Happy New Year from Akin! 

What an incredible year it’s been! 2025 was a year of stability and measured growth for Akin, and now we are proud to say we have almost 403 members working across our 8 locations (soon to be 9)! We’re very grateful to have made it out on the other side of the pandemic, through which Toronto lost so many essential arts organizations. In 2025, instead of opening or having to close any studios, we focused on the quality of our members’ experiences, building community, creating artist opportunities, and strengthening our organization. This year, (through surveys and lots of conversations) we found that artists were looking for community and connection more than ever. We answered your call, and you showed up! We went back to our roots, revamping core programming with events such as the Monthly Crit Nights, gallery crawls, and art markets, all of which were a huge success. Thanks so much for being part of an incredible year with Akin. We’ve got an exciting year planned for 2026, but before we look forward, let’s take a look back at the amazing year we just had:

Remote Gallery Expansion

This year, Remote Gallery expanded from 400 sqft of gallery space, to 850 sqft! This expansion was a team effort and a labour of love! Now, with a sliding door separating the two rooms of the gallery, we’re able to offer rental for 400 sqft, 450 sqft, or 850 sqft of cohesive gallery space. We’re very proud to have hosted so many incredible exhibitions and events  at the gallery this year! We’re constantly blown away by the beautiful art and thoughtful creativity that emerges from the artists in this city.

Image 1: KC Visser (@kc_visser_art) exhibition in the newly expanded Remote Gallery B.
Image 2: Station Independent (@station_independent) group exhibition in Remote’s original space, now Remote Gallery A.

Akin Gallery Crawl 

Before the pandemic, the Akin Gallery Crawl was a regular program offered by Akin. This year, we brought it back, and it was a hit! We gathered as a group of 60 art-loving participants in Bloordale for a walking tour of 5 galleries in the neighbourhood. The tour was led by Remote Gallery’s Manager and artist, Renato Baldin, and supported by Akin Studio Manager and artist, Theresa Hopkins and the group visited Patel Brown Gallery, Gallery 1888, Gallery TPW, Towards Gallery, and Blouin Division Gallery. Thanks to all who joined us, and stay tuned for more Gallery Crawls in 2026! 

Image 1: Participants walking to the galleries.
Image 2: The Akin Gallery Crawl at Patel Brown Gallery (@patelbrowngallery)
Image 3: The Akin Gallery Crawl at Gallery TPW (@gallerytpw)

Open Studio Events

In 2025, two of our studios opened their doors to host Open Studio events. We’re happy to report that both events saw record-breaking turnout! The artists and volunteers at both locations did an incredible job welcoming the public into our studios. We’re so grateful for our fantastic community!

In May, as part of Doors Open Toronto, Akin Davisville hosted a bustling Open Studio Event. Our members displayed and sold their work from their studios, and our hard-working volunteers helped guests navigate the space. This was one of our most active open studio events, where we welcomed over 350 guests.

In September, Akin Richmond-Bathurst hosted an Open Studio Event as part of Ontario Culture Days. The space was alive with member-led activations, including on-the-spot portraiture, painting demonstrations, and a participatory mural creation.

Summer and Winter
Art Markets

With the expansion of Remote Gallery, we now have the space for Art Markets! This year, Akin hosted two successful art markets for members to display and sell their work. Our studio members showed that this kind of event is in high demand, with wall and table space filling up in under 48 hours! The markets were filled with paintings, illustrations, zines, ceramics, textiles, beadwork, sculpture, and more. A huge thank you to all who took part in making the summer and winter events such a success. We look forward to hosting more markets in 2026!

Image 1: Akin Summer Market visitors in Gallery B.
Image 2: Akin members Veronica Gi (@by.veronicagi) and Claire Correia (@claire.correia)
Image 3: Akin Winter Market visitors in Gallery A.

Akin Career Launcher Recipients 

Since 2019, Akin has collaborated with OCADU to provide an award to two graduating students from the Drawing & Painting, Integrated Media, Indigenous Visual Studies, Cross-Disciplinary Art: Life Studies, and Sculpture & Installation programs at OCAD University. The Career Launcher provides the winners with $2,000 towards studio space at Akin’s studios along with $450 credit toward a rental at Remote Gallery. This year, our talented winners were Haley Meyer and Firouzeh Saremi Far. Congratulations on your beautiful shows at Remote Gallery! We are excited to welcome 2 new recipients in 2026! Applications are open now for graduating students. The deadline to apply is January 11. Full eligibility criteria and application details can be found here. 

Image 1: Hayley Meyer (@haleymeyerart)
Image 2: Firouzeh Saremi Far (@firouzeh_saremifar)

Akin Vitrine Gallery

This year, we had 7 fantastic exhibitions at Akin’s Vitrine Gallery. Each artist transformed the street facing vitrine into their own unique world. The Vitrine Gallery is visible from the street at Akin St Clair, 1747 St Clair Ave West. A huge thanks to participating artists this year:
Theresa Hopkins (@thopkinsart),
Charlotte Van Ryn (@van_ryn),
Liliana Botero (@destellosglassart),
Claire Correia (@claire.correia),
Sophia Kim W (@Sophia Kim W),
Leila Refahi (@leilarefahi.art) and
Alysha Rocca (@oushies)

Thank you to our wonderful community for helping us make 2025 such a fantastic year. We look forward to growing and thriving for years to come as we continue to serve the artist community in Toronto with artist-run space to create, and opportunities for artists at every stage of their careers.

Image 1: Sophia Kim W (@Sophia Kim W) standing behind the Akin Vitrine.
Image 2: A close-up detail from Charlotte Van Ryn’s (@van_ryn) installation.
Image 3: Leila Refahi (@leilarefahi.art) installing her work.

We’ll be heading into 2026 working hard on readying our newest studio location, Akin Sterling, which we’re aiming to open in early 2026. Stay tuned for announcements and further information. 

Love,
Akin