art shows toronto fall

The top 10 art shows in Toronto for fall 2015

Fall art shows in Toronto are big affairs. From the massive Art Toronto at the Convention Centre to the all-night art party Nuit Blanche, it's easy for city-dwellers to get their fill of large-scale contemporary exhibitions. But there are also plenty of smaller shows happening in galleries throughout the city if you need some downtime between each massive spectacle.

Here are the top 10 art shows happening this fall in Toronto.

Home Ground (July 25, 2015 - January 3, 2016, Aga Khan Museum)
While Home Ground opened this summer, fall would be an ideal time to check out this new(ish) gallery now that the Aga Khan park is finally here. Take in the powerful pieces from the Barjeel Art Foundation and later, enjoy an autumnal stroll through the expansive outdoor public space.

Sigillum (September 17 - October 10, Nicholas Metevier Gallery)
For Toronto-based artist Stephen Appleby-Barr's third solo exhibition at Metevier, he examines classical works at some of the world's most renowned galleries and museums. Stop by the show and explore how his original oil paintings subvert these traditional masterpieces.

past present FUTURE (September 18 - October 10, Erin Stump Projects)
Erin Stump Projects is part of the collection of galleries that have recently moved to Dupont Street. As the inaugural show in ESP's Dupont space, FUTURE is also the first exhibition in a three-part series co-curated by Kristin Weckworth and Erin Stump. Check out the new gallery and explore work by Maggie Groat, Fastwurms, Susy Oliveira, Katie Bethune-Leamen, Annie MacDonell and Cameron Lee.

Anne Collier (September 23, 2015 - January 10, 2016, AGO)
As part of the AGO's Year of Photography, the gallery is presenting American photographer Anne Collier's first major solo exhibition. The AGO will feature around 40 pieces of Collier's work -- which often looks at themes of voyeurism and plays with gender roles -- including some from her Woman with a Camera series.

Clandestine Chemistry (September 25 - October 17, Neubacher Shor Contemporary)
Neubacher Shor also moved northward from Queen West to Emerson Avenue. Clandestine Chemistry will serves as the grand opening for its new space and this group exhibition will feature work by Brad Tinmouth, Tough Guy Mountain, Dean Drever and Consortium of Thieves.

Nuit Blanche (October 3)
Love it or hate it, Nuit Blanche is celebrating its 10th birthday this year. While it seems like the all-night art event can't get any bigger, the upcoming celebration will feature a slew of international and local exhibitions, including JR's Inside Out project.

Abbas Akhavan: variations on a garden (September 12 - October 31, Mercer Union)
Iranian Canadian artist Abbas Akhavan is currently short-listed for the 2015 $100,000 Sobey Art Award. This solo exhibition features his sculptural installation Study for a Monument as well as Ghost, a video piece.

Feature Art Fair (October 22-25, Joey and Toby Tanenbaum Opera Centre)
This contemporary art fair is much smaller than the sprawling Art Toronto, which happens during the same weekend. With 30 galleries participating, you can expect to see representation from numerous Toronto spots including Clint Roenisch, Erin Stump Projects, Katzman Contemporary and the Stephen Bulger Gallery.

Art Toronto (October 23-26, Metro Toronto Convention Centre)
Art Toronto takes over the Metro Toronto Convention Centre for one weekend per year to present modern and contemporary art from around the world. For the 2015 edition, it's spotlighting Latin America with a curated section of galleries and projects from Mexico as well as South and Central America.

Andy Warhol: Stars of the Silver Screen (October 30, 2015 - January 24, 2016, TIFF Bell Lightbox)
As the second major Andy Warhol exhibition to roll through Toronto this year, this one will highlight Warhol's fixation on Hollywood and celebrity culture. It'll feature multi-disciplinary work including the pop artist's paintings, prints, photographs and of course, his films.

What did I miss? Add your most-anticipated shows in the comments.

Photo from the Feature Art Fair.


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