Hayv Kahraman, Levelled Leisure , 2010, from the Being and Belonging exhibition at the Royal Ontario Museum.If there is commonality in the far-reaching exhibitions at Toronto galleries this spring, it is a celebration of the work of women artists, with major shows by established icons, contemporary stars, emerging innovators and a group of 25 bold women articulating Islamic perspective among the offerings. In addition, there are important shows exploring vast realms of ceramics and photography.
Installation view from the Housewarming exhibition by sculptor Karine Giboulo. Currently on display at the Gardiner Museum.The mini multitudes take over a replica of Giboulo’s two-bedroom apartment, populating every surface and lurking inside drawers, the fridge, the oven, the Amazon box. It’s as though Giboulo can’t escape her concerns. And yet, her aesthetic is colourful and playful, with an undeniable touch of humour.
From the Being and Belonging exhibition at the Royal Ontario Museum, Lubaina Himid’s work Bittersweet, 2022. Canadian contemporary artist Sandra Meigs, who turns 70 this year, is known for her big, joyous paintings. Now, imagine her electrifying works blown up, printed on canvas and suspended from the ceiling at McMichael Canadian Art Collection. Since Meigs’s new works are inspired by nature, guest curator Jessica Bradley describes the show as “a forest of fierce painterly gesture and vibrant colour.