5 places to get original art from (mostly) Toronto artists in time for the holidays – Toronto Star

This year I bought myself an early Christmas present. Fans of Jon Klassen’s subversively delightful kids’ book “I Want My Hat Back” will recognize the shifty-eyed bear that now hangs above my desk, his rotund belly in the air, overseeing all my Zoom meetings.

The award-winning Canadian illustrator, who now lives in Los Angeles, is collaborating on a heartwarming project called Home Home (homehomeca.com), bringing his menagerie of characters to life as hangable felt pennants sewn in Ontario by his mom, Karen.

I discovered my new fuzzy friend on Instagram, where I also purchased two otherworldly prints from U.S.-based artist Angela Deane, best known for painting ghosts on top on vintage Polaroids, including on the album cover for Phoebe Bridgers’ stunning debut album, “Stranger in the Alps.” It may be a while before I can travel to the Guggenheim Museum in New York again, or crash into strangers’ bumper cars at a summer fair, but at least I can live vicariously through Deane’s old-school ghosts enjoying the experiences.

As an online marketplace, I love how Instagram connects artists directly to buyers, regardless of geography. My own scrolling wanders have led me to the prettiest beaded earrings from Northern Canada and a collected book of paintings featuring synchronized swimmers. But as fun as these discoveries can be, algorithms can’t take the place of the in-person gallery experience and buying local art.

Philip Anderson, director at Gallery 1313 on Queen West, is well aware of how tough COVID-19 has been on local artists, in particular those in the early stages of their careers. The artist-run centre, which represents more than 60 members, just wrapped up its annual sale, “The End,” featuring works by 25 artists all priced between $75 and $500.

When curating the show, Anderson looked for a wide range of works that would appeal to a variety of buyers, “hoping to get people to start their own art collections to complement their home interiors,” or as investment pieces. One corporate client dropped by with a clever plan: they purchased nine works to raffle off to employees at a holiday event.

Anderson observed that the gallery’s artists have become inventive with how they market their pieces, making it easier than ever to buy their works. Some have made less expensive reproductions of originals, while others are offering instalment payment plans or the ability for people to take artworks home to see how they fit, or even to use as rentals. Anderson himself didn’t leave empty-handed: the last purchase of the sale was by his wife, who bought him Lillian Chow’s electric portrait of the R&B artist The Weeknd.

If you missed the end of “The End,” Chow will also have work in 1313’s “Winter Emerging Artist Exhibition,” which runs from Jan. 5 to 22. You can still buy directly from other 1313 artists — start by checking out their portfolios on the website g1313.org, and then make a date for some more holiday gallery-hopping.

The Museum of Contemporary Art has a fun sale that bridges online transactions with local handmade goods. Running until Jan. 30, the self-serve “honestshop21” offers visitors to the gallery an opportunity to buy works using credit or debit via a Square system. The “honest” part of the show is that there is no attendant: it’s up to you to pay and record your purchase. Kind of like a self-serve grocery store line, but without the guilt.

James Hewitt, director of the Run Gallery on Annette Street, is experimenting this holiday, transforming the young west end gallery into an art and gift shop featuring multiples, editions and earthenware. As a curator, Hewitt has a sharp eye for talent, with “The Maker Market: Go Ahead, Shoot!” featuring an eclectic roster of more than 15 artists, designers and makers, including Raoul Olou, Doug Brown and Elicser Elliott. The pilot runs from Dec. 20 through January, with hopes of building audiences and a sense of community.

Many of the makers, Hewitt says, are already creating small multiples and editioned works that they sell online, as well as at various fairs and markets. It’s a necessity for many of these artists to support their practices, in particular during COVID times. Olou, for instance, has created a small run of four gorgeous still-life oil studies on Masonite that will run at $300, and Brown’s editioned prints on paper and wood panels will be available for between $60 and $200. Fans of Elliott’s painted work will also want to grab his sculptures and books, which are priced between $25 and $150.

“The scale slides from very reasonable to reasonable,” says Hewitt. “There is a very exciting and motley crew of talented artists and makers from diverse creative perspectives. Let’s make deals and friends.”

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