Toronto’s Downtown West is a central hub of arts and culture. Coming up in May, visitors can experience an array of work from exciting emerging artists’ graduating from OCAD U at GradEx. Later in May during Doors Open, Explore an impressive community of over 140 artists, cultural producers, social innovators, galleries, festivals, and shops at 401 Richmond! Check out the Photography of Tyler Mitchell, currently exhibited at Metro Hall for Scotiabank Contact Photography Festival. Swing by Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada to experience a spectacular Art Installation by Benjamin Von Wong whose work is an incredible intersection of art and activism. Finally, discover public art in the Entertainment District through our ArtWalk site!
GradEx – OCAD U Annual Graduate Exhibition – May 11-15, 2022
OCAD University’s 107th Annual Graduate Exhibition is returning in person! Celebrate the work of OCAD U’s class of 2022 in person and online May 11-15. The Graduate Exhibition showcases fine art and design work and is a great place to scout for new creative talent or purchase work for your art collection. The event will be spread across OCAD U’s McCaul and Richmond Street West campus, beginning with the Celebrate Excellence reception, opening night, Wednesday, May 11. Party with DJ and cash bar! Exhibitions and the party are open to the public, Click here for details.
DOORS OPEN, 401 Richmond – MAY 28, 2022, 10AM – 5PM
Since its inception in 2000, Doors Open Toronto has attracted more than two million visits to nearly 700 unique locations. It is Canada’s largest Doors Open event and one of the three largest in the world. Explore Toronto’s Sites, including 401 Richmond, who will be inviting the public May 28th in celebration of this City-wide event. Learn more about the historic building and the community of tenants, and observe the Three ‘C’s – community, culture, and commerce – at work. Join a guided tour or wander freely through galleries, shops, open studios and more! Fuel your visit with refreshments from one of our cafés and take in our green rooftop and inner courtyard. Admission is free!
Tyler Mitchell, Cultural Turns – Metro Hall
Presented across three sites in Toronto, the work of American photographer Tyler Mitchell brings a bold vision to the city. Tyler Mitchell (b. 1995 Atlanta, GA; lives and works in Brooklyn, NY) is a photographer and filmmaker working across genres to explore and document a new aesthetic of Blackness. This outdoor installation at Metro Hall, features 13 larger-than-life portraits, Read the complete exhibition essay by British curator and cultural historian Mark Sealy, which contextualizes this and the other two parts of Mitchell’s three-part presentation. Photography of Tyler Mitchell is currently exhibited at Metro Hall for Scotiabank Contact Photography Festival.
Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada showcasing 30ft Giant Plastic Tap Installation
A Spectacular Art Installation by Benjamin Von Wong is being showcased at Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada Toronto, May 9th. The stunning 3 story tall Giant Plastic Tap installation will be spewing single-use plastics all over the entrance of Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada from May 10th – June 9th 2022.
“Canada produces more than 2. 795 million tonnes of plastic waste annually, and often we forget what that really looks like. The plastic tap is a reminder to Canadians that our waste is made up of everyday items like water bottles, coffee cups, food packaging, cutlery, bags and more,” said Anthony Merante, Plastics Campaigner, Oceana Canada, an ocean conservation charity calling for a strong Canadian single-use plastic ban. “Benjamin Von Wong has used his art to show us that action against these unnecessary single-use plastic items can help us finally start to turn off the plastic tap.”
The Giant Plastic Tap will be located on the outside of the aquarium from May 10th through to June 9th 2022 at Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada, 288 Bremner Blvd Toronto, ON. Launching on May 10th, come and SEA this incredible intersection of art and activism and meet the artist, Benjamin Von Wong who will be available for media requests from 9:00am – 11:00am.
ArtWalk – Explore Public Art in Toronto’s Downtown West
Did you know that the Toronto Downtown West BIA has an impressive public art collection? We want to help you discover it and engage with unique artworks created by diverse artists from here and abroad. ArtWalk is a curated, self-guided, walking tour featuring over 70 art installations. This online resource is an interactive map of themed routes, which includes photos, fun facts about the artwork and artists, and even engagement questions to provoke interest for art lovers as well as those who are new to the art world. Visit our ArtWalk page to learn more.