Evolve Fashion Show 2025 at Twist Gallery

Toronto’s vibrant fashion scene witnessed a spectacular showcase of Canadian talent at the recent Evolve Showrooms 4th Annual fashion show, held on March 27th, 2025, at the chic Twist Gallery. Evolve Showrooms, renowned for championing Canadian-owned fashion designers, curated an unforgettable evening that celebrated creativity, innovation, and the unique spirit of homegrown style.

Image Credits - Twist Gallery

The evening, hosted by Katrina Turnbull, offered a beautifully curated selection of Canadian design collections, highlighting both established and emerging talents in the industry. This blog post provides a recap of the event and highlights some of the unique vendors who participated.

The gallery’s Queen West location, with its modern aesthetic and ample natural light, served as an elegant backdrop for the showcase. The venue’s open layout allowed for a seamless flow between the runway and the various vendor displays, creating an engaging experience for all attendees.

Image Credits - Twist Gallery

Evolve Showrooms, under the direction of Ivanna Mitchell and her team, has consistently demonstrated a commitment to nurturing Canadian talent. This year’s showcase was a testament to their dedication, featuring a diverse range of collections that reflected the creativity and craftsmanship of local designers

A unique highlight of the evening was Yaelly’s live art installation, where she created custom artwork on jackets, blending fashion with a captivating artistic experience. Attendees also enjoyed artisanal cookies from Cold Milk by Marta McDonald, adding a delightful touch to the event. The Denise Lester Dance Academy (DLDA) brought a dynamic performance to the runway, incorporating movement and artistry into the show. 

In addition to the runway highlights, vendors like Mave & Chez showcased their stylish slippers, offering a blend of comfort and chic design. Permanent Jewelry Toronto & GTA offered a unique and lasting accessory experience, while Mati Company presented a curated collection of handbags and jewelry, adding a touch of elegance to the event. Influencers like Tania Tonello and Lindsay Libman were in attendance, sharing their favorite looks and adding their own stylish flair to the evening.

Image Credits - Twist Gallery

Evolve Showrooms continues to connect Canadian designers with retailers, fostering growth and showcasing the best of Canadian style!

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. 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!

Meet Gloria Blatt!

What inspires your art?

My inspirations come from nature and the natural beauty around us. I’ve always been able to view the world through a lens of colour, shapes, and dimensions, and have the ability to translate this into artistic expression.

“Wings” acrylic on birch (30” x 40”) $1,500

Can you talk about your process? What tools do you use to create?

I begin my creations by imagining abstract renditions of images in my mind that have been formed through my life experiences. At times I even surprise myself when the process seems to take on a life of its own. I take advantage of a variety sources of mediums and continually experiment with innovative techniques. Some of my work is done with conventional paint and brush, and at other times they can involve my fingers and other non-conventional tools.   

Source: www.gloriablatt.com

When did you first discover art? Are you self-taught or did you go to school for it?

For as long as I remember, I have been fascinated by artistic expression. I attended formal study both at York University in the Fine Arts program, and Ontario College of Art and Design. York University provided me with a deep appreciation of art history, while OCAD allowed me the freedom to express myself in an incredibly innovative, fearless manner.

What is your personal goal as an artist?

My goal as an artist is first and foremost to be proud of my creations and share my passion for the craft with as many people as possible. It gives me incredible satisfaction when others are able to derive pleasure from my creations and discover their own life-story in my work.  

“Freeze” acrylic, oil, ink, enamel on birch, wood float frame (30”x 30”) $1,300

How do you title your artworks? 

The process of naming my art is often a reflexive response to the creation. It is always spontaneous and natural as my art always conveys a strong personal message.

Do you have a particular piece that has a special connection to you?

Of all of my paintings, the one that is closest to my heart is one inspired by my children, my greatest creations.

“Dragon” acrylic, ink, oil on birch, wood float frame, (30”x 30”) $1,300

Who are some of your favourite artists?

Having studied art history and having visited many world-famous galleries, I am awe struck and overwhelmed by the works of Picasso, Monet, Modigliani, Chagall, and Miro (although my list could go on).  

What is it like to be an artist in today’s world?

Being an artist is both maddening and transformative, as I serve as my harshest critic.  At the same time, the creative process allows me to escape into a state of inner peace and tranquility.

“Dusty Rose” acrylic on stretched canvas, (42.5”x 51”) $2,500

What are you passionate about?

In today’s troubled world, being an artist affords me the ability to remain optimistic and inspired.

What does “Energy” mean to you?

Energy is the life force that I derive from my family and friends, and that ultimately manifests in my artistic expression in the form of colour and movement.

Energy at Twist

Don’t miss this one Toronto! Be sure to visit us at 1100 Queen Street West and check out our newest artists featured. Our doors are open every Tuesday to Saturday from 11am till 6pm.

You can call us at (416) 588 - 2222 or email your questions and inquiries to info@twistgallery.ca.

 And since you’re here, check out the Twist Artist Showcase? CLICK HERE.

 To see what’s Upcoming at Twist Gallery CLICK HERE.

 Follow us @Twistgalleryand @TwistGallery!