Inaugural Toronto Biennial Highlights Inuit Artists

The list of participating artists for the Toronto Biennial of Art in Toronto, ON, this fall has been released, with a number of artists from across the Arctic among the 90 national and international participants named so far for the 72 day event.

Curated by Candice Hopkins and Tairone Bastien, the first edition titled in relation will explore the many ways bodies of water shape or inform our links to one another. The inaugural edition the bi-annual event will feature the work of several renowned artists, including the late Napachie Pootoogook (1938-2002), whose drawings and prints capture her personal experiences as well as the stories of her community, and Nick Sikkuark (1943-2013), who worked across painting, drawing and sculpture to produce surreal, arresting and vibrant worlds.

Kinngait (Cape Dorset)-based graphic artist and printmaker Qavavau Manumie is also included in the cohort alongside the artist collective Embassy of Imagination + PA System with Kinngait youth Christine Adamie, Iqaluk Ainalik, Parr Josephee, Moe Kelly, Acacia Lawrence, Annie Oshutsiaq, David Pudlat and Cie Taqiasuk, featured on the cover of the Winter 2017 issue of the IAQ. 

The city-wide exhibition will take over 10 venues near Toronto’s waterfront—including Union Station, Evergreen Brickworks, the Toronto Sculpture Garden, Ontario Place, 259 Lake Shore, Harbourfront Centre and the Small Arms Inspection Building—and will run from September 21 to December 1, 2019.

Additional participants include IAQ contributor Luis Jacob, multi-disciplinary artist Caroline Monnet and New Mineral Collective, comprised of Emilija Škarnulytė and Moncton-born Tanya Busse, among many others. The full list of participants as well as the extensive public programming will be announced in August.