🥁And the Award Goes To… | Toronto Outdoor Art Fair

_{Sisterhood #2, Melika Saeeda, 2025, Acrylic on wood panel.}

Celebrating Artistic Excellence at TOAF64

Meet the Best of Independent Canadian Artists ✨

Dear TOAF Community,

TOAF64 Award Recipients have been announced!

This is the most cherished moment of the Fair for us. So much hard work, care, love, and emotion from artists, supporters, judges, and all of us goes into this.

Receiving an award at TOAF is a meaningful milestone in an artist’s journey. It opens doors to new possibilities, opportunities, and lasting connections.

This year, TOAF’s growth has sparked new energy in our Awards Program:
We’ve introduced exciting new awards like the United Contemporary Award, PhotoED Award, and the National Emerging Artist Award, alongside a growing circle of supporters and believers.

And another exciting thing, we just love this, nine of our Award recipients are first-time participants, and five artists came through our Art Encounters program.

These awards are selected by distinguished industry professionals. We are deeply grateful to our Judges for their insight, sharp eyes, and for helping us to shine a light on artistic excellence in every medium, recognizing creativity, innovation, and a clear artistic voice.

We’re thrilled to welcome new donors to the TOAF family. This year, we distributed $46,000 in cash and in-kind awards, thanks to legacy donors, new donors, and passionate supporters who care deeply about artists and their work. We thank you all, wholeheartedly 💙

Please take a moment to celebrate this outstanding group of artists. Visit them at the Fair today and tomorrow, and don’t forget to explore their profiles online.

We’ll be introducing them in more depth throughout the year, right here in our newsletter.

With pride and joy,

anahita & TOAF Team

Meet 2025 Award Recipients

2025 Award Recipients

Best of Art Fair | Melika Saeeda | A47

$6,000 by IG Wealth Management
Judged by Rui Mateus Amaral, Artistic Director, Museum of Contemporary Art Toronto (MOCA)

*Sisterhood: A Sequin Night,* Melika Saeeda, 2025, Acrylic paint & gold leaf on canvas.

Murray and Marvelle Koffler Founder’s Award | Brad Copping | C305

Judged by Tiana Koffler, past Chair, The The Koffler Centre of the Arts & Flavio Belli, Curator & Gallerist.

*salmon pink undula bowl,* Brad Copping, 2024, Hand blow & sculpted hot glass, cold carved.

Mayor’s Purchase Award | Anu Kalra | A66

Value of Artwork by the City of Toronto
Judged by Tara Chadwick, Chief Curator, the City of Toronto

*It’s Selfie Time – She is an icon! She is a legend! She is the moment!,* Anu Kalra, 2024, Acrylic on gallery canvas.

Best of Student Award | Alex Hall | Booth A24

$1,000 Marie Collins Memorial Award & ArtHubs Toronto Inc. Award
Judged by Felicia Mings, Curator, The Joan and Martin Goldfarb Gallery of York University

*The Hong Family, Barkerville,* 2024, Alex Hall, Archival inkjet pigment print.

Jini Stolk Best of Online Art Fair Award | Julia Asimakopulos | Exclusively Online

$2,000 awarded to an outstanding artist in the Online Art Fair, in memory of TOAF’s beloved Board Chair, Jini Stolk.
Judged by Rachel Vincent-Clarke, Director, Galerie Robertson Arès

*Nostalgia,* Julia Asimakopulos, 2025, Portland cement, pigment, rusted metal, ink, charcoal & paper.

Best of Painting Award | Ravjot Singh | Booth C368

$2,000 by Brett Ledger & Patricia Olasker
Judged by Joseph Rumi, President, Rumi Galleries

*ਕੁਦਰਤਿ | Kudrat,* Ravjot Singh, 2024, Gouache highlighted with on handmade wasli paper.

Honourable Mention Painting | Diogo Pinheiro | Booth C306

$500 by Valérie Lockerbie & Richard Shimoda
Judged by Joseph Rumi, President, Rumi Galleries

Best of Photography & Digital Media Award | Meaghan Ogilvie | C300

$2,000 by Jennifer Longhurst & Lars Bendsen
Judged by Rita Godlevskis, Editor & Publisher, PhotoED Magazine

*A Quiet Rising,* Meaghan Ogilvie, 2017, Photography.

Honourable Mention Photography & Digital Media | Nika Belianina | C376

$500 Gift Card by Toronto Image Works
Judged by Rita Godlevskis, Editor & Publisher, PhotoED Magazine

PhotoEd Magazine Award | Maureen O’Connor | A120

A one-year subscription to PhotoEd Magazine. $150 artist fee & a print feature in an upcoming edition of PhotoEd Magazine
Judged by Rita Godlevskis, Editor & Publisher, PhotoED Magazine

PhotoEd Magazine Award | Yujie Wang | C317

A one-year subscription to PhotoEd Magazine. $150 artist fee and a print feature in an upcoming edition of PhotoEd Magazine
Judged by Rita Godlevskis, Editor & Publisher, PhotoED Magazine

PhotoEd Magazine Award | Phil Carriere | B205

A one-year subscription to PhotoEd Magazine. $150 artist fee and a print feature in an upcoming edition of PhotoEd Magazine
Judged by Rita Godlevskis, Editor & Publisher, PhotoED Magazine

Best of 3D Works Award | Kevin Maclean | C307

$2,000 by Lindy Green Family Foundation
Judged by Ginette Legaré, Professor, Faculty of Art at OCAD University

*misshaps,* K MacLean, 2023, Piano parts, wire, doll hands & acrylic.

Best of Craft & Design Award | Brad Turner | A134

$2,000 by Robert K. E. Mitchell & Brian H. Wade of Mitchell Studios
Judged by Janna Hiemstra, Manager, Craft & Design at Harbourfront Centre

*Vitridome, Daffodil vs Flamingo Pink,* Brad Turner, 2022, Assembled blown glass with sandblasted finish.

Aaron Milrad’s Best of Ceramics Award | V Vallières | Booth E516

Judged by Aaron Milrad, Art Collector & President, Surreal Holding Inc.

Best of Jewellery Award | Jamie Rosario | E546

$500 by Harry Enchin & Susan Friedrich
Judged by Susan Friedrich, Award Donor

Ceramics Excellence Award | Hannah Faas | E525

$500 Gift Card by Tucker’s Pottery Supplies
Judged by Janna Hiemstra, Manager of Craft & Design, Harbourfront Centre

Most Innovative Use of Material Award | Hyewon Jang | A153

$750 by Lonsdale Gallery
Judged by Janna Hiemstra, Manager of Craft & Design, Harbourfront Centre

Best of 2D Works Award | Matthew Walton | C339

$2,000 by Extrudex Aluminum
Judged by Mony Zakhour, Artist & Art Director, Crybaby Gallery

*CHIT*, Matthew Walton, 2024, Acrylic, watercolor, pastel & pencil.

Best of Paper Award | Emily Conlon | E510

$500 Gift Card by The Japanese Paper Place
Judged by Founder Nancy Jacobi, & President, Tara Moore-Jones, The Japanese Paper Place

Gladstone House Award | Marianne Sung | E542

One-year showcase opportunity & $1,000 artist fee by Gladstone House
Judged by Lee Petrie, Curator, Gladstone House

*Tree Blooms 1,* Marianne Sung, 2023, Acrylic on canvas.

Student Purchase Award | Alicia Tian | A10

Value of Artwork by House of IDEA
Judged by House of IDEA

Honourable Mention Student | Keenan O’Toole | A13

$500 Gift Card by Toronto School of Art
Judged by Felicia Mings, Curator, The Joan and Martin Goldfarb Gallery of York University

United Contemporary Award | Neltje Green | A6

Solo exhibition in United Contemporary‘s Project Space for 4-6 weeks & mentorship opportunity
Judged by United Contemporary Team

*Red Evening,* Neltje Green, 2023, Acrylic on wood panel.

National Emerging Artist Award | Samira Sukhatme | Booth A50

$750 by Remarque Art Consulting
Judged by Felicia Mings, Curator, The Joan and Martin Goldfarb Gallery of York University

*Along the Lynn Lines,* Samira Sukhatme, Acrylic, pastels & thread on canvas.

Emerging Curator Award

A curated group exhibition in partnership with The Indigenous Curatorial Collective, supported by Flavio Belli with $4,500 in curator and artist fees.
Judged by Curator, Jesse King.

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