Photo by Brian Medina

What’s on at Onsite Gallery in October

You’re warmly invited to take part in Onsite Gallery’s upcoming October events, presented in conjunction with the exhibitions Returning to Ourselves – Rebecca Baird and Kenny Alvin Baird: A Retrospective of Art and Design by Cree Métis Siblings + Michael Massie: now and then. Through engaging talks, and interactive experiences, explore identity, community, and the power of storytelling to foster a deeper understanding of the works.

All events are free and open to all.

Rebecca Baird and Kenny Alvin Baird, 1991. Image courtesy of the artists.

In Conversation | Rebecca Baird and Kenny Alvin Baird with Lisa Deanne Smith and Dr. Lilian Radovac
Saturday, October 24, 2026, 1pm – 3pm
Onsite Gallery, Toronto
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Join us for an engaging conversation and exhibition tour with exhibition artists Rebecca Baird and Kenny Alvin Baird, alongside exhibition curator Lisa Deanne Smith and scholar Dr. Lilian Radovac, as they explore the stories, creative processes, and lived experiences behind Returning to Ourselves.

Spanning more than four decades of artistic practice, Returning to Ourselves showcases the transformative work of Rebecca Baird and Kenny Alvin Baird through sculpture, painting, traditional material practices, interior design, film art direction, graphic design, and public art commissions. Together, the artists and curator will reflect on the exhibition’s themes of identity, family, creativity, and Cree Métis cultural continuity, offering unique insights into the evolution of their multidisciplinary practices and the enduring impact of their work.

Photo by Brian Medina

now and then Artist/Curator Talk: Michael Massie in Conversation with Alysa Procida
Wednesday, October 28, 5pm – 6:30pm
Onsite Gallery, Toronto
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Don’t miss this exclusive Artist/Curator Talk with acclaimed artist Michael Massie and guest curator Alysa Procida. Discover the stories exhibited in now and then, celebrating Massie’s remarkable career through an extraordinary collection of teapots, previously unexhibited and new works. Together, they will explore the joy, humour, and experimentation that define Massie’s practice, and discuss how his exceptional craftsmanship weaves together Inuit design traditions, community, and political commentary while continually challenging expectations of contemporary Inuit art.

Current Exhibitions

Curated by Lisa Deanne Smith, Returning to Ourselves presents over forty years of transformative work by Rebecca Baird and Kenny Alvin Baird. The exhibition spans sculpture, painting, and traditional material practices, alongside interior design, film art direction, graphic design, and public art commissions. Emerging from their Cree Métis histories and ways of knowing, the Bairds approach creative practice through multiple cultural perspectives, bringing together diverse forms of making grounded in lived experience, collaboration, and community-centred practice.

Presented as a unique, large-scale, commissioned mural on the façade of Onsite Gallery, Lost in the Right Direction (2026) explores how learning to listen to subtle movements such as the wind caressing our skin, memories held by trees, and our ancestors’ stories can guide us to where we didn’t know we needed to be. The themes of the mural represent Rebecca and Kenny’s mixed Cree Métis, Scottish and German heritage and lived experience. In traditional Cree stories, crows are often trickers, teachers and keen observers that fly between realms. Kenny has a sassy smile when he reveals that he gave one of the crows a pearl in its beak to represent Rebecca’s pearls of wisdom.

Curated by Alysa Procida, Michael Massie: now and then brings together works from across his career, including a large collection of teapots, previously unexhibited pieces, and a new body of large-scale sculptural installations, to celebrate the enduring importance of joy, experimentation, and humour in his work. This exhibition showcases Massie’s ability to blend exceptional craftsmanship with thoughtful commentary on politics, community, and Inuit design traditions, all while pushing the boundaries of his own practice and public expectations of Inuit artists. now and then traces the palpable delight Massie imbues in all of his work through his refined aesthetics, amusing subjects, and passion for pursuing new challenges. Celebrated Inuk artist Michael Massie is internationally recognized for his skill as a silversmith and sculptor, as well as for his keen design sensibility. Well known for his iconic teapots, humorous owl sculptures, and delicate bowls, Massie has been pushing boundaries throughout his career, stretching the definitions of what Inuit art can be.

About Onsite Gallery
www.ocadu.ca/onsite
Onsite Gallery, OCAD University’s flagship professional gallery, presents contemporary, Indigenous, and public art and design to advance knowledge creation and stimulate local and international conversations on the urgent issues of our time.

Onsite Gallery
199 Richmond Street West
Toronto, ON M5V 0H4

Gallery Hours
Wednesday: 12 – 7pm
Thursday to Saturday: 12 – 5pm

Gallery admission and all events are free.

Onsite Gallery is an accessible venue with all-gender, single-user washrooms.
» Detailed accessibility information found here

About OCAD University (OCAD U)
OCAD University (www.ocadu.ca) is Canada’s university of the imagination. Founded in 1876, the university is dedicated to art, design and digital media education, practice and research and to knowledge and invention across a wide range of disciplines.

Contact Information:
Susan Jama
Programs & Community Coordinator, Onsite Gallery
susanjama@ocadu.ca

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