Toronto is really turning up the love for the art world. Between the live art battles popping up all over the city and the new paint lounge craze, it seems like we’re rediscovering the beauty of art.
So it's not surprising that the Artist Project, a four-day contemporary art fair that kicks off Feb. 18 is getting a lot of buzz.
It's the ninth year of the show where visitors can not only interact with art but also buy pieces directly from the artists.
"The Artist Project is a great place for seasoned collectors, first-time art buyers, art lovers, gallerists, and designers to explore and discover works of art from Canadian artists and abroad," says Claire Taylor, show director.
The fair is also the perfect opportunity to tap into one of the hottest new trends in home decor: graffiti.
Jason Kucherawy, a Toronto tour guide and graffiti aficionado, will be on hand to give a talk on the history of graffiti and what lies ahead, while also promoting the use of graffiti pieces as art in local homes.
"I've been asked by many people to put them in touch with graffiti artists to paint something in their business or home. For most it involves painting directly on the wall as a mural, since it's closer to graffiti's roots," says Kucherawy. "The line between graffiti and contemporary art is starting to blur now that so many artists have built a name for themselves on the streets and are now doing canvasses and other work that people can enjoy in private and keep forever."
Kucherawy says graffiti picked up even more popularity in the city after former Mayor Rob Ford declared a war on graffiti, which in turn encouraged more artists to start tagging.
Now graffiti is viewed as more of an art form than an act of vandalism, and Torontonians are appreciating the added art on our streets, and welcoming it into their homes.
Local artist Dani Cooperman is a favourite for those looking to add a graffiti piece into their home decor. Her pieces transplant urban art, that would usually be seen on the streets, in enlarged photographs onto backlit plexiglass. She then embellishes them with layers of acrylic paint.
Artist Tibor Hargitai takes a more DIY approach to his graffiti art. He launched the global art movement DOTART where each painting comes with a marker hung on a chain from the middle of the piece.
This way, the observer becomes theartist and is encouraged to add their own artwork to the piece making it an ever-evolving piece of graffiti in your home.
The event this weekend will showcase works from over 250 Canadian and international artists, so whether graffiti is your thing, or you're looking for something special to add to your walls at home, there's a good chance you'll find something right up your alley.
The Artist Project, Feb. 18 – 21
