Alysha Rocca at the Akin Vitrine Gallery
Alysha Rocca’s exhibition, An Extension of Myself at the Akin Vitrine Gallery
After a year of incredible back-to-back exhibitions, the Akin Vitrine Gallery is proud to wrap up 2025 with a stunning new installation by Alysha Rocca, Akin St Clair’s very own artist.
Located at 1747 St Clair Ave W, the Akin Vitrine Gallery is viewable from the street 24/7. Alysha Rocca’s exhibition, An Extension of Myself, is on now until the end of January 2026.
Alysha Rocca's work “An Extension of Myself” explores feminism, community, and environmental consciousness as main points in her artistic practice. An emerging artist with a BFA from OCAD University, Alysha is working with the theme of sustainability and it has challenged the way she approaches creation, crafting a narrative of resilience and empowerment through recycled materials. By repurposing discarded materials, she challenges the notion of disposability that pervades our consumer culture, advocating for a more mindful approach to consumption and waste. As she continues to work within a sustainable mindset, she hopes to evoke others to consider the ways they can live sustainably.
Akin: Can you tell us about your work and the installation?
Alysha Rocca: “My artistic practice began as painting and blended with textiles as I investigated my personal identity and the themes of community, feminism, sustainability, desire, and consumption. The textile industry, historically a site of women’s labor, is central to my practice. Fabrics have a tendency to be fluid and malleable, constantly changing and adjusting. As I adopt this mentality, my practice constantly shifts in the materials that I use. Recently, my art practice has had a focus on desire and erotica, pushing me to consider the history of women’s bodily autonomy. I’m currently learning ceramics, working in collage, and writing poetry and making zines.
My Vitrine Exhibition is a collection of my most beloved work. I often find it difficult to sell my work because I love it so much and feel an emotional attachment to the pieces I create. My work often explores themes of feminism, sustainability, community and most recently, desire. This Vitrine Exhibition is especially important to me because of the accessibility it provides people to enjoy art. Being a window space on the street, it provides a surprise moment for passersbys, commuters, neighbours to see art for their community members and hopefully get inspired by the work.”
Akin: What are you curious about right now?
AR: “I am curious about desire, eroticism, and living my theory in practice.”
Akin: Do you have studio routines or rituals? What gets you in a creative mood?
AR: “Whenever I'm feeling stuck in my practice, I like to make collages. They are easy and fun and provide ways to express and explore without the pressure of making something of quality or presciousness.”
Akin: What inspires you? Why?
AR: “Community inspires me. Listening, reading and making collectively, increases my quality of life and I think we have a lot to learn from the close relationships we make.”
Akin: What does your Akin studio mean to you? What brought you to Akin?
AR: “My Akin studio has been a pivotal point in my artistic journey. I decided that I needed to be around other artists and make deeper connections with the artists in my community. Akin has been a place where I continue to find my voice as an artist.”
Akin: What advise would you tell your younger self about creating art? What have you learned?
AR: “Explore! It's okay to practice in many mediums, you don't have to be defined by one material or style.”
Learn more about Alysha Rocca’s work on here:
Akin Vitrine / Akin St Clair: 1747 St Clair Ave W