A Group Art Show

Northern Contemporary Gallery, Aug 15-20th, 2024


Show Statement

Through a collection from 22 artists, “Bliss” invites you ​to celebrate life's simple pleasures. In a world often ​consumed by the grand and extraordinary, these works ​shine a light on the small, seemingly insignificant ​moments that have the power to bring us a glimpse of ​pure joy.


Each work is a visual representation of the pleasurable ​experiences and precious moments that can be found ​within the ordinary. This collection encourages us to ​shift our perspective and seek out the simple joys that ​exist around us, to find the beauty in the everyday and ​to find solace in the little things.


Click on an artist’s name to read their artist statement/bio.

ALEX BAUMAN

Portfolio: www.alex-bauman.com

Instagram: @albbaum

Artist Bio

Alex Bauman is an American/Canadian artist living in Toronto, ON. They work in both digital and ​traditional mediums, often depicting themes of nature and home. Playful colours, textures, and ​humorous characters bring about a sense of fun and whimsy in Alex’s work.

Artist Statement

For me, ‘Bliss’ is about reveling in the small joys of everyday life — hugging a loved one, that ​first cup of tea in the morning, a cat sleeping in a sunbeam. I also wanted to capture the joy in ​the physical act of creating art, and a childlike expressiveness reminiscent of when we could ​just draw without an inner critic or fear of whether other people would like what we create.

ATHENA LEUNG

Instagram: @athen810a

Artist Bio

Toronto Canada based illustrator Athena Leung, her drawing inspiration ​from the antic of her pets and delicious cookery around the world. She ​combines these passions to create charming and whimsical illustrations ​that also invites viewers into a world of colour and imaginations . She mainly ​works with traditional mediums to play around with texture and colours.

During free time you will find Athena sipping tea, playing around with her ​pet and exploring new cafe.


BROOKLIN STORMIE

Artist Bio

Brooklin Stormie is an artist and freelance Illustrator ​living and working in Peterborough Ontario. She is a grad ​of OCADU, a pisces, and a believer in dragons.


Artist Statement

The theme of bliss made me want to wrap my mind in ​symbols and shapes that bring me equilibrium and peace. ​Birds and plants give me this feeling and so I tried to ​explore these shapes with curiosity and self compassion.



CAMILLA KALIBEK

Artist Bio

Camilla Kalibek is an illustrator and painter based in Toronto. Camilla's artistic journey ​started in Almaty, Kazakhstan, and continued in Toronto where she attended ​esteemed institutions such as Claude Watson and OCAD University.


Camilla's work spans a range of media, from figurative acrylic paintings to intricate ink ​and charcoal illustrations, evolving into a sophisticated multimedia practice. During ​her studies, she discovered a deep interest in video games and music, which ​progressed into a focus on concept art, digital painting, and video game design.


Beyond her artistic pursuits, Camilla is deeply interested in psychology, mental health, ​and community building, making her a compassionate and insightful collaborator.





EMILY ELISE

Artist Bio

Emily Elise is an illustrator, visual artist and emerging muralist working in downtown Toronto.


Emily’s inspiration can be found in books on herbalism, eco-feminism, mysticism and surrealist ​art. Each painting is intentionally imbued with deeper meaning through iconography and ​symbology, with a maximalist approach that fills every corner of the canvas.




HAN FRANDSEN

Artist Bio

Han Frandsen is an illustrator, textile artist, tattoo artist, ​and arts facilitator in Toronto ON.




Artist Statement

When the city folk find this

freak of nature they will they will stuff his body

in a shoebox and carry him to the museum.


But tonight he is resting upon the roof of a tall building

in humble solitude. It is a perfect summer evening:

the moon is rising over the skyline, the wind in the trees. And

as he stares into the distance, there are

twice as many streetlights as usual.



HAYLEY MACKENZIE

Artist Bio

Hayley Mackenzie (Mooneyesart) is a visual artist ​specializing in whimsical paintings filled with vibrant ​colors and ethereal themes. With a passion for infusing ​art with whimsy and delight, she invites viewers to ​explore the magic of her creations and discover the joy ​of embracing imagination.





Artist Statement

What is 'bliss'? For a cat, it's found in simple moments – ​enjoying a warm summer’s day, lounging in the garden, or ​curling up in a fresh pile of laundry. Through my work, I ​invite viewers to explore what bliss means to them – and ​perhaps discover it mirrors that of a cat!

HYUNSUN PARK

Artist Bio

Hyunsun Park is a Toronto-based illustrator specializing in gouache paint. Her ​art delves into themes of anti-capitalism, feminism, and the empowerment of ​marginalized communities, reflecting her identity as a BIPOC and queer artist. ​Hyunsun's work balances humor and serene aesthetics, creating inclusive ​visual narratives that foster empathy and spark meaningful discussions. A ​recent graduate of OCAD University, she continues to push artistic ​boundaries, blending traditional and contemporary techniques. Through her ​evocative storytelling, Hyunsun invites viewers to explore the complexities of ​life and reflect on shared human experiences.

JEANINE CHATON

Artist Bio

Jeanine Chaton, a French queer artist based in Tiohtià:ke/Montréal, creates ​contemporary tapestries as a reaction to a sometimes ruthless society. Her ​creations, often perceived as childish, are a means of pleading for the ​expression of cuteness and joy. The message is clear: it's legitimate to create ​a warm, colourful world to draw comfort from.


She draws her inspiration from a multitude of sources, ranging from vintage ​illustrated books to Japanese kawaii mascots and pop decorative objects ​from the 60s and 70s. Concerned about the environment, she is actively ​committed to an eco-responsible approach, using second-hand materials for ​her creations as much as possible. What really characterises Jeanine's art are ​her embossed textile works, which play skilfully with materials and textures. ​These invite the viewer into a multi-sensory experience, combining visual ​appreciation and touch.

JILLIAN THALMAN

Artist Bio

Jillian is a freelance illustrator, inspired by book ​ornamentation, folk art, mid century illustrators and ​iconography. She works in watercolour, pencil crayon, ​paper collage and digitally. Jillian is the in-house ​illustrator for Little Cauldron Press, a children’s ​publisher “sparking magic one page at a time”. She lives ​in Scarborough with her 2 kids, her husband and a ​bunch of pesky squirrels.



KARIN LAM

Portfolio: www.karinlamart.com

Instagram: @karin.lll

Artist Bio

Karin Lam is an illustrator and artist who graduated ​from OCADU, currently based in Toronto, Canada. ​Working with both traditional and digital media, she ​hopes to brighten people’s days with whimsical and ​silly illustrations. Karin also makes comics, plush, and ​figures. Whether they be 3D or on paper, she takes the ​little guys she sees in her mind, and makes them real to ​share with others.


KATIE NARRAWAY

Portfolio: www.awaydesigns.biz

Instagram: @_awaydesigns

Artist Bio

Katie Narraway is an illustrator and multidisciplinary ​artist, who finds inspiration through her love of travel and ​the outdoors. Through illustrations, ceramics, screen ​printing and more, her work showcases the adventures ​she has been on and the places she dreams of. She finds ​joy experimenting with new mediums and can never ​settle on just one form of art. When she is not creating, ​you can find her hanging out with her adventure dog or ​planning out her next trip.



KATIKA MARCZELL

Portfolio: www.marczell.com

Instagram: @candypress

Artist Bio

Katika Marczell (she/her) is an interdisciplinary artist ​and muralist. She completed her (honors)BA at the ​University of Toronto, and her MFA at York University. ​She has received grants from the Ontario Arts Council, ​the Canada Council for the Arts, as well as being a ​recipient of York Master’s Fellowship, and the Canada ​Graduate Scholarship – Master’s (SSHRC). Her murals ​can be found in and around Toronto, Etobicoke, and ​Milton. She often waves to people who are waving to ​the person behind her, it's very embarrassing but it's ​nice that she's friendly.

LUCA AGUZZI-TOKER

Instagram: @doodleluuu

Artist Bio

Doodle Luuu -aka- Luca is a Toronto based illustrator ​and visual artist. He loves depicting fashion, the ​outdoors and distorted characters full of movement.

MARA McDONAGH

Artist Bio

Mara McDonagh is a ceramic artist living in Queens, NY. ​She creates whimsical pottery pieces to brighten your ​everyday life. She runs Rolly Poly Studios with her sister, ​Caitlin.


MARICA VILLENEUVE

Portfolio: www.artbymarica.com

Instagram: @art.by.marica

Artist Bio

The goal of my work is to highlight the beauty of nature ​and make the impossible look possible, by combining ​realism and surrealism to immerse the viewer in a ​fantastical scene that facilitates deeper thoughts about ​our relationship with nature.


I often juxtapose animals and nature with man-made ​spaces and objects to show that we are all connected ​and we are also a part of nature, in the hopes of ​creating a better appreciation for it and emphasizing ​the importance of preserving it.


MARK KRZEPIS

Instagram: @krzepism

Artist Bio

Mark Krzepis is a Toronto illustrator whose work muddies the line between high and low subject ​matter. Inspired by literature, music, art history, and the absurd, he draws upon themes of human ​nature relevant in both fine art and lowbrow illustration. He has illustrated cover art for Toronto ​artists such as BADBADNOTGOOD and Charlotte Day Wilson, conducted interviews with creatives ​like Wolfgang Tillmans, and exhibited in art galleries in both Canada and the United States.


Artist Statement

Ignorance is bliss, vice is bliss, technology is bliss, art is torture.

MERRYN MOON

Website: www.merryn.ca

Instagram: @merrynmoon

Artist Bio

Merryn (she/her) is an emerging artist and illustrator from Toronto's East End, ​with a passion for public art and the community it creates. Her love of ​stories and all things imaginative led her to study Illustration at OCAD ​University, where she earned a Bachelor of Design in 2021. Since then, Merryn ​has been digging into various creative pursuits – painting murals around ​Toronto, getting a Ceramics certificate at the Haliburton School of Art & ​Design, and continuing to draw, paint, and make silly little things whenever ​she can. Merryn draws inspiration from the natural world and the humour of ​daily life, and uses her observations to bring forth new landscapes and their ​imagined inhabitants.


SARAH FARQUHAR

Artist Bio

Sarah Farquhar is a Canadian Illustrator with a Bachelor ​of Design from OCAD University where she studied ​illustration. Her work is mostly drawn, occasionally ​painted. She largely focuses on subtle textures, retro ​colour palettes, and dynamic compositions. You’ll most ​often see her working in coloured pencil or digitally.


Sarah's work has been published in The New York Times, ​The Globe and Mail, Reader's Digest and re:Porter ​Magazine.



SARA SARHANGPOUR

Artist Bio

Sara Sarhangpour is an illustrator who creates silly and ​heartwarming drawings and comics. She studied ​Illustration at Seneca College.




Artist Statement

We put my childhood dog to sleep late last year. Through my grief, ​I wanted to make a small series of work dedicated to Teddy, my ​best friend. Memories of the times we shared together are painted ​in a sepia-toned palette and truly encapsulate the feeling of “bliss” ​for me, but also a heavy love and loss.

TINA GIANG

Portfolio: www.tinagiang.com

Instagram: @tinagiang

Artist Bio

Tina Giang is a multidisciplinary artist based in Toronto, ​who draws inspiration from her childhood memories. ​Through fun-filled clay sculptures and illustrations, she ​explores themes of little joys, friendships, love, growth, ​and belonging. Her work invites viewers to reconnect ​with their inner child and let imagination flourish in their ​day-to-day activities.



Artist Statement

I re-imagine simple pleasures with small air-dry clay ​sculptures, encapsulating moments that make everyday ​life extraordinary through a playful lens.

TYLER HYDE

Portfolio: www.tylerhydeart.com

Instagram: @tee_tys

Artist Bio

Tyler is an artist and illustrator from Nova Scotia, ​currently living in Toronto. He is working on his first ​picture book about an old haunted house.



Artist Statement

I wanted to approach the idea of "Bliss" from a satirical ​standpoint. By inverting things that are otherwise ​blissful, these paintings are meant to show another side ​of life's simple pleasures.