Announcing the 2026 Award Recipients at Toronto Outdoor Art Fair

TOAF65 at Nathan Phillips Square. Photo by Marlowe Porter.

Announcing the Recipients of $67,000+ in Awards at the 65th Toronto Outdoor Art Fair

Toronto Outdoor Art Fair (TOAF), Canada’s leading contemporary outdoor Art Fair, announced its 2026 Award Recipients on Saturday, July 11th, at Nathan Phillips Square, marking a record-breaking year of awards in celebration of the Fair’s 65th anniversary. With the galvanized support of TOAF’s community, artists received over $67,000 in cash and in-kind awards—the largest total in the Fair’s history—evaluated by a panel of distinguished judges, including curators, artists, and arts professionals. TOAF’s awards program remains unparalleled in Canada, championing artistic excellence and uplifting Canadian artists through career-advancing opportunities across every medium, a legacy that has grown alongside the Fair for 65 years.

The 65th edition of TOAF welcomed over 400 contemporary artists from across the country, showcasing their work both at the Square and online at TOAF.ca.

Best of Art Fair Award

Esther Kim received the coveted Best of Art Fair Award, a grand prize of $10,000 generously supported by IG Wealth Management. The selection was made by Ana Serrano, President & Vice-Chancellor, OCAD University.

Esther Kim, Best of Art Fair recipient at TOAF65. Photo by Marlowe Porter.

The Murray and Marvelle Koffler Founder’s Award

The Murray and Marvelle Koffler Founder’s Award of $10,000, generously supported by The Koffler Foundation, was awarded to artist Roberto Centazzo. This legacy award was selected by judges Tiana Koffler Boyman, Board Director and past Chair of The Koffler Centre of the Arts, and Flavio Belli, curator, artist, and gallerist.

Roberto Centazzo, Information, 2024, Etching and aquatint on copper.

Ken Danby Award for Excellence in Realism

Mahtab Rezvani received the Ken Danby Award for Excellence in Realism, a $6,500 prize supported by The Rudolph P. Bratty Family Foundation, judged by Flavio Belli, curator and gallerist.

The Mayor’s Purchase Award

The recipient of this year’s Mayor’s Purchase Award is Elicser Elliott. His work, ‘Toronto Every Damn Day,’ has been acquired for the City of Toronto’s permanent art collection. The piece was selected by Olivia Chow, Mayor of Toronto, and Tara Chadwick, Chief Curator for the City of Toronto.

Images (left to right): Mahtab Rezvani, Elusive Entities – Guardian of Peace, 2025, Coloured pencil. Elicser Elliott, Toronto Every Damn Day, 2026, Acrylic on paper.

The recipients of this year’s Excellence and Spotlight Awards are:

• Best of Student Award – Songshu Liu
• Jini Stolk Best of Online Art Fair Award – Maisa Mreiwed
• Best of Painting Award – Shannon Sandwell
• Best of 3D Works Award – K. MacLean
• Best of 2D Works Award – Anna Kavehmehr
• Best of Photography & Digital Media Award – Chris Robinson
• Best of Craft & Design Award – Brad Turner
• Aaron Milrad’s Best of Ceramics Award – Maria Moldovan
• Best of Textiles Award – Ruth Wickremesooriya
• Best of Jewellery Award – Laura Papworth
• Best of Paper Award – Roberto Centazzo
• United Contemporary Award – Ash Godley
• Gladstone House Award – Elif Giray
• The Gallery 1065 Award for Distinguished Achievement in the Advancement of Joy & Whimsy – Jes Young
• Akrylic Award for Narrative Imagination – Vitaly Medvedovsky
• Most Innovative Use of Material Award – Nahum Flores
• Akin Space Award – Michael Donohue
• Honourable Mention Painting – Yueyang Wang
• Honourable Mention Photography & Digital Media – Meaghan Ogilvie
• Honourable Mention Student – Anna Tanner
• Student Purchase Award – Freda Tan
• Ceramics Excellence Award – Rylan Cocks
• Ceramics Excellence Award – Daria Khosravi
• PhotoEd Magazine Award – Chris Robinson, Manny Wood Lynes-Ford, Carolyn Cheng

Congratulations to all the recipients! See the complete list of 2026 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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