Pride Toronto's 2023 Visual Art Installments
Menu
Visual Art 2023
Pride Toronto’s Visual Arts program plays a pivotal role in providing crucial support to local 2SLGBTQIA+ artists through its diverse offerings, including the Installation Art Program, Affiliate Programs, Art Zone, and Nuit Blanche. In the 2023 edition, we showcased the exceptional work of 18 talented artists, presenting a total of 27 remarkable artworks. The installation art theme, “Pride Across the Multiverse – Love beyond time and space,” thoughtfully aligned with Pride Toronto 2023’s overarching theme, “Here, There, Everywhere.” Our meticulous selection process led to collaborations with six outstanding installation artists, namely Caylon & Joy, Adam Zivo, Bruno Duarte, Terran Mcneely, and En Tze. Notably, Tim Singleton’s artwork was chosen to grace Pride Toronto’s sustainable reusable cups from 2023 to 2026. Complementing these initiatives, we proudly partnered with 22 Affiliate Art Exhibitions, featuring exciting collaborations, including one with OCAD U and Stackt Market. Last but not least, Pride Toronto has been a Major Institutions partner in Nuit Blanche since 2022 and has participated multiple times in previous years.
Title of the Artwork: LOVE IS LOVE
Name of the Artist: Bruno Duarte
Artist Statement:
This creation is a celebration of LOVE. There are many parts of the world where we aren’t allowed to love who we want because of judgment, religion, and laws put on us. I want this art to be a reminder that we all need love and deserve to love who we want no matter what. LOVE IS LOVE.
Artist Biography:
Bruno grew up surrounded by flowers on his family’s farm in Madeira. His approach to floral design is both sculptural and emotional, blending organic materials and found objects together to create works of art. When he’s not at his studio, Bruno can be found creating arrangements in front of a live audience in many places in the USA, Northern Ireland, and the UK. He won the CAFA award at Canada Blooms Florist Alley in 2017 and 2018 and the People’s Choice award in 2018. He has also won the Pacific Northwest Floral Design Competition in 2018. He had the great opportunity to represent Canada in Singapore in 2018 in Windows of the World at their garden show. He won Floral Artist of the Year 2019 at Canada Blooms, Got second place at Maple Leaf Cup 2019, and won the CAFA award for most creative use of materials at the Maple Leaf Cup 2019.
Contact: @freshfloralcreationsㅣwww.freshflorals.com
Location: Nathan Philip Square
Nathan Phillips Square is a bustling public gathering space in the heart of Toronto, known for its iconic “Toronto” sign and the City Hall backdrop. It serves as a cultural hub, hosting events, festivals, and community gatherings, including the annual Pride Toronto celebration.
Title of the Artwork: Conversation Pit
Name of the Artist: Caylen Monroe & JoyO.
Artist Statement:
This project aims to address the disappearing queer spaces and the importance of community. Queer communities have historically relied on spaces like bars, clubs, and community centers to connect and find belonging. Currently, these spaces are endangered by gentrification, capitalism, and the erasure of 2SLGBTQA+ history. As artists, we are committed to using our platform and skills to create inclusive spaces that foster community, facilitate rest and empower queer joy. We believe art can connect people, encourage dialogue, and empower individuals to share stories and build new relationships.
Artist Biography:
Caylen Monroe & JoyO. are multidisciplinary queer artists dedicated to creating immersive art experiences that bring together communities and facilitate spaces of rest, queer joy, and playfulness. Their past projects include murals, interactive installations, and secret art shows.
Contact: https://caylenmonroe.com/ @caylenmonroe
https://joyoresic.com/ @midnight_mangooo
Location: CF Toronto Eaton Centre
CF Toronto Eaton Centre is home to a diverse mix of retailers, restaurants and shops. A vibrant and iconic landmark, the centre is steps away from Toronto’s financial and entertainment districts and prominent cultural landmarks.
Title of the Artwork: Menshen (Door Gods)
Name of the Artist: En Tze Loh
Artist Statement:
Menshen (Door Gods) is an art installation featuring the Chinese culture of Menshen, which are divine guardians of doors and gates with a queer, trans, and Malaysian twist. The doors feature trans and queer humanized interpretations of the East and Southeast Asian gods Azure Dragon and White Tiger set in ancient times, and the Vermilion Bird and Black Tortoise set during the present day.
Artist Biography:
En Tze Loh (they/them) is a queer & non-binary Malaysian illustrator, graphic designer, tattoo artist, filmmaker, and creator of queer goth apparel & art brand GRRRL Spells, based in Toronto, Canada.
Contact: @en_tze | en-tze.format.com
Location: The Downtown Yonge BIA
The Downtown Yonge B.I.A. is a non-profit organization that is committed to improving the daily experience of our members, residents, visitors, and all stakeholders with an end goal of strengthening the culture and economy of the Downtown Yonge community and Toronto.
Title of the Artwork: Safe Space
Name of the Artist: Terran McNeely
Artist Statement:
Safe Space for Pride Toronto is a celebration of the most beautiful and vibrant community of people. It is intended to highlight the beauty, joy, and resilience our surrounding friends and families bring to the 2SLGBTQI+ community. We hold our histories, stories, and vibrancy within each of us. This energy and strength radiates outwardly, demanding respect and encouraging growth. This mural is intended to represent the notion of sharing our collective beauty with the world, starting with each of us, and expanding as we nurture where we have come from and what we have experienced in order to celebrate who we are.
Artist Biography:
Terran McNeely is a Canadian Artist with a background in visual design. His work is influenced by the people and spaces around him through a bold and graphic lens. McNeely’s images feature both figurative and representational subject matter intentionally placed into each composition with carefully considered colour palettes.
Contact: @terran_paints | www.terranmcneely.com
Location: The Distillery Historic District
The Distillery Historic District is a charming and well-preserved neighbourhood in Toronto, known for its cobblestone streets and Victorian-era industrial architecture. It has been transformed into a vibrant hub filled with art galleries, boutique shops, theatres, restaurants, and distilleries, offering a unique blend of culture and history in the heart of the city.
Title of the Artwork: LGBT je Srbija
Name of the Artist: Adam Zivo
Artist Statement:
LGBT je Srbija explores what LGBTQ life is like in Serbia, a Balkan country where homophobia and transphobia are the norm and where queer people risk being beaten if they hold hands in public. Though Belgrade, the capital, provides a protective bubble for LGBTQ Serbians and their friends, life remains dangerous – but this danger has also created a radiant sense of solidarity.
Artist Biography:
Adam Zivo is a writer, photographer, and filmmaker. He is best known for his columns in the National Post, as well as for founding and directing the Love is Love is Love project.
Contact: @adamzivo | www.adamzivo.com
Location: Pride Toronto 2023 StreetFair ArtZone
Pride Toronto 2023’s StreetFairs Art Zone is a vibrant showcase of diverse artistic expressions, featuring an array of visual and performing arts. This dynamic outdoor space brings together talented artists and performers, creating a lively and inclusive celebration of the 2SLGBTQ+ community.
Title of the Artwork: Queer Ukraine Speaks
Name of the Artist: Adam Zivo
Artist Statement:
Queer Ukraine Speaks is a mobile mural that spotlights LGBTQ Ukrainian activists and gives them an opportunity to challenge negative stereotypes about their country. The mural is composed of portraits and quotes derived from interviews conducted in Kyiv in the spring of 2022. The mural illustrates what’s at stake for Ukraine’s queer community should Moscow’s colonial invasion succeed.
Artist Biography:
Adam Zivo is a writer, photographer, and filmmaker. He is best known for his columns in the National Post, as well as for founding and directing the Love is Love is Love project.
Contact: @adamzivo | www.adamzivo.com
Location: Pride Toronto 2023 StreetFair ArtZone
Pride Toronto 2023’s StreetFairs Art Zone is a vibrant showcase of diverse artistic expressions, featuring an array of visual and performing arts. This dynamic outdoor space brings together talented artists and performers, creating a lively and inclusive celebration of the 2SLGBTQ+ community.
Title of the Artwork: Pride Toronto 2023 Cup Design
Name of the Artist: Tim Singleton
Description:
Tim Singleton, a Toronto-based designer and illustrator, uses bright, bold colours in his work, heavily influenced by drag culture and underground clubs from the 1970s to the ’90s. His art is featured on limited-edition Pride series cans and apparel, with proceeds supporting Rainbow Railroad, an organization aiding LGBTQI individuals facing potential persecution worldwide, showcasing themes of resilience and empowerment in his pieces. Tim Singleton’s typography design work for Pride Toronto’s Cup will be ongoing through 2026.
Contact: @timsingleton | https://www.timsingleton.rocks/
Location: Pride Toronto 2023 Main Stage – Nathan Philip Square
Pride Toronto 2023’s Main Stage at Nathan Phillips Square is the epicenter of the festival, featuring an electrifying lineup of renowned artists, musicians, and performers. This iconic stage serves as the heart of the celebration, uniting the 2SLGBTQ+ community and allies with a dynamic showcase of entertainment and unity.
Title of the Artwork: Pride Toronto’s Art Zone Festival featuring Art Battle Toronto
Name of the Artist: Art Battle Toronto
Description:
Pride Toronto 2023 presents the Art Zone Festival featuring Art Battle Toronto. Celebrate 2SLGBTQI+ art with live painting performances by some of Toronto’s premier artists.
Art Battle is a live competitive painting event series celebrating creativity, courage, and community. Painters create their best work in short, timed rounds while the audience votes to decide the winner.
Thousands of audience members in communities worldwide have cast votes for their favorite painters, paintings, and performances, proving that art appreciation is for everyone.
Since 2001, Art Battle has redefined the artistic process and transformed how we experience art—sharing the secrets of artistic talent and creation as a spectator sport. Events are held in 60+ cities around the world, with thousands of participating artists.
Contact: @artbattletoronto | @artbattle | artbattle.com
Location: Pride Toronto 2023 StreetFair ArtZone
Pride Toronto 2023’s StreetFair ArtZone is a vibrant showcase of diverse artistic expressions, featuring an array of visual and performing arts. This dynamic outdoor space brings together talented artists and performers, creating a lively and inclusive celebration of the 2SLGBTQ+ community.
Title of the Artwork: Nuit Blanche 2023
Name of the Artist: Art Battle Toronto
Description:
Nuit Blanche in Toronto is transforming the city into an interactive and vibrant art gallery featuring innovative installations and performances across various neighbourhoods. The event attracts diverse audiences, fostering a night of cultural exploration and community engagement.
Pride Toronto’s “Nature’s Tapestry” exhibition at Nuit Blanche 2023 at Hanlan’s Point Beach seamlessly combines the natural world with the theme “Breaking Ground.” A cherished landmark for Toronto’s 2SLGBTQI+ community, the beach, steeped in history from hosting the inaugural Gay Pride celebration in 1971 to embracing naturism, marks a pivotal moment in its journey. This exhibition celebrates the beach’s rejuvenation, intertwining nature with the 2SLGBTQI+ narrative, embodying change, resilience, and unity.
Contact: Pride Toronto: @pridetoronto | www.pridetoronto.com
The ArQuives: @thearquives | https://arquives.ca/
Location: Pride Toronto
Pride Toronto is an organization that champions the LGBTQ+ community by organizing inclusive events, art programs, and affiliate partnerships, fostering diversity, representation, and inclusion. Through its annual Pride Month celebrations, it creates a platform for advocacy, visibility, and community engagement in Toronto.
Title of the Artwork: Nuit Blanche 2022
Name of the Artist: “2DISASSOCIATE2: (trans)Forming Space through Presence”
Description:
Nuit Blanche in Toronto transforming the city into an interactive and vibrant art gallery, featuring innovative installations and performances across various neighborhoods. The event attracts diverse audiences, fostering a night of cultural exploration and community engagement.
Artist Biography:
Sadia Awan, a transdisciplinary artist, employs responsive synthesis to transcend the biological limits of our senses, configuring video synths in the 2d2 installation. This immersive experience serves as a space-time simulator, transforming participants into immaterial reflections of reality and raising inquiries into the interconnected nature of space, time, and transcendental immanence.
Contact: Pride Toronto: @pridetoronto | www.pridetoronto.com
Location: Pride Toronto
Pride Toronto is an organization that champions the LGBTQ+ community by organizing inclusive events, art programs, and affiliate partnerships, fostering diversity, representation, and inclusion. Through its annual Pride Month celebrations, it creates a platform for advocacy, visibility, and community engagement in Toronto.
