewers to look at their surroundings differently.

Hayoung Jung, Heaven,in my heart.jpg

Hayoung Jung

Hayoung Jung is a well established artist with works featured on book covers, a variety of awards and recognition, and multiple art exhibitions and fairs attended within his artistic career.

Hayoung’s work draws back from his personal experiences as he expresses his desire to escape to a place of his own. The various worlds he paints are meant to show the beauty of silence and peace, and evoke an endless sense of serene for his audience.

Katherine Muir Miller headshot.png

Katherine Muir Miller

Katherine Muir Miller is an impressionistic realism artist, born in Montreal, Quebec with a gallery in Perth, Ontario and a home studio in Ottawa.

Katherine's use of vibrant colours in her Canadian landscapes greatly accentuates her canvases, adding an element of boldness and playfulness.Ideally, she wishes her viewers to feel movement, mood and simplicity through her work. Katherine's inspirations include; life adventures of friends, family and clients. Being able to connect her work to their treasured memories is her greatest pleasure.

"It's all about the story behind the painting, that's what inspires me."

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Madeline Greenwald

Madeline Greenwald, is a travel enthusiast, whose works are largely inspired by the sensations of her excursions. Through her paintings, she explores her personal perspectives of her journeys and hopes to accurately depict her feelings for both herself and her viewers.

Aside from depicting travel, movement, shapes, and light are elements which Madeline is intrigued by and heavily considers when creating.

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Sarah Pais

Sarah is a visual artist based in Toronto, Canada. Her work largely consists of renderings of her favourite cities’ urban structures.

During the international lockdown, Sarah began her series, “Grounded” which utilizes new and old photographs from travels across the world of her friends, other artists, and her own. The concept behind the project was to invoke a sense of short-lived nostalgia through her paintings. 

BarcelonaOdeToGaudi.jpg

Shelly Amor

Shelly Amor is a fauvist artist who incorporates various colour combinations into her pieces. Shelly’s work is inspired by her experiences throughout her creative career, including landscape architecture, teaching art, and wearable tech design. 

Much of Shelly’s work exhibiting in Crossing Boundaries was referenced by her own personal travels to Australia and New Zealand throughout February and March 2020. Initially, she had planned to travel all year long however, due to Covid, her trip was cut short. Even so, this presented Shelly with the opportunity to focus on her talents which essentially helped keep her spirits up throughout her quarantine experience.

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Tahereh Tina Nazarali

Tina is a self taught modern-realism artist from Iran, who was inspired by her father to paint in elementary. After completing highschool and getting accepted into a university for electrical engineering, she ceased her creative endeavours. However, upon coming to Toronto in Oct of the late 90’s, she reinvigorated her creative passions and began to paint once more. Her favourite sources of inspiration today are both nature & cityscapes. 

Though, our gallery doors remain closed, due to quarantine procedure, all artists’ works will be showcased on our site here.

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A Beautiful Celebration of Love: Wedding Open House At Twist Gallery

Our Wedding Open House on Saturday, February 21, was a truly special afternoon filled with inspiration, creativity, and meaningful connections. We were thrilled to welcome couples, families, and friends to our space to experience this curated event.

SHUTTER SPACE: Exploring Inspiration, Process and Practice

From January to March, SHUTTER SPACE brings together photographic works that explore observation, memory and visual storytelling. Through a series of interviews, audiences are invited to get to know the artists and gain insight into their creative process and inspiration.

Holy Decor: Check 2025 Christmas Decor Trends 🎅🏼✨

As we’re finally approaching the ✨most wonderful time of the year ✨, the Christmas Decor talk is here! This year’s Christmas Decor is all about sophistication, nostalgia, and comfort. If you're looking to refresh your festive style, here’s what’s defining Christmas décor this year: 

It’s Beginning To Look a Lot Like Christmas: a Holiday Guide for Joy and Fun.

As the winter season wraps the city in twinkling lights and festive cheer, there’s no shortage of activities to make your holidays magical. From holiday markets to pop-up bars, ice skating rinks, and dazzling light displays, the city is ready to enchant visitors of all ages. So here’s a small guide to the most famous and iconic spots around the city, so you don’t miss all the fun!