Many of Toronto's top summer art shows are tied to the various festivals and special events that take over our city from June to September. Outside of the Panamania, there's Pride Toronto, Luminato and outdoor art fairs aplenty. Don't forget the galleries, which allow you to immerse yourself in art while escaping the city's oppressive heat.

Here are my picks for the top summer art shows in Toronto.

VSVSVS: Not together, but alongside (May 29 - July 25, Mercer Union)
In their largest show to date, Toronto-based arts collective VSVSVS transforms Mercer Union's front gallery. These seven artists are known for pushing boundaries with their audiences; Not together, but alongside is no different. Visitors can interact with the exhibition as they move through and manipulate the space.

Iris Häussler: Ask the Frog (June 11 - July 25, Daniel Faria Gallery)
Iris Häussler's new wax sculptures invite visitors to ponder over life's many questions. This is the German-born, but Toronto-based artist's second solo exhibition at the Bloordale gallery.

Glenn Lewis with Window by Derya Akay (June 11-July 11, Kunstverein 1161 Dundas St. West)
Glenn Lewis revives the New York Corres Sponge Dance School of Vancouver--a correspondence art project from the 1970s--for a one-time synchronized swimming show, in conjunction with the Justina Barnicke Gallery and the University of Toronto Art Centre. It's all part of a month-long exhibition with Vancouver-based artist Derya Akay.

Luminato (June 19 - 28)
For ten days, Luminato descends on the city bringing with it a smorgasbord of local and international creative talent. Head to Trinity Bellwoods to see Geoffrey Farmer's public video installation or if you're into performance art, check out Christine Fellow's and Shary Boyle's 7 Monologues: Spell to Bring Lost Creatures Home.

Nuit Rose (June 20)
After its inaugural run during World Pride last year, this late night arts and cultural festival returns to span across two designated zones: Church-Wellesley Village and West Queen West. Both areas will feature a variety of visual and performance art installations exploring LGBTTIQQ2SA themes as part of Pride Toronto.

(art)work(sport)work(sex) (June 20 - September 7, Power Plant)
Power Plant kicks off its summer programming with a free party on June 19 and this show--by Swedish group YES! Association/Föreningen JA!--looks at the relationship between art, multi-sports events and the sex trade in Toronto. It includes a weekly bus ride, which will explore the show's themes within the city itself.

Dean Baldwin: QWYC (June 26 - August 23, MOCCA)
For the final exhibition at its current location, Dean Baldwin is turning MOCCA into the Queen West Yacht Club. Remember: this is your last chance to cruise by before MOCCA's replaced by a condo.

Canadian Modernism (June 26 - September 12, Stephen Bulger Gallery)
This group exhibition features the work of early and mid-twentieth century Canadian photographers including John Vanderpant, Harry Waddle and Rex Frost, and offers visitors the opportunity to explore how these artists experimented with their medium.

Andy Warhol: Revisited (July 1 - December 31, 77 Bloor St. West)
Toronto expat Ron Rivlin amassed over 120 Warhol originals as the owner of Revolver Gallery in LA. Now, he's bringing his collection home. Billed as Canada's largest Warhol exhibition ever, this massive array of pop art is sure to delight visitors with its iconic images of Campbell's Soup Cans and Marilyn Monroe.

Camera Atomica (July 8- November 15, AGO)
Seventy years after Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the AGO is debuting a photography exhibition exploring all facets of the atomic age from 1945 to the present day.

What did I miss? Add your most anticipated summer art shows in the comments?

Photo of the Andy Warhol exhibit at the Bellagio