We’re thrilled to spotlight the recipients of the Emerging Artists by Emerging Curator Award, a collaboration with the Indigenous Curatorial Collective (ICCA). For this award, Jesse King, an exciting and thoughtful emerging curator, introduced us to three incredible artists in Blushing Bodies —his debut curatorial showcase for TOAF. Jesse masterfully brought together the works of Alex Millington, Matthew Walton, and Lauren Rice, whose distinct styles all contribute to a fascinating exploration of queer identity, the human body, and form.
Their emerging practices already have such depth, receiving remarkable reception from the community, collectors, and curators alike. We can’t wait to see where their careers will take them.
Each artist, participating in TOAF for the first time, has shared honest reflections on what it means to be an artist and snippets of their creative journeys. We invite you to discover more about them and hear their thoughts on their first TOAF experience . As part of this collaboration, Jesse King was also invited to write a curatorial essay that dives deeper into the concepts and framework of Blushing Bodies. It is a beautiful read — we hope you enjoy it.
Thank you to Barry & Laurie Green Family Charitable Trust and the Indigenous Curatorial Collective for supporting this showcase and award.
We’re excited to launch the third year of our Demystifying the Art World conversation series this November. The first session, From Studio to Headlines: How Artists Can Leverage PR, will be a dynamic discussion on elevating your artist career through media engagement. Spaces are limited, so reserve your spot early!
Blushing Bodies
“Throughout this showcase, the viewer will experience the use of images and objects, reminiscent of the human body, to depict a camp or queer identity through shape, form and space. Queering an object is when we reexamine and reimagine an object through a queer lens and open its existence to a wider ideology – this is to take it out of the mainstream context of heteronormativity and bring it into liminal spaces.”
— Jesse King, Emerging Indigenous Curator
Curator Jesse King
Jesse King, born Ojibwe from Wasauksing First Nation (Eagle Clan), is based in Toronto. King’s work and curatorial interests frequently explore the many facets of identity, including discussions of queerness, gender, and the importance of cultural representation.
King’s work has been exhibited nationally and internationally in Berlin, Germany, and Tampere, Finland. Their work has been in several independent publications, including fashion magazines such as Wonderland Magazine. King was the Exhibitions and program coordinator at imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival for three years anchoring themselves in celebrating all forms of art through collaboration with national and international artists and galleries. King now works with the AGO as the Curatorial Assistant for Indigenous and Youth Programming.
King sat on the Board of Directors for Trinity Square Video and is a new board member of The Indigenous Curatorial Collective.
Alex Millington
Toronto-based artist and fine art picture framer, Alex Millington, spends his days quietly framing other people’s masterpieces while wrestling with existentialism and communication on his own. Since receiving a BFA from York University, Alex has dedicated himself to the preservation of fine art through framing, and incorporates historical and non-traditional framing techniques into his often humorous work through experimental mat-cutting and vignette.
Alex relies on traditional picture framing techniques and his obsession with the human form (both inside and outside) to explore themes of interdependence, loss, fragility and human connection in his work. Alex’s meticulous paper-cutting is both an additive and subtractive process – holes become highlights, remainders obfuscate, and layering becomes language.
Tell us about your experience at TOAF:
The Fair was a whirlwind of positivity, and winning the Emerging Artist Award added jet fuel to my visibility. It was exhilarating to connect with curators and collectors who hadn’t seen my work before, and hear what drew them to my booth. It has definitely given me perspective as to what people are in the market for and how my work is perceived.
Lauren Rice
Lauren Nicole Rice is a glass artist from Manitoba now based in Ontario. She studied glassblowing at Sheridan College and achieved a Bachelor of Craft and Design. Currently Lauren is an Artist in Residence at Harbourfront Centre’s glass studio.
In her latest body of work, she has been exploring the themes of queer joy, connection, and community through the mixed medium of blown glass adorned with leather harnesses. These pieces serve as tangible representations of the vibrant and resilient spirit of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Each unique sculpture mirrors the diverse experiences within the queer community. The addition of leather harnesses symbolizes strength, unity, and the freedom to express one’s true self without fear or shame. By intertwining these materials, the aim is to celebrate the beauty of diversity and the power of solidarity.
Tell us about your experience at TOAF:
2024 was my first time participating in TOAF, it was a wonderful experience, connecting with community and sharing my work with others. I got a great response to my work, receiving the emerging artist by emerging curator award meant a lot to me. It brought a lot of attention and sales to my booth. Right now I am gearing up for the holiday season, and looking forward to taking part in a few markets including the Holiday Treasures market at the Museum of Dufferin. I will also be taking part in Design TO in 2025, look out for my window installation at Worth Gallery on Dundas.
Matthew Walton
Matthew Walton is a 28 year-old emerging artist, based in Toronto. His work is characterized by a slightly cubist approach, where he combines rigid geometry with expressive human forms.
Walton graduated with an Honors Bachelor of Animation Art and Design from Sheridan College in 2020 and spent the following four years working as an animator, a position he executed remotely from his living room. This time left Walton lonely, vastly unfulfilled, and hungry to reignite his creative passion, leading him down the path toward the art he makes today.
Walton credits aspects of this work to his animation background, where utilizing body language to convey expression and story was crucial. He now employs it heavily in his artwork. Walton enjoys exploring moments of daily life through the lens of his own, gay, point-of-view. He pokes-fun and celebrates these moments by transforming the mundane into whimsical vignettes.
Tell us about your experience at TOAF:
TOAF63 was the first time I brought my work to a real-life public forum and participated in an event as an actual ‘Artist’. TOAF created an event and a community that made me feel welcome and at-home from the very beginning of the process. The support and resources that they gave me, someone with an extremely limited knowledge of how the art world works, has been invaluable in preparing me for my debut. This Fair was the best experience I’ve ever had the privilege of participating in and I hope to make this an annual tradition from now on.
Monthly
Curated Collection
Wicked, Orange and Wonderful
Demystifying the Art World Series
From Studio to Headlines: How Artists Can Leverage PR
Wednesday, November 13, 2024 at 7:00 PM
In-person – Unit 262, 401 Richmond Street West
Discover how PR can elevate your artistic career with insights from DMPUBLIC, Canada’s leading arts and culture PR firm. This talk gives you a rare chance to learn firsthand how to craft compelling stories that captivate media attention, build a strong PR strategy, and understand the dos and don’ts of working with the press. Don’t miss this dynamic session—you’ll be equipped with new tools to share your art with the world!
More sessions to come. Stay tuned.
