Looking for something to do in the warmer months in Toronto? Here are five art exhibitions you should check out in the city.
Between gloomy days and one-digit temperatures, Toronto is still waiting for the spring weather to kick in, but we’ve rounded up a lineup of exhibitions to help you get in the springtime mood through art.
Flourishing Joy
Location: Jane Finch Mall (1911 Finch Ave. W.)
This community-informed Afrofuturist mural project, created by Jamera DaCosta and Pamella Chen, aims to highlight the resilience and excellence of underrepresented communities with a piece that reflects on growth despite challenges. It is transforming a wall at the Jane Finch Mall into a landmark that reflects the history of the Jane and Finch neighbourhood, and how the community continues to rise and bloom through change.
The mural is set to be unveiled on May 13 by AstroSankofa Arts Initiatives, as the not-for-profit organization and artist collective marks two years of work in the community. The event will feature the mural reveal and celebrate the launch of Through the Lens of the Dreamers 2.0, an annual outdoor exhibition that is returning to the mall for the second year. The exhibition will feature 16 artworks celebrating the voices of Black, Indigenous, and other equity-deserving communities.
Sitting Room and A Persistent Crossing
Location: The Bentway (250 Fort York Blvd.)
The Bentway is bringing art into Toronto’s City Place this summer, with two exhibitions set to be revealed this weekend.
Available from May 9 to Oct. 4, Anahita Akhavan’s Sitting Room will be transforming The Bentway’s West Block staircase into a shared “sitting room,” featuring a Persian rug feel, including imagery, colour, and patterns that invite visitors for social interaction.
Meanwhile, A Persistent Crossing by Stanzie Tooth will focus on the interconnectedness of CityPlace’s ecology, featuring human silhouettes, native vegetation and pollinators in an art piece that incites visitors to think of their role as part of the multispecies network. This mural will be located at The Bentway’s Staging Grounds and will be on display from May 9 until next spring.
Outside the box 2025: Pichi
Location: Westona Street and Lawrence Avenue West
As part of the City of Toronto’s Outside the Box program, which aims to facilitate local artists’ artworks across the city, there is a mural inspired by Mapuche and Andean cosmology.
Created by artist Andre Mandela Lopez, this mural, titled Pichi, emphasizes care for nature and the power of reciprocity, featuring a colourful hummingbird held by human hands, while a heart grows at the centre of the image.
Colourful Parachutes
Location: The Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery (231 Queens Quay W.)
Focusing on art designed for all ages, Colourful Parachutes: Imagining Alternative Futures Through the Power of Play is an exhibition featuring the work of 10 different artists and invites the public to interact with the artwork.
Viewers can climb, swing, and move around an interactive sculpture by Lagos-based artist Temitayo Ogunbiyi, enter a dream.lab with a shadow booth designed by Brazilian artist Rivane Neuenschwander, participate in erasing a graphite mural by Toronto artist Claire Greenshaw, and much more. The exhibition first opened on April 25 and will be available through Sept. 7.
Making the World Go Round
Location: Bentway Skate Trail (250 Fort York Blvd.)
Hoping to bring art into the World Cup, The Bentway will be featuring a signature mural installation in its skate trail that aims to highlight some of the most iconic sights in the city.
Making the World Go Round, by Toronto-based artist Caitlin Taguibao, portrays the everyday moments we all live for, from jerseys in the crowd, people sharing good food, dancing, or gathering near the lake on a sunny day. All the scenes come together to illustrate how the city celebrates and carries the community spirit.
The mural will be displayed throughout the duration of the World Cup, from June 11 to July 19.