It’s here! The TOAF64 Artist Roster is live.
And yes, Canada is Present.

From coast to coast to digital coast, over 400 artists are joining us for the 64th Toronto Outdoor Art Fair. Our national representation is on fire this year, with 70 artists joining us from Alberta, BC, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Northwest Territories, PEI, Saskatchewan, and Québec.

We’re welcoming 155 first-time participants to TOAF, and we’re as proud as ever to celebrate many artists from Ontario and even more from our local Toronto community.

We’re excited about these numbers because they tell a great story—there’s a growing response from artists across the country to gather, exchange ideas, and build something meaningful with art lovers in a public space. This year feels uniquely special. This will be a summer of many firsts, new encounters, and a deeper connection to Canada through the voices of artists, right in our city square. 

Once again, we saw record-breaking interest this year, with 1,027 applications. The selection process was no small feat. A huge thank you to our rigorous jury: Ed Pien, Tiana Roebuck, Callum Schuster, and Grace Zeppilli. With extensive experience across artmaking, education, curation, and collecting, they brought care, curiosity, and a sharp eye to every decision. Their thoughtful conversations and discerning choices shaped a remarkable roster—a vibrant mix of emerging voices, mid-career talents, and beloved TOAF veterans. The selection is a beautiful Canadian portrait.

You’ll meet the artists in person at Nathan Phillips Square, July 11–13, and online at TOAF.ca. Start exploring the TOAF64 Artist Roster now and get to know them better. 

Mark your calendars 

anahita azrahimi
Executive & Creative Director
 

Also, we have so much exciting news about this year’s initiatives, we can’t fit it all in here—but we can’t wait to share it with you soon! 

Ed Pien is a Taiwanese-born Canadian artist with an Honours BFA from Western University and a MFA from York University. His artistic practice explores themes of time, sentience of nature, memory, representation of trauma, resilience, and compassion. 

Tiana Roebuck is the Manager of Studio Programming & Learning at the Art Gallery of Ontario, with over 20 years of teaching experience and a strong passion for connecting people to artmaking. With an MFA in Fiber and a BFA in Jewellery Design, she has worked with institutions like The Theatre Centre and Luminato Festival, and was an Artist-in-Residence at Harbourfront Centre. A former award-winning TOAF exhibitor, Tiana brings deep community and artistic insight to her role as juror.

Callum Schuster, a graduate of OCADU’s Drawing and Painting program, investigates the perception of space and its psychological impact through work that bridges imaginary, 2D, and 3D environments. Beyond his artistic practice, he is a founding member of the plumb artist-run space, serves on the Koffler Centre of the Arts Gallery Advisory Committee, and actively engages in traditional land management practices, herbalism, and winemaking.

Grace Zeppilli is the founder of GZ Art Co. and brings over 20 years of experience in art consulting. With a background in Business and Art History, she built a career in global luxury retail before returning to her passion for art. Grace now leads a team of consultants, curating gallery shows and supporting emerging artists, particularly within the luxury hospitality sector.

Juror’s Picks

Heritier Bilaka, Exclusively Online

“Heritier Bilaka’s work is rooted in a single, powerful word: hope—a word that carries deep meaning for many. His paintings speak of hope for his homeland, for his people, and for the future of humanity. With vigorous, unrelenting energy, his brushstrokes embody the struggle and resilience of the immigrant experience. From grey ashes, vibrant colours emerge—rising, reaching—imbued with a sense of light, persistence, and promise.” — Grace Zeppilli

Shu Chen Cheng

“Shu Chen Cheng’s ceramic work exudes skill. These objects appear to be playing with polarities. Within each piece is a thoughtful tension between classic traditions with a modern twist. Rich colours, seductive texture, somehow a familiar form is turned into something you’re seeing for the first time.” — Callum Schuster

Neltje Green

“This piece is one of many beautifully painted by Neltje Green, demonstrating their mastery of light, shadow, composition, vibrant colours, intricate details, and spatial balance—each element coming together perfectly. The work evokes a sense of nostalgia, yet without the sentimentality, capturing a nuanced emotional depth.” — Ed Pien

Alex Hall

“Alex Hall’s ability to capture a sense of time and place that is so perfectly in tune with the narrative of her family’s cultural journey is a testament to her incredible talent. Every frame is layered and deep. The familiarity of a home and its intimate objects make you feel like a welcomed visitor.” — Grace Zeppilli

Bounthanh Inthavaly

“Flat and fleshy, bold in colour, Bounthanh Inthavaly’s After Bath captures an everyday moment with a quiet and quirky confidence. Inthavaly resists a heavy-handed narrative, instead offering an intimately drawn scene where the empty chair shares center stage with the draped and partially obscured figure, piquing our curiosity and inviting us in.” — Tiana Roebuck

Ellee SY Lee

“I’m captivated by this painting. Ellee’s SY Lee vibrant use of colour and impasto technique invites the viewer to appreciate its lush imagery and intricate, tapestry-like texture. Countless brushstrokes coalesce, bringing to life a scene of flowers, shrubs, and stone formations along a stream. The textured composition subtly echoes the decorative style of Orientalism, with a possible nod to the opulence of Gustav Klimt’s work.” — Ed Pien

Julia Novakovic

“In Improvisation 2, Julia Novakovic skillfully captures performance as print, compressing time, emotion, and labour into a single, resonant image. Through a strong use of technique, Novakovic renders the invisible visible, making perceptible the unseen pressures and contortions—both physical and emotional—that define our daily existence.” — Tiana Roebuck