Style Highlights From The Opening Night Of Art Toronto 2024
Now that another Art Toronto has wrapped, it’s time to reflect on the event, the work we saw, and the ideas that permeated the show floor. I not only discovered Canadian artists Daniel Barrow and Grace Kalyta, but a new-name-to-me in fashion.
Me and Gio Swaby showing off our green booted ensembles at Art Toronto.
Bahamian Toronto-based artist Gio Swaby – whose magnetizing fabric works were found in two spots in the fair at Claire Oliver’s booth as well as in the Focus Exhibition – looked so amazing on opening day, and I had to know what she was wearing. “Bruce Glen”, she told me; and I immediately followed the brand after looking it up. Caroline Wanga, wonder woman president and CEO of Essence Ventures, is a fan of the label and I foresee anyone who loves hyper-colourful clothing being drawn to Bruce Glen, too.
Me and Renée Condo before our panel discussion. Photography courtesy of Ryan Emberley.
Another chic artist I got to spend some time with over the weekend is Renée Condo. We were part of a panel put on by TD, and she divulged to me that the lovely dress she was wearing was by the Spanish company Desigual. We made quite a splashy pair, as I was wearing a hat I purchased at Jenny Holzer’s recent Guggenheim show, a Comme Des Garçons opera coat, vintage Escada shirt, trousers from COS, earrings by Indi City, and Balenciaga boots.
Of course, the Opening Night party was abundant with lewks as well – and below you’ll see more style highlights from Art Toronto 2024 that I hope will inspire your holiday dressing.
Journalist and activist Hillary LeBlanc made the case for florals for fall. Groundbreaking. Artwork behind is by Kelly Jazvac.
Dapper multi-hyphenate Saint Harris’ coat and crocheted vest combo was gorgeous. Artwork behind is by Clovis-Alexandre Desvarieux.
Ronald Cummings, professor of Black and Diaspora Studies at McMaster University, said more is more and then more still with a double-metallic moment! Artwork behind is by Braxton Garneau.
Fashion stylist Bismark Adomako took a sleek look to the next level by toying with textures. Artwork behind is by Kathryn Macnaughton.
Rhéanne Chartrand, curator of the fair’s Focus Exhibition, and Armando Perla, head curator at the Textile Museum of Canada, were beautifully colour-coordinated yet in entirely unique outfits. Shout-out to my pal, Jason Baerg of Ayimach Horizons, for designing Armando’s ensemble!
Angela Bains, co-founder and strategic director of the design firm TransformExp, flaunted a few key pieces while keeping it minimalist-coded with a classic white shirt and black trousers.
Artist Eddy Firmin shone in a fiery jacket and flamboyant shirt worn with denim.
Photography courtesy of Ryan Emberley.
