Announcing the 2025 Award Recipients at Toronto Outdoor Art Fair

TOAF64 Award Recipients, Supporters and Judges. Photo by Shane Fester

Announcing the Recipients of $46,000 in Awards at the 64th Toronto Outdoor Art Fair

Toronto Outdoor Art Fair (TOAF), Canada’s leading contemporary outdoor art fair, announced the 2025 Award Recipients on Saturday, July 12. Over $46,000 in cash and in-kind awards were presented at Nathan Phillips Square. The 64th edition welcomed over 400 contemporary artists from across the country to showcase their work both at the Square and online at TOAF.ca.

TOAF’s awards program is unparalleled in Canada—designed to champion artistic excellence, offer career-advancing opportunities, and provide direct financial support to artists.

Award recipients were selected by distinguished judges, including curators, artists, and arts professionals, who evaluated the work based on originality, innovation, and craftsmanship.

TOAF is thrilled to announce that Melika Saeeda received the coveted Best of Art Fair Award, a grand prize of $6,000 generously supported by IG Wealth Management. The selection was made by Rui Mateus Amaral, Artistic Director of the Museum of Contemporary Art Toronto (MOCA).

Sisterhood: A Sequin Night, Melika Saeeda, 2025, Acrylic paint & gold leaf on canvas.

The Murray and Marvelle Koffler Founder’s Award of $6,000, generously supported by The Koffler Family Foundation, was awarded to artist Brad Copping. This prestigious legacy award was selected by judges Tiana Koffler Boyman, past Chair of The Koffler Centre of the Arts, and Flavio Belli, curator, artist, and gallerist.

salmon pink undula bowl, Brad Copping, 2024, Hand blow & sculpted hot glass, cold carved.

The recipient of this year’s Mayor’s Purchase Award is Anu Kalra. Her work, It’s Selfie Time – She is an icon! She is a legend! She is the moment! has been acquired for the City of Toronto’s permanent art collection. The piece was selected by Tara Chadwick, Chief Curator for the City of Toronto.

It’s Selfie Time – She is an icon! She is a legend! She is the moment!, Anu Kalra, 2024, Acrylic on gallery canvas.

And the following recipients are:

• Best of Student Award – Alex Hall
• Jini Stolk Best of Online Art Fair Award – Julia Asimakopulos
• Best of Painting Award – Ravjot Singh
• Best of 3D Works Award – Kevin MacLean
• Best of 2D Works Award – Matthew Walton
• Best of Photography & Digital Media Award – Meaghan Ogilvie
• Best of Craft & Design Award – Brad Turner
• Aaron Milrad’s Best of Ceramics Award – V Vallières

Spotlight Awards

• United Contemporary Award – Neltje Green
• Gladstone House Award – Marianne Sung
• Most Innovative Use of Material Award – Hyewon Jang
• Best of Paper Award – Emily Conlon
• Best of Jewellery Award – Jamie Rosario
• Honourable Mention Student – Keenan O’Toole
• Student Purchase Award – Alicia Tian
• Ceramics Excellence Award – Hannah Faas
• PhotoEd Magazine Award – Maureen O’Connor, Yujie Wang, and Phil Carriere
• Honourable Mention Photography & Digital Media – Nika Belianina
• National Emerging Artist Award – Samira Sukhatme
• Honourable Mention Painting – Diogo Pinhiero
• Emerging Curator Award – Jesse King, Curator at the City of Toronto, for Ethereal Forms, featuring Julia Asimakopulos, Tobias Luttmer, Francie McGlynn, Alexander Millington, Keenan O’Toole, Zahra Saleki, Sharl G. Smith, Emily Zou, and Andrew Zimbel

Congratulations to all the recipients! See the complete list of 2025 Award Recipients and Judges at TOAF.ca/awards.

About Toronto Outdoor Art Fair

Toronto Outdoor Art Fair (TOAF) is Canada’s leading outdoor and online art fair. Established in 1961 to connect Canadian artists directly to the public, TOAF showcases 400+ emerging and established visual artists, including painters, photographers, sculptors and artists working in ceramics, textiles, jewellery and more. The event brings together 170,000 art lovers and enthusiasts who spend over 2 million dollars on art during the Fair. This free public event takes place every July – rain or shine – at Nathan Phillips Square in the heart of downtown Toronto. Since 2020, TOAF’s online Fair has become Canada’s fastest-growing e-commerce and discovery platform for artists across Canada. The Toronto Outdoor Art Fair is a registered charitable nonprofit organization.

416-408-2754 | info@TOAF.ca
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