OUTSIDER, the latest exhibition by contemporary artist Jon Todd opened at Hermann & Audrey last Thursday in the midst of a torrential downpour. With thanks, the rain didn’t slow the hundred art fans and collectors who braved the elements to support this exceptionally talented artist in this solo show.
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Toronto, meet Paddy Leung. Mixed media artist and all around material girl, Paddy creates fun and whimsical sculptures, paper objects and produces unique, sparkly window and art installations for various venues. Having attended art school for a while, she now dedicates her days to drawing and constructing all objects imaginable: from piñatas to pipe cleaner doughnuts and crafty forts. I visited her confetti-covered home studio not long ago and had a fun chat about imagination, art and working with what you have.
From Paris to New York to Toronto, Virgil Baruchel has been surrounded by art since he can remember. Dabbling in as many creative techniques as you can name, the multimedia artist believes in letting his work speak for itself and pushes his imagination and that of his audience as far as it can go. Inspired by game-changing artists and motivated by challenge, Virgil’s colourful creations are an instinctive fusion of process and form and never what they seem. I payed him a studio visit and we had a stirring conversation about his work, inspiration and the power of instinct and looking at things twice.
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Not long ago, I had the pleasure of sitting down with award-winning multi-disciplinary illustrator and artist Adrian Forrow. Honor graduate of OCAD University, Adrian is inspired by the simplicity of overlooked forms and odd, imperfect shapes and his eclectic designs attract clients all around Canada, Europe and the United States. We had a lively conversation about working around challenges, the importance of travel and practicing the “art of looking”.
Introducing Rose and Joy Broadbent, sister duo and collaborative artists. Strongly connected, their multidisciplinary and meditative approach to art creates a fresh and unique experience for the community. Delving in everything from painting to performance and sculpture, the Broadbent sisters transform everyday spaces into magical and nurturing realms where sparkles are swept and energy flows. I payed the pair a visit at their very own Studio 835, which resulted in a stirring conversation about collective musing, stream of consciousness and the essentiality of artistic naïvety.
Introducing Juliana Neufeld, award winning illustrator and mixed media artist whose work has travelled throughout Canada and all the way to Japan. Inspired by everything from eighties textiles to the art of Margaret Kilgallen, Juliana makes whimsical landscapes come to life with quirky creatures, meditating monsters and wine-sipping jungle animals. Continue reading article →
Toronto-based Lauren Pirie is the queen of multitasking. With a background in design and illustration, she effortlessly juggles client work and personal fine art as well as children’s book illustration and the management of the creative sustainability organization About Face Collective. Inspired by the richness of nature and magical allure of childhood memories, Lauren’s delicate creations bring forth fantastical stories of creatures, dreams and a ever-wandering imagination. Check out our conversation with her below!
In December, Nicaraguan-based Maderas Collective, a boutique furniture company, popped up at Hermann & Audrey Gallery with a bespoke furniture showcase, programming and events. The pop-up offered a glimpse into the distinct Maderas lifestyle that inspires furniture and accessories. Continue reading article →
Danielle Hession is caught between the two worlds of an alluring past and a fast-advancing technological present. Inspired by undiscovered treasures and precious family relics, she collects personal histories and special memories to gather them into experimental collages. With a background in graphic design and a love for mixed media techniques, Danielle weaves one-of-a-kind work as each piece breathes a different, untold story. We went for coffee with her some time ago and had a fantastic conversation about prized possessions, the preservation of memory and finding inspiration in the little things in life.
Cory Vanderploeg, resident artist at Hermann & Audrey, views the world through a cinematic lens and captures a timeless narrative essence in every scene he shoots. With background in the film industry and a focus in fashion and editorial photography, Cory’s vision is one of light, motion and history. We sat down with him last week at the Studio to ask him about working in the city and that certain je ne sais quoi of photography. Take a coffee break and dive into the world of our beloved Cory Vanderploeg. Continue reading article →
Wade Hudson’s “JAMAICA: Faces of My Own Vol.1” is currently being featured at Daniels Spectrum, the new arts and cultural centre in Regent Park. The exhibition began in studio at Hermann & Audrey in November and the large format photographs have since relocated to Daniels Spectrum, where they will remain until the end of January 2014. The exhibition highlights the importance of the individual within a community and accentuates the relationship between them. Continue reading article →
Tessar Lo was born in Indonesia and has lived and worked everywhere from Los Angeles to Amsterdam. His instinctive style emits a raw energy in which the boundaries between dreams and reality are fused into one. Spontaneous brushstrokes and collage techniques create a surreal world in which nature merges with being and children play amongst abstract stars and animals. Tessar has had works exhibited everywhere from Berlin to New York to San Francisco and has a solo show coming up this January 31st at Cooper Cole Gallery. Not long ago I payed him a studio visit and had an amazing conversation about dreams, change and tapping into the inner child. Continue reading article →
Jon Todd is a Toronto-based artist who works with a unique process of de-stressing, layering and reconstruction to generate vibrant mosaic-like paintings that reflect a fusion of pop culture, social issues and miscommunication. Influenced by a variety of cultures, graphics and street art, Jon has had work shown over Canada and United States. He also teaches Media Studio at OCAD University and plans to open a screen-printing shop in the near future. Continue reading article →
Shea Chang is in constant creative hustle. Originally from Vancouver and now based in Toronto, she keeps in motion through commissioned and freelance illustration, curation and art instruction. Inspired by everything from Abstract Expressionism to Dadaism and influenced daily by the city’s energetic bustle, Shea’s work has been featured in various publications throughout North America and her illustrated children’s book “Tarantele” was a finalist in the 2011 Governor Generals Awad. We met up with her for a coffee at The Mascot and stopped by later for a studio visit, read more below! Continue reading article →
Scott Boniface is an artist, entrepreneur, a visual thinker. At the ripe age of 24, not only is he a project manager and founding partner of digital creative agency Playground Inc., but he’s also achieved a successful debut into Toronto’s art community with his first solo show “Aimless” last September.
JAMAICA: Faces Of My Own. Volume 1, is a traveling photography exhibit that highlights the importance of individual identity within a community and accentuates the relationship between them.
Inspired by a tradition of organic story-telling, these large format photographs display the face as a map to the world, sharing stories told by lines, expressions, and minute gestures captured by Hudson’s naked perception. Choosing subjects from his family’s home parish in Jamaica, Hudson used natural light to create photos that draw the viewers into the minds and stories of his people.
“We’re part of a worldwide culture today where everything is about being instant and immediate and you have to remember that it really takes time to develop your voice and to figure out where you’re headed.”
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