If I Were You, no. 2
Shows to check out in your city.
From east to west:
Dress Parade
Group Show: many artists
pangée [link]
24 May - 5 July, 2025 *closing tomorrow*
It’s summer and that means group shows. Amongst the many pieces I would like to see in this one are the ghostly, monochromatic paintings of Cristine Brache and the cute, campy tile works of Em Kettner. The show explores the thin line between performance and observation while miraculously not being about social media.
Entre les craques du trottoir (Between the Cracks in the Sidewalk)
Group Show: Laura Findlay, Laura Hudspith, Laurel Rennie
McBride Contemporain [link]
12 June - 19 July, 2025
I would like to get a closer look at Laura Hudspith’s installation, en- / un- / -en, and I would like to lay my eyes upon Gloam by Laurel Rennie.
Laura Hudspith also has a solo show on at Zalucky Contemporary that I will drop by soon if any Toronto folks wants to join.
Jeux d’Été
Ensemble [link]
Parquette (1345 rue de Bellechasse)
3 July - 8 July, 2025
I don’t know much about this other than it being a showcase of art & objects from a long list of intriguing makers and the pieces seem funky from Instagram.
Some exceeding twelve minutes
Jean-François Lauda [link]
Daniel Faria Gallery [link]
19 June - 26 July, 2025
I simply love Lauda’s work, which I first saw at his solo exhibition at Eli Kerr. This one probably needs its own write-up. All I will say is that the last time I was this transfixed by abstract work was in the presence of a big Rothko or Frankenthaler (!!!).
Common Thread
Devon Pryce [link]
Galerie Nicolas Robert [link]
12 June - 19 July, 2025 *artist talk next Saturday, July 12th*
I wrote about Devon Pryce a couple months ago. These new works are amongst his largest and boldest yet. Love how the light was falling upon the piece above during my visit.
Memory Problems
Erica Eyres [link]
Norberg Hall [link]
3 July - 23 August, 2025 *artist talk this Saturday, July 5th*
I referenced Eyres’ work in this letter, alongside a few other artists with sculptural practices that explore the sentiments tied to everyday objects. The Deflated Balloons series is so fun. Her artist talk is tomorrow! This would be a good one to attend. Talks are low pressure and you gain a much deeper appreciation for the work.
Excavations
Cassie Suche [link]
Paul Kuhn Gallery [link]
14 June - 30 August, 2025
I visited Cassie’s studio in December 2024 as she was developing the work for this show. The pieces on display today are a totally different direction than what I saw then. Somewhere along these 6 months she took a sharp pivot, and the ensuing turbulence resulted in my favourite paintings of hers to date. The matted surface textures, which are hard to clock by image, really ease you in to the flurry of movement.
An Archive of Gestures
Jennifer Carvalho [link]
CICA Vancouver [link]
27 June - 10 August, 2025
A must visit! The depth of research behind each piece is impressive. These masterful, elusive paintings are full of visual intrigue. They feel at once otherworldly and familiar. Bring your boyfriend who is bored by art but loves history, he will nerd out on the descriptions.
Star Witnesses
Group Show: many artists
Polygon Gallery [link]
27 June - 28 September, 2025
Not all of the pieces were a slam dunk for me but this show is ambitious, bringing together major works from across the globe which explore the last thing we ostensibly have in common in 2025: a place beneath the cosmos. Some of my favourites include Thomas Ruff’s 2 hour-long exposure shots of deep space and Paul Wong’s 21 Full Moon Drawings.
That’s all for today!
