Sierra Peca: The Fragility of Identity

Thumbprint VI by Sierra Peca

Sierra Peca: The Fragility of Identity

February 3 – April 24, 2025
Reception: February 8, 2 – 4pm | RSVP
Ascent Gallery, Toronto

How is cultural identity practiced and retained through loss? In The Fragility of Identity artist Sierra Peca brings attention to Maltese culture and the difficulties that small island cultures face in maintaining their identities. Located in the Mediterranean Sea, the Maltese islands have endured British colonialism, legacies of historical wars, and recent impacts of climate change. Painting on ceramic plates purchased second hand in Malta, Sierra juxtaposes endemic plants with ‘Made in England’ manufacturer stickers to express a cultural fragility and rich history. These works are accompanied by a series of prints made from the Maltese lace known as Bizzilla and presented as thumbprints. These artistic explorations ultimately tell the story of a small Maltese population, many of whom living in the diaspora, working actively to retain their cultural identity and prevent its loss.

Join the Artist on Saturday February 8, 2025 at Ascent Gallery for the opening reception. Artist remarks and Q&A begins at 2:30pm. Light refreshments provided.

About the Artist
Sierra Peca is a third generation Maltese-Italian Canadian painter and currently pursuing graduate studies in Art History at the University of Toronto, specializing in feminist and decolonial theory. Her art practice brings together painting, drawing, print, and photography to reflect on her cultural identities, nostalgia, and banality. Her work has been exhibited at the Women’s Art Association of Canada, the Blackwood Gallery, Erindale Theatre, and Visual Arts Mississauga. She has held residencies at Visual Arts Mississauga and Gozo Contemporary (Valletta Contemporary).

About Ascent Gallery
Opened in 2023, the Ascent Gallery is dedicated to early-career artists and collectives, with a focus on those from equity-deserving communities, living and working in Toronto. The gallery hosts 4 exhibitions annually, with most exhibitions running for 10 weeks each. The gallery is owned and operated by the City of Toronto, Arts Services.

Gallery Hours: Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm and Saturday, 10am to 6pm.

Admission is free and the venue is accessible. Elevator access only available during: Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 4pm.

Ascent Gallery
Level 1, 399 The West Mall
Toronto, ON M9C 2Y2
toronto.ca/eccartgallery
416-394-8628
ascentgallery@toronto.ca

About City of Toronto’s Cultural Centres & Galleries
Toronto’s Cultural Centres & Galleries comprise five unique sites owned and operated by the City of Toronto. They include Assembly Hall, Cedar Ridge Creative Centre, Clark Centre for the Arts and Etobicoke Civic Centre Art Gallery and the Ascent Gallery at the Etobicoke Civic Centre. Collectively the centres present over 40 gallery shows annually, showcasing works by more than 800 artists, and offer close to 150 art programs each year in collaboration with some 70+ community partners.

More information about the City of Toronto’s Cultural Centres & Galleries can be found at toronto.ca/CulturalCentres or by following City of Toronto Culture on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.