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Canada’s leading contemporary outdoor and online art fair

TOAF will take place July 12 – 14, 2024.

ABOUT US

Canada’s Leading Contemporary Outdoor & Online Art Fair

Toronto Outdoor Art Fair (TOAF) is the charitable non-profit organization behind Canada’s largest and longest-running annual contemporary art fair.

Established in 1961 to connect Canadian artists directly to the public, TOAF brings together 165,000 art lovers and enthusiasts who spend over 2 million dollars on art during the Fair.

60+

Years of launching artists’ careers

20K+

Canadian artists since 1961

$1M+

In awards given to artists over 60 years

400+

Visual artists and makers annually

165K+

Art lovers and collectors

$2M+

Spent on artwork sales

OUR PHILOSOPHY

TOAF is inclusive, accessible and radically welcoming to all artists and art enthusiasts.

For over 60 years, TOAF has been a key part in launching and sustaining the careers of 20,000 Canadian artists by directly connecting them to millions of art lovers, and public and private institutions.

TOAF is known for hosting many nationally and internationally acclaimed Canadian artists under our iconic white tents at the early years of their careers including, Barbara Astman, David Blackwood, Edward Burtynsky, Ken Danby, Rob Gonsalves, Harlan House, Joanne Tod, and Jennifer Stead to name a few.

Since 2020, TOAF has shown agility, innovation, and resiliency in serving their community by transforming into Toronto Online Art Fair, providing an online platform that continues to make a meaningful impact on artists’ lives and becoming Canada’s fastest-growing e-commerce and discovery platform for artists across Canada.

TOAF has given over one million dollars in awards, and continues to play an important role in nurturing the City of Toronto’s arts and culture sector while making art an integral part of the lives of Torontonians.

OUR FREE PUBLIC PROGRAMS

Art Talks & Tours

Family Fun

Installations &
Nested Exhibitions

Performances

Student Zone

Art Encounters

TOAF presents compelling, dynamic and engaging art talks and tours that offer insights into artists’ works, art collecting and contemporary art topics.

We engage young art lovers and their families in high-quality art-making activities and discussions through Power Kids workshops, a young art collectors program and fun art talks just for kids.

Since 2011, TOAF has showcased contemporary installations and site-specific work by acclaimed local artists. We select works that are exciting, dynamic and well-crafted to encourage the public’s engagement with an expanded vision of contemporary art.

In addition to providing artists and makers a space to showcase their art, TOAF also presents free site-specific performances for the public to enjoy. By offering these performances, TOAF audiences are able to expand their experiences of contemporary art.

We nurture the next generation of artists through partnerships with leading art schools and programs in the city such as the OCAD U Career Launchers Program, Sheridan College, and the University of Toronto Scarborough. Our Student Zone is the best place to discover fresh talents and emerging artists.

At Toronto Outdoor Art Fair, we have established a rich tradition of launching successful careers and providing a highly accessible venue for artists and the public to meet face-to-face. For the past 58 years, we have aimed to remove barriers to the arts from the perspective of cost and approachability, and by welcoming diverse artists and audiences.

Our Free Public Programs

Art Talks & Tours

TOAF presents compelling, dynamic and engaging art talks and tours that offer insights into artists’ works, art collecting and contemporary art topics.

Family Fun

We engage young art lovers and their families in high-quality art-making activities and discussions through Power Kids workshops, a young art collectors program and fun art talks just for kids.

Installations & Nested Exhibitions

Since 2011, TOAF has showcased contemporary installations, and site-specific work by acclaimed local artists. We select works that are exciting, dynamic and well-crafted to encourage the public’s engagement with an expanded vision of contemporary art.

Performances

In addition to providing artists and makers a space to showcase their art, TOAF also presents free site-specific performances for the public to enjoy. By offering these performances, TOAF audiences are able to expand their experiences of contemporary art.

Student Zone

We nurture the next generation of artists through partnerships with leading art schools and programs in the city such as the OCAD U Career Launchers Program, Sheridan College, and the University of Toronto Scarborough. Our Student Zone is the best place to discover fresh talents and emerging artists.

Art Encounters

At Toronto Outdoor Art Fair, we have established a rich tradition of launching successful careers and providing a highly accessible venue for artists and the public to meet face-to-face. For the past 58 years, we have aimed to remove barriers to the arts from the perspective of cost, approachability and by welcoming diverse artists and audiences.

OUR HISTORY

Launching artists’ careers since 1961

TOAF began in the parking lot of the Four Seasons Motor Hotel in 1961 when founders and philanthropists Murray and Marvelle Koffler joined forces with former Director of the National Gallery of Canada Alan Jarvis, and artist Jack Pollock. Four years later, the Fair moved to the newly built Nathan Phillips Square.

TOAF was founded on the premise that artists have the right to show and sell their work directly on city property. Sixty years later, TOAF not only prevails but continues to innovate and reinvent the way we access art. 

Read TOAF Memories shared by past and present TOAF artists:

TOAF Memories: Janna Robins Walters & Doug MacBean →
TOAF Memories: Vera Fischer & David Johns →

Group at Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition, 1977. Pictured front row, left to right: Aaron Milrad, Mayor David Crombie, Murray Koffler, Secretary of State John Roberts, Pat Fleischer, Hilda Wilson. Standing back row, centre, Allan Grossman. Ontario Jewish Archives, Murray and Marvelle Koffler.

“In 1960, my wife Marvelle and I had spent a weekend in New York where we were delighted in attending the famed Washington Square outdoor art show.

On the plane home, we read in a Toronto newspaper that a group of artists had been ousted from the front of City Hall for trying to display and sell their artworks. Immediately, a great idea struck me! Why not invite these and other budding artists to show at a non-city-owned location.

The timing could not have been more appropriate. My partners and I were preparing to open the Four Seasons Motor Hotel on Jarvis Street in Toronto, and the parking lot and courtyard were ideally suited for this purpose. We chose the weekend of August 5 & 6, 1961.

My friend, Alan Jarvis, former head of the National Gallery of Canada, chaired a committee of interested volunteers to mount the very first Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition. And, as they say, the rest is history.”

The Late Murray B. Koffler, O.C., O.Ont.
Founder, Toronto Outdoor Art Fair (formerly Exhibition)

OUR HISTORY

TOAF Timeline

1960

Murray and Marvelle Koffler attend an outdoor art fair on Washington Square in New York City. Upon returning to Toronto, they are dismayed to read about two artists who were removed from Toronto City Hall for selling their art on city property.

1961

The Kofflers, Alan Jarvis (former Director of the National Gallery of Canada), and the late Jackson Pollock closed off the parking lot of the Four Seasons Motor-Hotel on Jarvis Street for a weekend in June. The Toronto Outdoor Art Show was born!

Murray Koffler, Esther Phillips and Mayor Nathan Phillips, and sculptor Irving Berman, Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition in the parking lot of the Four Seasons Motor Hotel, 1961. Ontario Jewish Archives, Murray and Marvelle Koffler.

“I did the TOAF directly upon graduating from OCA (now called OCAD University). There was a small group of us from the art college that all decided to do this together for moral support… I did sell a few pieces at the show and occasionally have run into people all these years later who remind me that they bought a piece there for a very reasonable price and how happy the work has made them over the years. I was happy that they took a chance on me, a young unknown artist… I think all young artists should do this show and learn what there is to be learned from the whole experience!”

Barbara Astman, Photographer

1965

The Toronto Outdoor Art Show was the first event held at Nathan Phillips Square. It added interest and colour to Toronto’s way of life according to then-Mayor Phil Givens.

1970

A.Y. Jackson, a member of the Group of Seven, was an honorary judge of the exhibition.

1976

(from left) Susan Cohon, Leon, Marvelle and Tiana Koffler, George Cohon, Murray & Theo Koffler at the opening day of the fair (1976).

“I spent a few summers in the early 80’s at the Toronto Outdoor Art Fair with my work. It was a great experience meeting fellow Torontonians and tourists and having a chance to tell my story. I even sold a few prints which made the experience that much better!”

Edward Burtynsky, Photographer

1978

The Board of Directors introduce a jury process to ensure high stands of exhibited pieces. The Fair becomes a juried showcase.

1982

TOAE becomes a registered charitable non-profit.

2018

Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition is rebranded as the Toronto Outdoor Art Fair, and it’s branding is later awarded for design excellence in Communication Arts Design Annual 2019.

2021

TOAF celebrates its 60th Anniversary.

Funders & Sponsors

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