This Year’s Theme is The Art of The Game
TORONTO, February 10, 2026 – Artist Project, Toronto’s leading art fair dedicated to independent contemporary artists, returns March 26–29, 2026 at a new venue, Enercare Centre, bringing together over 250 juried artists from across Canada for four days of art, discovery, and collecting.
In 2026, Artist Project reframes competition through the lived experience of artists themselves. Artists are no strangers to endurance, training for years to hone their skills, pushing beyond comfort zones, and committing to disciplined, often solitary practice in pursuit of their strongest work. The fair recognizes artistic practice as a test of stamina, focus, and risk, shaped by ambition and sustained effort.
Timed to coincide with Toronto’s role as a global city of sport later this summer, Artist Project introduces The Art of the Game, a featured juried exhibition inspired by sport, movement, and play. While sport provides the visual and conceptual spark, The Art of the Game also serves as a metaphor for the art world itself, where preparation, endurance, emotional stakes, and excellence define success.
“Competition exists at every level of the art world, from applying to a fair, to refining a practice, to standing out in a crowded field,” says Mia Nielsen, Director of Artist Project.
“In a year when Toronto is welcoming the world through sport, Artist Project embraces competition not just as subject matter, but as a reality artists navigate every day.”
OVER 250 ARTISTS, SELECTED THROUGH A COMPETITIVE JURIED PROCESS
Artist Project 2026 features a juried selection of over 250 independent artists, spanning emerging to established practices across painting, photography, sculpture, textile, mixed media, and installation.
The 2026 selection jury includes three leading voices in the Canadian art world: Taiga Korper Bentley, Owner of Olga Korper Gallery and a champion of art literacy and artist mentorship; Trevor Twells, experiential artist, curator, and founder of MakeRoom Inc., known for creating equitable, paid opportunities for BIPOC and emerging artists; and Winnie Truong, a Toronto-based artist and 2017 Chalmers Arts Fellowship recipient whose work has been exhibited internationally and collected by major public and corporate institutions.
Together, the jury selected artists whose practices demonstrate originality, technical strength, and conceptual clarity, reinforcing Artist Project’s role as a competitive yet accessible platform for contemporary art.
SELECTED ARTISTS REFLECTING COMPETITION AND MOMENTUM
Among the more than 250 artists selected for Artist Project 2026, the following five exemplify how competition, endurance, and ambition shape contemporary artistic practice:
Nadia Lassman: Recently exhibiting at Le Salon des Artistes Français in Paris, Lassman brings an international juried exhibition context to Artist Project, connecting Canadian practice to one of the world’s longest-running art competitions.
Justine Eva Smith: Selected following a return to public exhibition after time away, Smith’s practice reflects resilience and re-entry, underscoring competition as an ongoing, long-term pursuit.
Vinessa Redford: An emerging artist translating a growing digital audience into juried physical exhibition,
Redford’s work highlights the tension between online visibility and institutional recognition.
Dana McMullen: With an editorial background that includes National Geographic, McMullen brings a
documentary sensibility shaped by professional competition into contemporary art.
Keight MacLean: Informed by lived experience with physical disability, MacLean’s painting practice
reframes physical endurance and limitation, grounding competition in the realities of the body.
THE ART OF THE GAME: A FEATURED JURIED SALON EXHIBITION
The Art of the Game is a featured juried exhibition within Artist Project 2026, offering a focused
exploration of sport and competition as subject matter.
Artists were invited to submit wall-dominant works (up to 24 x 24 inches) responding to themes of
athleticism, rivalry, teamwork, movement, and emotional intensity. Selected works will be presented in a
salon-style hanging near the front of the fair. On Opening Night, the jury of arts and sports professionals
will award The Art of the Game Gold Medal to one standout work.
UNTAPPED: EMERGING ARTISTS COMPETITION
Artist Project 2026 also features Untapped, a juried initiative dedicated to supporting students, new
graduates, and self-taught artists. The Untapped Emerging Artists Competition provides free exhibition
space and a high-profile platform for artists at the early stages of their careers, offering opportunities to
present work, build networks, and engage directly with collectors, curators, and the broader art
community.
OPENING NIGHT PARTY
Artist Project 2026 launches with an Opening Night Party on Thursday, March 26, from 6 PM – 10 PM,
offering first access to artwork across the fair alongside food, drinks, and a celebratory atmosphere.
SPONSORS & PARTNERS
Edward Jones returns as Lead Sponsor for the second consecutive year
ASSURart joins as the official 2026 Insurance Sponsor
Akasha Art joins as the official 2026 Framing Sponsor
TICKETS & PASSES
Opening Night Party Ticket
March 26, 2026 (6 PM – 10 PM)$39.00
Includes unlimited re-entry Friday–Sunday
The ticket is not transferable; ID may be required
General Admission Passes
Includes unlimited re-entry Friday–Sunday
Adult Pass (ages 18+): $24.00 / $28.00
Senior Pass (ages 65+): $20.00 / $24.00
Student Pass (ages 13–17 or with a valid student ID): $20.00 / $24.00
Child Pass (ages 12 and under): No Charge
Hour of Operations
Thursday, March 26: 6 PM – 10 PM (Opening Night Party)
Friday, March 27: 12 PM – 8 PM
Saturday, March 28: 12 PM – 8 PM
Sunday, March 29: 12 PM – 6 PM
Enercare Centre, Exhibition Place
To learn more, visit www.theartistproject.com
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