Lassonde Art Trail, the First Art Park of its Kind in Canada Announces Winner of the Destination Artwork Competition  

TORONTO, October 2, 2025 — The Lassonde Art Trail (LAT) has just announced an additional permanent artwork for the major outdoor art site from Portuguese visual artist Joana Vasconcelos. One of two signature permanent artworks commissioned to anchor the trail, Vasconcelos’ piece will form part of the City of Toronto’s Public Art & Monuments Collection.

The first of its kind in Canada, the Lassonde Art Trail, launching in 2026, will be a dynamic
public art experience offering a program of rotating artworks by Canadian and international
artists. Open year-round, and entirely free to the public, the 4.2-kilometre trail will transform
Toronto’s Port Lands into a dynamic cultural destination.

Vasconcelos’ proposal Artemisa is a magnificent response to the new island park where the Art
Trail will be located. This magical tree-like structure is clad in hand-painted ceramic tiles,
bringing colour and a uniquely crafted materiality to the waterfront.

“Inspired by the protective and integrating role of the Greek goddess, Artemisa will be, at its
core, a “magic seed” sprouting from the soil of the restored wetland, a symbol of rebirth and
flourishing of the natural world and the surrounding communities that illustrates how cultural and environmental regeneration are inextricably linked,” said Joana Vasconcelos.

“Joana Vasconcelos’ striking new work along the Lassonde Art Trail will be more than a
sculpture—it’s a bridge between cultures, a tribute to imagination, and a celebration of Toronto’s
deep Portuguese roots. In a city shaped by diversity, this commission honours the vibrant spirit
of a community that has helped build Toronto’s story, said Mayor Olivia Chow.

After receiving nominations from more than 30 arts professionals, Vasconcelos was
shortlisted––alongside Shezad Dawood, Nicole Eisenman, Shilpa Gupta and Yinka Shonibare
CBE RA––to present proposals for LAT’s permanent artwork competition in November 2024.
From these five, an international selection committee comprising Tairone Bastien (Independent
Curator and Assistant Professor, Criticism & Curatorial Practice, Faculty of Art & Science,
OCAD U, Canada), Daisy Desrosiers (Director and Chief Curator, Gund Gallery at Kenyon
College, Gambier, US), Melanie Kress (Senior Curator, Public Art Fund, New York, US), Cliff
Lauson (Director of Exhibitions, Somerset House, London, UK), and Clare Lilley (former Director
of Yorkshire Sculpture Park, UK), awarded Vasconcelos the commission. The members of the
selection committee will now form the LAT Art Advisory Committee to provide ongoing expert
advice and guidance on the latest developments in public art.

“Joana’s vibrant response to the competition, and her visit to Toronto’s waterfront, speak to the
site’s remarkable revitalization, with its acres of new plants and stunning city skyline views. We
are honored to be working with Joana on her first permanent site-specific public sculpture in
North America,” said Chloë Catán, Executive Director, LAT.

Joana Vasconcelos is a visual artist based in Lisbon and internationally recognized for her
monumental sculptures and immersive installations. With humour and irony, her practice
decontextualizes everyday objects and updates the arts and crafts concept for the 21st century,
establishing a dialogue between the private sphere and public space, popular heritage and high
culture. She has exhibited around the world at venues including Grassi Palace,
Thyssen-Bornemisza, Royal Academy of Arts, São Paulo’s CCBB and Pinacoteca, Istanbul
Modern, Palais de Tokyo, and the Hermitage. Vasconcelos has created numerous public
artworks with major presentations at Yorkshire Sculpture Park, UK and Palace of Versailles,
France among others.

On pace to launch in 2026, LAT will offer a free open-air cultural experience over 4.2-kilometres
of walking paths within a massive new public waterfront park system overlooking Lake Ontario
in Toronto’s Port Lands.

Further artworks are to be announced, alongside a range of international, national and regional
partnerships, in the lead up to LAT’s opening season.

Other music articles from totimes.ca – otttimes.ca – mtltimes.ca