Blog
cristina
The Artist Project: Toronto’s Beloved Art Fair Returns for Mother’s Day Weekend
Artist Project Returns: A Mother’s Day Weekend Celebration of Art and Creativity
For art lovers and enthusiasts, the fair offers original work for purchase, guided art tours, and immersive installations plus, it all kicks off with a dynamic Opening Night Party.
Artist Project, Toronto’s favourite art fair for independent artists, returns to the Better Living Centre at Exhibition Place from May 8–11, 2025, with a special edition perfectly curated for Mother’s Day weekend. Featuring over 250 independent artists showcasing their best work, it’s the ideal destination to discover original art, find meaningful gifts at all price points for mom, and explore unique treasures.
One of the largest trade show producers in North America, Informa Canada is committed to the continued development and enhancement of the art world through collaboration and partnership. As international purveyors of fine art, craft, and design exhibitions, Informa Canada’s experienced staff of art fair coordinators are also credited with Art Toronto, the One of a Kind Shows and the Interior Design Show.
Discover original artworks from over 250 contemporary artists from across Canada and join collectors and curators, gallerists and designers, who make Artist Project their destination for new talent. Here you can meet and buy art directly from the artists and support the next generation of Canadian artists.
Visitors can stroll through aisles bursting with creativity, discover basketball-themed artwork and playful inflatable installations, and enjoy a dynamic mix of programming. Whether you’re searching for the perfect gift, exploring with family, or simply soaking in the creative atmosphere, Artist Project is the place to be this Mother’s Day weekend.
“Artist Project has become more than just an art fair—it’s a hub for creativity, offering audiences the chance to engage directly with artists,” says Mia Nielsen, Fair Director. “This year, we continue inviting new experiences into the mix by collaborating with artists who challenge the limits of creativity. Visitors will experience inflatable installations, take insightful tours led by art industry experts, and explore an amazing selection of sought-after artworks that appeal to both seasoned collectors and first-time buyers.
Art Fair Highlights: Celebrating Canada’s Independent Artists
Artist Project returns with a dynamic lineup of over 250 independent artists from Toronto, the GTA, and across Canada, offering art collectors and enthusiasts a vibrant space to discover and purchase original works. This year’s selection, juried by artist and educator Tessar Lo, award-winning writer and stylist Odessa Paloma Parker, and nomadic gallery curator Kristofer Sakamoto-Marshall (The New Other), spans emerging to established talents across all mediums and styles.
The fair offers a rare opportunity to engage with artists directly, explore their creative processes, and take home meaningful works of art.
Featured Artists
Alek Bélanger: A multidisciplinary French Canadian artist whose work traverses visual art, poetry, and film. His 2025 series incorporates archival gay liberation newspapers from the 1960s–80s, transformed into large-format works exploring queerness and identity through material and movement.
Leisa Rich: An experimental fibre and mixed-media artist who pushes material boundaries with sculptural pieces crafted from FOSSSHAPE (a textile used in automotive design), 3D printing, laser engraving, and free-motion embroidery. Her work is highly tactile, innovative, and visually bold.
Andrew Wang: Specializing in origami assemblage, Wang creates intricate compositions on wood panels enclosed in acrylic. His works meditate on migration, memory, and identity—capturing the movement of people and stories across time and place.
Open-Aisle Installations
Newly commissioned large-scale installations will be featured throughout the fair, showcasing exciting sculptural and conceptual work:
Ben Johnston: Known for his bold, text-based murals and fine art pieces, Johnston blurs the line between language and image. His latest work, co-presented by Yorkville Murals, invites viewers to consider the emotional and cultural resonance of typography in public space.
Kathy H. Zhou: An emerging artist-researcher whose work draws from the sculptural vocabulary of Brian Jungen and Claes Oldenburg. For Artist Project, she presents “Ricebag”—a soft, toy-like leather banana monster that continues her Abandon series of life-sized banana peel sculptures, exploring themes of consumption and absurdity.
4 Things to See at Artist Project (Apart from Artist Booths)
Balloon Flower Orchard Selfies
This year’s entrance wall brings an animated garden to life with hundreds of inflated flower balloons, transforming the space into a whimsical blooming orchard. Created by Toronto balloon florist and artist Dylan Kwacz of Ballooms, this installation invites guests to step inside, snap the perfect photo, and even purchase a small bouquet from the flower cart, bringing the fun home.
Support Canadian Designers at the Fashion Art Toronto Pop-Up Boutique
Guests will have the chance to shop a curated selection of top and emerging Canadian designers at the Fashion Art Toronto Boutique. 11 independent brands will showcase a selection of wearable fashion, jewelry, and accessories – including edte, a Toronto-based brand crafting handbag sculptures that double as functional works of art, perfect to display at home or for making a statement on special occasions.
Guided Art Tours with Industry Professionals
Join Canada’s top art world pros as they share their must-see picks from around the fair. Get insider insights from Jennifer Simaitis (Director, Patel Brown), Trevor Twells (Founder, MakeRoom Inc.), Nuria Madrenas (Founder, Tacit), Kyle Matuzewiski (Co-Director, Bau-Xi Gallery) and many more. Whether you’re an art lover or just curious, this is your chance to see the fair through an expert lens!
Collectible Jordan Sneakers
Sneaker collector Anna Bediones will be showcasing daily drops of coveted series of Jordan sneakers from the 2010s, in a project with basketball artist Mallory Torcher that is sure to delight all sneakerheads. Over the course of the fair, 40 pairs of sneakers will go on sale for $40, offering sneaker collectors an opportunity to purchase collectables and a fraction of current resale prices.
Opening Night
On Thursday, May 8th, Artist Project kicks off with an unforgettable Opening Night, Presented in Partnership with Edward Jones, filled with exclusive experiences. From 6 PM to 10 PM, guests will be the first to discover and purchase incredible artwork while indulging in food, drinks, and electrifying musical performances.
Upon arrival, guests will be welcomed by Toronto’s Queer Brass Band, Trash Panda Brass performing an assortment of Chappell Roan covers. At 7:30, Fashion Art Toronto will transform the fair’s aisles into a dynamic runway once again, showcasing new experiential designs from Toronto label Lunara.
Guests will stay entertained all night long with 4 DJs positioned at different locations throughout the venue. As guests traverse the aisles, they will hear Josiah spinning Hip-hop and rap beats, Jeff Lei with EDM, DJ TORQUE infusing a Latin flair with his mix, and SWOO will hold court at the fashion runway.
Hour of Operations
Thursday, May 8, 6 – 10 PM (Opening Night Preview)
Friday, May 9, 12 – 8 PM
Saturday, May 10, 12 – 8 PM
Sunday, May 11, 12 – 6 PM
Tickets & Passes
Guests can take advantage of Early Bird ticket pricing before May 1st, 2025.
Collector’s Pass: $45 / $49 After May 1st
Allows access and re-entry any day of the show. Includes access to the Opening Night Preview on Thursday. Pass is not transferable and must be accompanied by ID matching the name on the pass
Opening Night Preview Ticket: $35 / $39 After May 1st
Adult – Single Day Entry (ages 18+): $26 / $28 After May 1st
Senior – Single Day Entry (ages 65+): $22 / $24 After May 1st
Student (with valid Student ID): $22 / $24 After May 1st
Youth – Single Day Entry (ages 13 – 17): $22 / $24 After May 1st
Child – Single Day Entry (ages 12 and under)* FREE
Connect with Artist Project Online:
📸 Instagram 📘 Facebook 🐦 X (Twitter) #ArtistProject
