There is no better way to welcome the majestic fall and kick off a new season of dreaming at TOAF than by celebrating the sublime and whimsical world of Saskia Wassing.
Her exceptionally intricate embroideries and masterful textile artworks are filled with vibrant, uplifting colors and charming characters with a touch of nostalgia and old charm.
We’re thrilled to announce that Saskia Wassing is the recipient of the 2024 Murray and Marvelle Koffler Founder’s Award—a $6,500 cash award generously supported by the Koffler Family Foundation. Saskia belongs to the long-standing TOAF artist family, a true veteran of the Fair. She has exhibited her work eighteen times over the last 29 years (with a decade-long break in between!). The moment Saskia received the award on stage during the Awards Ceremony was unforgettable—filled with utter surprise, happy tears, and deep emotion for all of us in attendance.
The judges selected Saskia for this award to honor and celebrate her excellence and career longevity. For the past two years, the Founder’s Award has been recognizing TOAF artists who demonstrate outstanding commitment to their practice and a steadfast dedication to the Fair over the years. Saskia is undoubtedly a most deserving recipient!
Our heartfelt thanks to the Koffler Family Foundation, TOAF’s lead patron, for 63 years of steadfast support of our artists.
We hope you enjoy learning more about Saskia’s inspiration and creative journey in this newsletter.
Our best,
anahita and TOAF Team
About Saskia
Saskia Wassing is an artist, designer and educator trained in Embroidered & Woven Textiles at Glasgow School of Art, Scotland. Originally from England, she came to live in Toronto 30 years ago where she has continued to create joyful and colourful embroidered artworks.
Saskia’s stitched narratives express the imagined and the fanciful. They are grounded and informed by her experiences, memories and observational drawings. As her family is spread globally, she takes comfort in all that connects her to the people and places that she loves. Birds capture Saskia’s imagination becoming playful characters within her work, the New Zealand Fantail is a favourite.
Alongside her studio practice, Saskia has designed and produced custom furniture, textiles, embroidery and prototypes for individuals and industry.
Hear from the Judges
Tiana Koffler Boyman & Flavio Belli
“In the spirit of the founder’s legacy and objectives of the Fair, we present this award to Saskia Wassing. An artist who has exhibited at TOAF for well beyond 10 years, Saskia is dedicated to the complex detail of her stitchery interwoven with her painting practice. Saskia continues to evolve her technique of still life compositions in decorative narratives through the exceptional use of a domestic sewing machine as her drawing tool.”
—Tiana Koffler Boyman, Past Chair of the Koffler Centre of the Arts & Flavio Belli, Curator & Gallery Director, Tarantino Belli Gallery
Hear from the Artist
Wassing on what it means to receive Founder’s Award
“This award is a huge honour, the best surprise ever, and means so much to me on so many levels. Most importantly, it is the recognition of years of persistence and perseverance. This award encourages me to keep creating and stitching my narratives to share at the Fair.”
What have you been reading lately?
I just finished reading ’Your Brain on Art’ by Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross, which discusses the scientific research of neuro-aesthetics. It’s fascinating, very encouraging and totally reinforces my own experiences of the benefits of participating in the arts.
What is your dream place to show your work?
If I could choose anywhere, it would be at the V&A in London.
Where would you go for artist residency, and why?
Titirangi, on the outskirts of Auckland, New Zealand. This is a very special spot, full of lush native bush, hiking trails, and beautiful beaches to explore. New Zealand has the most inspiring and unusual bird population and I would love to spend more time there observing, drawing and stitching my favourite muses.
