We have been waiting for 60 Works/60 Years for quite some time, and it is finally here!
We are thrilled to invite you to visit this one-of-a-kind exhibition, co-presented with the City’s Market Gallery in celebration of TOAF’s 60th anniversary.
60 Works/60 Years showcases 60 artworks acquired by the City from the Fair over the years through the Mayor's Purchase Award (formerly the Toronto Archives Award) since 1974. As you know, the Mayor’s Purchase Award is one of our legacy awards and is exclusive to TOAF. Each year the Mayor, assisted by City curators, attends the Fair to select a work to be brought into the municipal collection. It brings a great sense of civic pride and recognition to the recipient artists.
This show is unique in its interpretation of the City’s ever-evolving geographic, cultural, and emotional landscape through the eyes of its artists. It offers Torontonians an intimate artistic view.
The exhibition also highlights the history of TOAF and the award through archival photographs, video footage and interviews with founders, curators and artists.
We would like to thank our colleague and collaborator Neil Brochu, the City’s Chief Curator, and the entire team at Market Gallery for their incredible work and for bringing this exhibition to life.
The show is on until the end of winter at Market Gallery. Please stay tuned for upcoming programs, special talks, tours and a reception.
Before we sign off, we wish you a glorious and abundant Thanksgiving.
PS. Thank you for visiting TOAF artists at Scarborough Town Centre as part of ArtworxTO this past weekend! Together with our artists, we had a mini blast!
Celebrate TOAF at 60
60 Works/60 Years gallery hours
Wednesday to Friday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m; Saturday and Sunday: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Location: Market Gallery, 2nd Floor, St. Lawrence Market, 95 Front Street East
60 Works/60 Years will include pieces by Indigenous Artist and this year’s Mayor’s Purchase Award Winner Vanessa Dion Fletcher, and past recipients, George Boyer, Clint Griffin, Dionne Simpson, Ruby Zhang, Raoul Olou, and many more.
A selection of Mayor's Purchase Award Recipients
Left: Cheryl Rock; Right: Raoul Olou
Left: Sarah Pais; Right: Todd Stewart
Left: Ruby Zhang; Right: Kelli Jerome
Left: Chris Albert; Right: Dawn Harmer
About the City of Toronto Art Collection
The City began collecting art for display in civic buildings in the 1850s, and the collection has since grown to include over 3,000 works of art, the majority of which are on permanent display at City Hall, Metro Hall and other civic buildings across the city.
About Market Gallery
Steps above the bustling St. Lawrence Market lies the Market Gallery – an intimate, historic exhibition space. What was once Toronto’s first purpose-built City Council Chambers now houses rotating exhibits that dive deep into the history of our city.
Drawing from the City’s extensive collection of fine art, historic artifacts, and archeological specimens, these exhibits let you experience first-hand the evolution of Toronto’s ever-changing identity. Through the use of documents, film, photography and objects, you can walk through the timeline of what made Toronto the city it is today – and see where it’s going next. Alongside talks, tours and workshops, Market Gallery exhibitions give you a taste of the city: past, present and future.
TOAF x ArtworxTO East
