Contemporary Art Fair Illuminates Emerging Canadian Artists

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Artist Project Contemporary Art Fair 2014. Art guests at the ‘Why We Ink’ Exhibit. Image courtesy of Artist Project

ART NEWS

Artist Project Contemporary Art fair in Canada provides the opportunity to buy art by contemporary artists

BY KAZAD

Image: Artist Project Contemporary Art Fair 2014 during the Opening Night Party with DJ J Lah

Artist Project Contemporary Art Fair 2014. Opening Night Party DJ J Lah. Image courtesy of Artist Project

TORONTO, ON–Artist Project, the annual Contemporary Art Fair in Toronto, Canada will kick off February 19, 2015, at the Better Living Center Exhibition Place. As expected, there is great excitement across Canada and among contemporary artists, designers, art collectors, and art professionals as they await the opening of this major event.

Artist Project Contemporary Art Fair begins with its highly anticipated annual Opening Night Party. The party which has become an annual favorite of the Toronto art scene, and a major part of the art fair, attracts contemporary artists, designers, art professionals, and all those who love to have fun. Guests at the Artist event’s Opening Night Party will enjoy specialty cocktails, complimentary hors d’oeuvres and art performances. Guests also have the opportunity to experience and buy art by emerging and mid-career contemporary artists.

Contemporary Art Fair Opening Night Party

After the Opening Night Party, the Artist Project Contemporary Art Fair continues with an exciting three-day art event that will bring together more than 250 emerging and mid-career contemporary artists, who will be showcasing their best artworks.

The gathering of contemporary artists from across Canada and the world offers attendees a unique opportunity to meet and buy art directly from participating contemporary artists. In its 8th year, the Artist Project Contemporary Art Fair has grown to become one of the most anticipated art events in Canada. More than 15,000 seasoned art collectors, first-time art buyers, gallery dealers, and interior designers are expected at this year’s event. The Better Living Centre at Exhibition Place, Toronto is expected to be a point of attraction for architects and interior designers.

In continuation of its annual tradition, this year’s Artist Project will feature amazing art projects by celebrated contemporary artists. The highlight of this year’s art projects will be by the renowned contemporary artist and sculptor Bruno Billio. During this section of the Fair, Billio will unveil a 100-foot long artwork. Titled Rocco, the artist uses common, ordinary objects as his medium, and stacks and manipulates them into a spatial installation using colored string.

Sony Canada Photography Exhibition

The Sony Canada photography exhibition is another major highlight of Artist Project 2015. An expertly curated exhibition of photographs from the Canadian entrants for the Sony World Photography Awards 2015, in partnership with the World Photography Organisation, will be launched. During the exhibition opening, Sony of Canada will be awarding the first-ever Canadian National award – selected from among the top Canadian submissions for the international competition. Event attendees have the opportunity to participate in the selection process by casting their votes for the ‘People’s Choice’ award for the best Canadian Image displayed in the Sony gallery at the show.

Twenty best up-and-coming contemporary artists will also be celebrated by Artist Project through its Untapped Emerging Artists competition and showcase. Guests, including art collectors, art dealers, and art enthusiasts at the event will get the opportunity to meet the artists and collect their pieces before they are discovered.

In addition to art projects, art exhibitions, and art competitions, Artist Project Contemporary Art Fair will also feature stimulating Art Chats, Art Walks, and docent-led guided tours that explore trends, themes, and insights into artists’ inspirations and processes, as well as engaging contesting opportunities for artists, such as Type.

Artists have already been invited to submit an original work of art based on the theme Type. For the Artist Competition theme, artists will explore text-based art and the relationship between art and the use of text/language. All competition entries will be on display during the fair and winners will be selected by a panel of jurors for cash prizes.

CONTEMPORARY ART FAIR| READ ALSO: Art Toronto Brings Greater Relevance to Art in Canada

Art Battle Canada and the Artist Project have teamed up to bring live artist competitive painting right to the show floor. The Artist Project’s first Art Battle to be held on the evening of Friday, February 20 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., will include 16artists who will create the best work they can in 20 minutes. The audience at the art contest will votes for their favorite painting and bids in a silent auction to take the work home.

Artist Project will also present Alex Beriault’s sculpture and performance work tilted Ring as part of the Career Launchers program. A joint project with OCAD University’s Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers, the initial performance takes place on Opening Night and will be followed by two-hour performances during the event in the Exhibition Place.