Announcing Tenfold, Akin Dupont’s 10 Year Anniversary Exhibition

Remote Gallery
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Tenfold, Akin Dupont’s 10 Year Anniversary Exhibition
Remote Gallery, 568 Richmond St W

Opening Night Reception:
Thurs Oct 8: 6-9pm

Gallery Hours:
Fri Oct 9: 4-8pm
Sat Oct 10: 1-5pm

This year, Akin Dupont celebrates its tenth anniversary. To mark this milestone, Akin Dupont artists are bringing their work together in a collective exhibition, Tenfold, which will take place at Remote Gallery from October 8-10th. 

Tenfold speaks both to this ten year journey and to the many ways creativity expands when developed collectively. It evokes layers unfolding through time—individual practices, stories, inspirations, and relationships woven together within a shared space.

While each artist explores distinct questions through their own techniques and visual language, Tenfold highlights the dialogues, affinities, and contrasts that emerge between their practices. Individual voices remain visible, while their shared experiences reveal the rich sense of exchange fostered within the Akin studio community.

More than a thematic exhibition, Tenfold presents an interwoven collection of artistic expressions that coexist, intersect, and strengthen one another. We invite you to experience this vibrant multiplicity and celebrate its value to artists, communities, and society.

Here’s to the next ten years!

Participating artists: 


Anne Kobayashi (@a.t.k.studio)

Barbara Bailey (@redsetterstudio)

Bernadette Peets (@b_peetsart)

Bettina Westwood (@bettinawestwood)

Beverley Rosenberg (@beverleyrosenbergart)

Carrie Fisher (@roadside.studio)

Eli Moser (@elhamos)

Hamid Mohammadi (@hamidxvi)

Loren Kaplan (@lorenkaplan)

Mark Buck (www.markbuck.art)

Miles Ingrassia (@milesingrassia)

MP Guillot (@mp__guillot)

Robert Simoni (@robertsimoniart)

Shayla Bond (@byshaylabond)

Tatjana Reithofer (@tatjana_anandamaya)

Veronica Zaretski

Remote Gallery Detailed Accessibility Information
 

Remote Gallery, 568 Richmond St W

 

Shayla Bond's reflections at the Akin x Salmon River Studios Residency

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We sat down with Akin Dupont member Shayla Bond (@byshaylabond) to talk about her experience during the August residency as the first recipient of the Akin x Salmon River Studios Residency.

 

Akin: What were you working on during the residency? 

Shayla Bond: During my residency I worked on an intimate natural dye and memory project rooted in place, relearning natural dying through a reflective approach. I spent time walking the property and responsibly gathering plant materials and fallen matter that connected me to memories of Maus Park, my in-laws’ former 12 acre property near the Grand River in Paris, Ontario, a place that became deeply important to me over the past decade.

Rather than trying to recreate Maus Park, I was interested in exploring how a place can continue to live through memory, colour, and observation. I translated what I gathered into natural colour on cotton and linen, documenting each dye through technical notes, photographs, and written memories. The result became a swatch journal, an archive of relationships between plant, gathering site, colour, memory, atmosphere, and place. 

The residency finished with an artist talk where I shared the project and introduced the basics of natural dyeing. We then walked the Salmon River property together, stopping at places where dyestuffs had been gathered or where the landscape made me reflect of memories of Maus Park. At each stop, I read excerpts from my dye journal. Sharing those personal connections in the places where the colours originated became a particularly meaningful way to bring the project full circle and felt quite intimate. 

 
 

Akin: Did being away from your usual studio environment change how you worked?

SB: Yes, absolutely. I brought only the basic equipment and materials I needed and nothing more. In my usual studio, I’m surrounded, and sometimes inundated, by projects and works in progress.

The barn studio was so open and spacious, with these beautiful high ceilings. Having only the task at hand to focus on made me incredibly productive. I accomplished more dye tests than I had originally planned and found that I was able to take in and retain what I was learning more deeply. And the sound of the rain on the roof, wow!

 

Akin: What was your favourite part of your time at the residency/How did having dedicated time and space to work affect your practice?

SB: My favourite part was having dedicated time to let go of everything else and focus on a project that continuously gets pushed aside in favour of client work and commissions. That, combined with being immersed in nature and pretty off-grid, was truly restorative. It felt like the first time my cortisol levels had lowered in a while!

Eco-glamping is just comfortable enough that you still have your creature comforts, while keeping you really connected to nature. That side of the experience almost forces you to slow down, fully immerse yourself in the process, and let go of the distractions of daily life.

I had actually taken a week of vacation only two weeks before the residency, but it was nowhere near as restorative as this trip. So, I’d have to say my favourite part was the overall feeling of relaxation and having this little pocket of time away from the daily hustle and bustle, and to get back to play and exploration.

 

Akin: Did you develop any new techniques or ideas that you plan to continue exploring?

SB: During the residency, I returned to natural dyeing for the first time in 12 years. It gave me the chance to relearn the process, experiment with materials, and reconnect with techniques I’ve wanted to bring into my current practice for a long time.

Moving forward, I want to incorporate more naturally dyed materials into my quilting and textile work. I’m interested in gradually moving the beginning of my creative process further back, not just working with the fabric, but creating the colour itself.

 

Akin: Was there a particular moment, discovery, or day that stands out to you?

SB: The property is 52 acres, so there was a lot of land to walk and explore. When reading about the ethical harvesting of natural dyestuffs, I came across the philosophy, “Ask the plant for permission before harvesting, you will feel the answer.”

I really appreciated the idea and sentiment behind it. When I was gathering goldenrod from the eastern fields, I decided to ask the plant for permission, and I felt good about harvesting it. Later, when I went to gather goldenrod from the western fields, it just didn’t feel right, so I left it.

In that moment, I felt like I had formed an emotional bond with the land I was staying on. It felt quite profound to share that experience during my artist talk, and people really responded to it. I also read personal excerpts from the swatch and memory journal I created during the residency. Sharing those reflections felt very open, vulnerable, and beautiful.

Akin: What advice would you give to another Akin member considering a residency at Salmon River Studios, including what they should bring and anything you wish you had known before arriving?

SB: I was the first artist-in-residence at Salmon River Studios, so I walked into the experience somewhat blind. They had also basically finished building the space the day I arrived, but amazingly, I never would have known! They did such an incredible job putting everything together and had thought of pretty much every detail.

Because the residency is still new and the accommodations are eco-glamping, I’d suggest reaching out to the hosts, Gabe and Ashley, ahead of time about any equipment or technical needs. Do you need outlets? How much power will your equipment require? Is reliable Wi-Fi mandatory for your project? Having those conversations in advance will help make sure what you want to accomplish is feasible. It also shows that you’re arriving with intention and have really thought about what you want to work on! Also, be aware it's outhouse only if that's not your thing!

I’d also recommend planning your meals and groceries ahead of time, bringing extra art supplies, and packing clothing, footwear, and swimwear for spending time outdoors. It can get cold and damp at night. Also, I love bringing my own pillow lol

Click here for more information about the Akin x Salmon River Studios Residency

Read more about Salmon River Studios Artist Residencies here

Victor Wei’s mind-bending art on now at the Akin Vitrine Gallery

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Victor Wei (@victorsywei)

 

This summer, the Akin Vitrine Gallery presents a new installation by artist Victor Wei (@victorsywei). Visible from the street, the work invites passersbys to witness the paintings 24/7. On view from August 1 to September 27 at 1747 St. Clair Ave. W. Be sure to check it out! 

Victor SY Wei is a Akin Richmond-Bathurst member who works primarily in acrylic paint and has a background in 3D/Visual effects. Their installation runs from August 1st to Sep 27th. These pieces are based on his recent works in the last year exploring geometric shapes that speak about other dimensions. 

We caught up with Victor to learn more about his exhibition and art practice.

 

Victor Wei’s Akin Richmond-Bathurst studio. Image credit: Marilyn Braun @braun_marilyn

 

Akin: What are you curious about right now? 

Victor Wei: “I’m curious about where the world is heading. It seems like we are having very big shifts in the world with the duality of progression in tech and human consciousness. I’m interested in incorporating more of my 3D background into paintings and visual installations.”

 

Akin: Tell us a bit about your Vitrine Exhibition (e.g. themes, materials, inspiration)  

VW: “This installation looks to illustrate the 4th and 5th dimensions. The primary focus is the paintings which acts as a map or maze that represents a segment in time frozen in place; and all the possibilities within it. The additional elements are expansions of the painting looking to explore the organic/geometric separately but ties as an installation like the painting. The geometric shapes represent possible outcomes like destinations. The lines act as routes that can be taken, and the organic form represents the conscious being inhabiting and exploring the space.”

 
 

Akin: Do you have studio routines or rituals? What gets you in a creative mood? 

VW: “I normally paint at night after work. Usually zoning out to some indie music or podcast while sipping on some tea. And sometimes just stare at a canvas for a while till the shapes and lines start speaking to me.”

 

Akin: What inspires you? Why? 

VW: “Artists, such as M.C Escher, Victor Vasarely have been big inspirations. I love the way their art changes our perceptions and messes with our heads. The incorporation of math into art has also been very fascinating to me. The architecture of the city also has played a big part in my practice. I find that Toronto has a good range and variety of architecture. Their unique shapes and design gives me a lot of creative ideas. I am also quite drawn to 90/2000s sci-fi aesthetics. The nostalgia provides many inspirations for the organic characters/colour choices and composition of the paintings.”

Akin: What does your Akin studio mean to you? What brought you to Akin? 

VW: “Akin has provided me a space separate from work and everything else that goes in my life. It's grounded me in a safe haven where I feel comfortable to explore these worlds in my imagination. I joined Akin after hearing about it through word of mouth from many local artists/friends/teachers and after attending Crit night and making some friends at the open house. I've always loved the vibe of people I met who already had a studio there, so it was a no-brainer for me when I needed a space.”

 

Akin: What advice would you tell your younger self about creating art? What have you learned? 

VW: “Make art for yourself and keep painting without the fear of judgement. Look at more art and learn about other people's practice. Find a good mentor, or mentors! I've found that in my earlier years I never committed enough to making my own art. Most of it, I've stopped after making a couple pieces in the same series. Part of it was not believing in myself fully and worrying about whether people will like my art. I've only more recently learned to fully create for myself. 

Learn more about Victor’s work @victorsywei

Akin VItrine Gallery, 1747 St. Clair Ave. W.

 

Thank you for joining our Remote Gallery Summer Market and Exhibition!

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Thank you to everyone who joined us on Saturday, July 18, for the Remote Gallery Summer Market and Exhibition!

This event marked our second Akin Member Summer Market and was a wonderful opportunity to showcase the work of our talented members.

All photos from the event featured in this post were captured by our talented summer intern, Marilyn Braun (@braun_marilyn), a fourth-year photography student at Sheridan College.

Thanks again to all that participated:

Photos: Marilyn Braun (@braun_marilyn)

 

Remote Gallery Summer Art Market & Exhibition - Sat July 18 from 1-6pm

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The summer art market is back at Remote Gallery.

Join us on Saturday, July 18 from 1–6pm for an afternoon of artwork, handmade goods, and conversations with artists from across the Akin community. Featuring 14 artists and makers working across ceramics, painting, illustration, textiles, crafts, and more, the market is an opportunity to discover new work and directly support local artists.

DATE: Saturday July 18
TIME: 1 - 6pm
LOCATION: Remote Gallery, 568 Richmond St W

Free to attend, everyone welcome! 

Featuring 14 Artists + Makers!

Tap their image to discover more of their work on Instagram.

Whether you've joined us before or are visiting for the first time, we'd love to see you there. Follow @akinprojects on Instagram over the coming weeks for artist highlights and event updates.

Remote Gallery, 568 Richmond St W

 

Accessibility Information

Remote Gallery is located at street level and has a step-free entrance, with step-free access throughout the gallery space and in both gender-neutral washrooms. The entrance doors are 37" wide and operated by a push button system.

The washroom doors are not automated and have round door knobs. Each washroom provides a 5' turning radius, and the toilets are not raised. For more details about accessibility at Remote Gallery click here.

Carlos Olavarrieta at Akin Vitrine Gallery

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Carlos Akin studios for rent toronto
 

A new exhibition has arrived at the Akin Vitrine Gallery for the month of June! Be sure to swing by 1747 St Clair Ave, where the vitrine is viewable 24/7 from the street, to check out Carlos Olavarrieta’s new exhibition, Sunset Shapes. 

Carlos is an artist who produces non objective oil paintings rooted in rhythmic patterns and created in an unplanned manner.  His newest oil on canvas, Sunset Shapes, will be on display from June 3rd to 27th. 


”I work in oil paints on canvas. My paintings are non-representational, abstract with soft lines, and vibrant colours.  Originally rooted in an interest in patterns and rhythms, my paintings have moved away from a rigid approach or intent. The paintings are determined by discovering an unknown image. The result is that the finished paintings are a manifestation of playfully painting. I do not want the process to feel like work, and I believe that overworking the painting can close the initial creative energy. Discovering an unknown image is achieved by approaching the blank canvas with no previous sketches or ideas in mind. Out of the resulting chaos, shapes and colour command space, and are brought into focus with minimal painting. As a result, the paintings present new images with an unpolished quality. Thus, the paintings are creative play revealed as an image. “ —Carlos Olavarrieta 

Carlos Akin studios for rent toronto

We caught up with Carlos to learn more about his work, inspirations and process.

Akin: “What are you curious about right now?” 

Carlos Olavarrieta:  “Different brushes.”

Akin: “Do you have studio routines or rituals? What gets you in a creative mood?” 

CO: “Approaching the canvas with no idea or sketch.”


Akin: “What inspires you?”

CO: “Music.”



Akin: “What does your Akin studio mean to you?”

CO: “A creative community.”


Akin: “What advice would you tell your younger self about creating art? What have you learned?”

CO: “The process takes time.” 


Learn more about Carlos’ work or reach out: 
@artistcarloso 
colavarr@hotmail.com
artinteriors.ca/artists/carlos-olavarrieta

Thanks for joining us at Akin Davisville’s Open Studio

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Akin Davisville Toronto Studios for rent
 

Thank you to everyone who joined us on May 23rd at Akin Davisville for our Open Studio as part of the City of Toronto’s Doors Open Festival. Despite the rainy weather, the event had a great turnout, and was a huge success! We had a lovely time meeting those who came out to see the studio and support our artists. The artists at Akin Davisville worked hard to pull this event together, giving art demonstrations, live portrait drawings, collage workshops, and displaying gorgeous artwork. A huge thank you to everyone who came by and special thanks to our talented artists and our fantastic volunteers. 

Here are some photos from the weekend. Enjoy!

 

Thank you to our volunteer @artful.sphere for many of the photos.

 

Photo Installation by Janne Reuss coming to Akin Vitrine Gallery for CONTACT Photography Festival

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Artist and Akin Yonge-St Clair member Janne Reuss and her installation Urban Sky. Photo taken at Remote Gallery.

 
 

‘Urban Sky’ by Janne Reuss,
in association with CONTACT Photography Festival 

Date: May 23 - 31, 2026, viewable from the street 24/7

Location: Akin Vitrine Gallery, 1747 St Clair Ave W 

We’re thrilled to welcome Akin Member Janne Reuss’ (@jannereuss) photo exhibition, ‘Urban Sky’, to the Akin Vitrine Gallery at the end of May. ‘Urban Sky’ is  a conceptual installation as part of CONTACT Photography Festival 2026. The venue was chosen intentionally, since the work addresses how urban spaces confine and limit our vital space in nature. The vitrine will be illuminated at night, so the work will be visible from the street 24/7 during exhibition time. 

In preparation for this exciting exhibition, we caught up with Janne to learn more about the installation and her artistic process.

Janne Reuss, Urban Sky, Install

Akin: “Tell us more about Urban Sky.” 

Janne Reuss: “Urban Sky is part of a larger body of work titled ‘Replanted’, in which I ask the question: What happens to a tree when it is transplanted from its original habitat? Using the tree as a metaphor, this series explores themes of displacement, identity, and belonging. Nature—and the remarkable resilience of plants that survive and adapt in harsh environments—serves as my primary source of inspiration.

This conceptual installation brings together two layered photographs. One is a monochromatic image of a concrete wall scattered with dried leaves; the other is a vibrant, colorful image of a green tree set against a blue sky with clouds. The juxtaposition of these opposing images creates a visual and conceptual dialogue between the artificial and the natural, life and death, absence and presence.

The acrylic structure evokes both a planter and modern architecture. It functions simultaneously as a container, a window, and a barrier. Rolled and confined within this structure, the photograph becomes a sculptural body—compressed, held, and shaped by its enclosure.

The resulting poetic tension reflects the ways urban environments fractures our relationship with nature: limiting access to green and private spaces, confining growth, and reducing our experience of the natural world to fragments—often no more than a reflection of the sky caught in a window.” 

 
Janne Reuss UrbanSky Akin studios Toronto

Janne Reuss, Urban Sky

 

Akin: “What are you curious about right now?” 

JR: “I'm curious to learn more and dive deeper into the world of plants, trees and roots. I'm also experimenting in creating more installations with new materials, so very curious about what I will find out in the process.”

 

Akin: “Do you have studio routines or rituals? What gets you in a creative mood?”

JR: “A typical ritual is to clean up or organize something before starting to work creatively; it is a way to create space and start from a sense of calm. I like to start my process slowly by creating a peaceful and focused mindset. Music helps me to get inward and connect to what I want to express.” 



Akin: “What inspires you? Why?”

JR: “The source of my inspiration is multilayered like my art process. But the most important ones are experiences and memories. Beside this internal source I find my material when I'm travelling or wandering through the city or nature with my camera. Poetry has been a companion for many years as well.”



Akin: “What does your Akin studio mean to you?”

JR: “My Akin Studio means so much! I have a quiet space to work concentrated, experiment, and invite colleagues, collectors and buyers to see my work. I have been renting studios with Akin since June 2019 and have found incredible meaningful support from the amazing Akin Team. It is wonderful to feel part of an art community that is respectful, welcoming, inclusive and likeminded.”



Akin: “What advice would you tell your younger self about creating art? What have you learned?” 

JR: “You will find your greatest power in being a creative soul. Don't ever let anyone or anything dim your light.”

Learn more about Janne Reuss’ work:

Contact Photography Festival, Urban Sky by Janne Reuss

@jannereuss

www.artjanne.com

 

Akin Vitrine Gallery, 1747 St Clair Ave W 

 

New Spring Exhibition by Golbahar Hassanbadi arrives at the Akin Vitrine Gallery

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golbahar Akin Art Studios Toronto

Iranian-Canadian artist and Akin member, Golbahar Hassanbadi’s new installation, “This Space Is Where I Stand” at the Akin Vitrine will change over time.

 

This spring, Akin Vitrine Gallery is excited to announce a new installation, This Space Is Where I Stand by Golbahar Hassanbadi. Running from April 1st until May 22nd, 2026, the installation is viewable 24/7 from the street at Akin St Clair, 1747 St Clair Ave West. Read on to find out more about the exhibition and the artist. 

Golbahar Hassanbadi is an Iranian-Canadian visual artist working across drawing, sculpting, installation, and material-based practices. She holds the BA in painting and drawing. Her work often uses materials to hold tension, fragility, constriction, and repetition, while embodying conceptual meaning. At the time of applying for this exhibition, she intended to present her most recent body of work, an ongoing series of interconnected rings, neck pieces, and chains, exploring repetition and complexity.

golbahar Akin Art Studios Toronto

Golbahar in her Akin Yonge-St Clair studio

However, following the events of this past January and the ongoing war and bombings in Iran, the meaning of that work has shifted for her. The relationship between life, memory, and art no longer feels stable.

Rather than presenting those works, she chooses to hold this space differently. The installation begins in near-emptiness, consisting only of the text that will evolve over time, with elements gradually added throughout the exhibition, emerging from her lived experience during these difficult days.

This gesture is an attempt to remain honest, to resist presenting something that no longer feels true. 

To those who pass by: this is where she stands.

“My Vitrine exhibition, This Space Is Where I Stand, explores presence, absence, and transformation. The installation begins almost empty, with only the text, and will evolve over time as I add elements inspired by my lived experience during these days. This minimal, white cubic space gives me the opportunity to align the installation with the unfolding process and the changes happening in the work as I engage with it.”

-Golbahar Hassanbadi 

golbahar Akin Art Studios Toronto

Golbahar’s Akin Yonge-St Clair studio


Akin: “What are you curious about right now?”

Golbahar Hassanbadi: “I have long used art to navigate concepts such as loss, suffering, and repetition. But lately, the weight of reality has shifted everything. I am now seeking to discover new significance in these concepts through the gravity of what I have experienced.”

 


Akin: “Do you have studio routines or rituals?”

GH: “My studio is a quiet and secure space that allows me to simply observe and 'be present.' It provides a setting where I can engage with my questions, thoughts and ideas, deciding whether to give them a physical form or to let them remain as they are.”

 

Golbahar’s work in progress

 

Akin: “What inspires you?”

GH: “I am inspired by my lived experiences and the many dimensions of life that I encounter. I seek out other people’s stories and the challenges they face in different stages of life, finding their reflection in the mirror of my own existence. This connection is what inspires my work”

 

Akin: “What does your Akin studio mean to you?”

GH: “My Akin studio is a space where I can slow down, experiment, and focus deeply on my work. As an immigrant woman and artist, it has given me the opportunity to reclaim my own space in Canada alongside like-minded people who value art and critical thinking. Being surrounded by other artists creates a sense of community and exchange that fuels my practice. I was drawn to Akin because of its supportive environment and its commitment to providing accessible studio spaces; the diversity and the culture of respect within this community are deeply valuable to me. The security and peace I find here are qualities I am consistently grateful for.”

 

Akin: “What advice would you tell your younger self about creating art? What have you learned?”

GH: “Advice? Honestly, I don’t see myself as someone to give advice, but I’d like to say sincerely: don’t give up. In today's world, simply choosing the path of art to think and express your thoughts is a heroic act. Keep going, and be patient with yourself and your process.”

Find more of Golbahar’s work on her instagram @goliha

Akin Member Referral Program

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We are happy to announce that we have expanded the Akin Member Referral Program! Now both the Akin member and the person they refer to Akin can earn up to $100 off their studio membership fees. 

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Akin 2025 Wrap Up

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Happy New Year From Akin! 

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Introducing: the Akin Davisville Kiln Share

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We’re thrilled to announce that a kiln is coming to Akin Davisville! The kiln is owned and operated by Akin Davisville’s own ceramic artist, Andrea Liao.

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Alysha Rocca at the Akin Vitrine Gallery

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Alysha Rocca’s exhibition, An Extension of Myself at the Akin Vitrine

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Join us at the Remote Gallery Winter Art Market & Exhibition!

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Just in time for the holiday season, we’re excited to invite you to the Remote Gallery Winter Art Market & Exhibition. Come support local artists and grab the perfect handmade gifts for your loved ones. Akin artists from across the city will be selling ceramics, paintings, jewellry, illustrations, crafts and more!

DATE: Sunday December 7, 2025

TIME: 1 - 6pm

LOCATION: Remote Gallery, 568 Richmond St W

Free to attend, everyone welcome!

Featuring 15 Artists and Makers:

Amos Marsters @aquariustheghost

Atelier Cassis @cassisechoes

Beyond Arts www.beyondarts.ca

Pauline Douady @pauline_douady

Eddie Chong

EvanK @evank_paints

I Spin Clay @ispinclay

ink & anchor studio @inkandanchor_

Studios Galuppo @StudiosGaluppo

Katryna Shreyer @katryna35mm

Tai’s Art @jayutai

Leila Refahi @leilarefahi.art

Studio Lü @studio.lu.yyz 

Jessica O’Lear @jessica_olear

Olivier Forgues @olivierforguesart

We can’t wait to see you there. Follow @akinprojects on Instagram for artist highlights and event updates!

Accessibility information: Remote Gallery is located at street level and has a step-free entrance, with step-free access throughout the gallery space and in both gender-neutral washrooms. The entrance doors are 37" wide and operated by a push button system.

The washroom doors are not automated and have round door knobs. Each washroom provides a 5' turning radius, and the toilets are not raised. For more details about accessibility at Remote Gallery click here.

Remote Gallery, 568 Richmond St W

 

Two of Toronto’s biggest craft shows are featuring Akin members this year! 

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December is a big month for craft lovers in Toronto! Two of Toronto’s biggest craft shows, City of Craft and the One of a Kind show, and will be happening, and Akin Members are taking part. To celebrate, we’re highlighting these four amazing artists. 

City of Craft 

City of Craft is one of the city’s most beloved holiday markets, with over 60 vendors from across Ontario and beyond.   

December 5-7th, Sensory sensitive hour 11am-12pm  

The Theatre Centre, 1115 Queen Street West

——— Check out the Akin Members Participating in The City of Craft ———

Amita Sen Gupta from Akin Niagara 

Amita will be selling prints and cards of “My Neighborhood Memento” series, which includes a variety of greeting cards and high quality prints of original oil painted Toronto neighbourhood building mementos that are architecturally cherished and imbue the lives, stories, and history of our city.

Amita Sen Gupta is a Toronto based artist behind ‘My Neighbourhood Memento’. Her oil paintings of old historic and neighbourhood buildings have been exhibited at Gallery 1313, Preservation House, and local fairs & markets. To Amita these architectural buildings have lives, stories and history that are revered. “In our ever changing city one never knows when a place becomes another, vacant, or removed”. Her drawing and painting of a historic house in Parkdale, Toronto, titled “Yuletide In Muddy York” was awarded and selected by ‘Parkdale Liberty Economic Development Centre’ for a Toronto Holiday Ornament in 2007 and her painting is part of their collection. Some of her neighbourhood prints can be purchased at Soho Art Framing in Toronto.

Connect with Amita:
@my_neighborhood_memento
amitasengupta.com/neighborhood-series

Detail of Skyline Restaurant painting, Amita sitting in her Akin Niagara studio and detail of Revue Cinema painting.

Prints, detail of The Abbott painting and Cards from “My Neighbourhood Memento”.

Bettina Westwood Ceramics, from Akin Dupont 

Bettina Westwood creates both wheel thrown domestic items and sculpture from her Akin Dupont studio. Inspired by the meeting of form and colour, she makes carefully considered objects meant to bring happiness. Bettina will be bringing a selection of mugs with two-tone slip colours—some adorned with flowers—as well as tumblers with wool sleeves, vases, pedestal bowls, and smaller gifts such as bud vases and ornaments. A self-taught ceramicist, Bettina has developed and continues to refine her craft with the support and encouragement of the ceramics community. She shares her home with her two perfect cats, Loralie and Flannery.

Connect with Bettina:
@bettinawestwood
bettinawestwood.com

Photo of Bettina at Akin Dupont, Tumblers with Wool Sleeves and Bettina’s Akin Dupont Studio.

Flowers painted with slip, Pedestal Bowls and Two-toned Mugs.

One of A Kind Show 

The One of A Kind Show is Canada’s largest Craft Show. The One of A Kind Christmas Show includes a wide variety of Canadian made high quality items, from Fashion, Art, Flavours, and Toys, to Jewellery, Home Decor, Stationery and so much more. 

November 27-Dec 7th 

Enercare Centre, Exhibition Place 

100 Princes' Blvd, Toronto

——— Check out the Akin Members Participating in One of a Kind ———

Alison Cooley, from Akin St Clair

Booth B-28 - (Full Show) November 27-Dec 7

imp in a sweater is Alison Cooley. She specializes in ceramics that harness her interest in illustration and surface decoration, resulting in unique objects that play with imagery from multiple modes of genre storytelling (including science fiction, horror, and fantasy).

Connect with Alison:
@impinasweater
impinasweater.com

A portrait of Allison (by Sam Mazilli), space themed Mug and her Akin St Clair Studio.

Bud vases, a unicorn Plate and Vases with detailed handles and all coming to One of a Kind.

MP Guillot, from Akin Dupont 

Booth S-45 - (6 Days) Dec 2-7

MP Guillot is a multidisciplinary artist from Québec, based in Toronto. Her work is influenced by what is often overlooked－an entire world of delightfulness that is right under our nose, waiting to be noticed. She finds herself exhilarated by the trashy things beautifully thrown on the streets and everything that finds itself where it shouldn’t be. She is drawn to what lies on the edges of ugly and pretty, that which ignites a feeling of uncertainty where one can only rely on their senses and intuition to decide if something is beautiful. MP believes the best way to find the essence of who we are is to practice discovering what vibrates within us, without social conditioning influencing our preferences.

Ceramics has become MP’s playground to be in relationship with her creative intuition.

She loves to dream up otherworldly forms, bake colour, and explore the secret language of objects. Her work lives in the space between knowing and letting go—where intuition meets experimentation. With a background that weaves through design, fashion, and photography, she brings a sense of childlike playfulness to everything she makes.

Connect with MP:
@mp__guillot
www.mpguillot.com

Portrait of MP beside one of her “Wonky Vases”, a Wonky Vase in “Twist” and MP’s Akin Dupont Studio.

A variety of MP’s painterly Cups and Mugs coming to One of a Kind.

The holiday season is a time to celebrate all the fantastic local artists and artisans in Toronto, so spread the love by shopping local! Happy shopping!

Thank you for attending the Akin Autumn Gallery Crawl!

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Thank you to everyone who joined us for our Akin Autumn Gallery Crawl this past weekend! It was such a beautiful day to explore art in Toronto together. We’re very grateful to everyone who joined us and to the galleries for opening their doors and sharing their spaces with the Akin community. The exhibitions were absolutely beautiful and each gallery tour was packed with inspiring detail.

A huge thank you to Patel Brown (@patelbrowngallery), Gallery TPW (@gallerytpw), Gallery 1888 (@gallery1888_), Towards Gallery (@towards.info), and Blouin Division (@blouindivision).

We’re looking forward to hosting more gallery crawls like this in the future - stay tuned! In the meantime here are some photos from the day, enjoy!

Image Descriptions: Images show a series of moments from the Akin Gallery Crawl, featuring groups of people walking in a long row down the street, gathering outside of the galleries, exploring inside the galleries, viewing artwork, and enjoying the day together.