Visionary New Art Gallery in Toronto Hosts Solo Show for Underground Afro-Expressionist Street Artist

EXHIBITION: April 17 to May 5, 2023 – 12 noon to 7pm daily

RECEPTION: April 27, 2023, 6:30pm

From April 17 until May 5, 2023 studio IDFK will be hosting ‘Social Anti Collection’, a solo exhibition of recent works by Toronto-based street and fashion artist, Renaissance (they/them) . Renaissance is a self-taught afro-expressionist artist whose thought provoking work explores themes of racism, capitalism, exploitation, and loved ones lost in Toronto’s trauma zones.

The artist was featured as one of the ‘10 Toronto Visual Artists to Watch’ by NOW Magazine in 2021. During the COVID lockdowns Renaissance was very active in the downtown area, spreading messages throughout the streets and subway stations such as their most well known: “You are Not Your Mistakes”.

Renaissance is widely recognized in Toronto neighbourhoods like Kensington Market and Queen West where he has been known to stage impromptu personal art galleries on the streets and even leaving his work for passers-by to take home free of charge.

They often strike a mysterious and iconic figure, donning hand-painted overcoats, a camouflage balaclava and dark sunglasses, while riding confidently atop a well-weathered custom designed skateboard deck.

Renaissance’s creative determination and unrelenting pursuit of knowledge and insight into their heritage and experience as an Afroman has fueled an art practice that is obsessively authentic, incorporating a host of found objects as platforms for new conversations. Amongst these, on display until May 5th at studio IDFK, is a series of five discarded wooden doors upcycled into large format paintings and a handful of AGO and TTC visitor maps that have been hand decorated with signature primitivist line drawings.

On a mission to understand and interpret his own vision of the city of Toronto, Renaissance is also an advocate for the creative process and laments the degree to which it is still undervalued in society. Renaissance shares, “We are going to create the change we want to see in the world through creativity, fashion and art. I am obsessed with the idea that creativity is the only way to change the world”.

A reception to celebrate the exhibition will take place at studio IDFK, 190 McCaul St., Toronto  on April 27, from 6:30pm to 9:30pm.

The only instructions for the show:

Come in. This is a safe space.
Breathe. Don’t overthink just because it’s “art”
Observe and be present.

Exhibition: April 17 until May 5 2023

Reception: April 27 2023 6:30pm

Location: Studio IDFK. 190 McCaul St, Toronto, ON M5T 1W5

About studio IDFK:

Studio IDFK is an upstart, Brooklyn-style art gallery, conversation space, and independent-label fashion retail boutique founded by Toronto creative technology pioneer Ian Kelso and located in the heart of Toronto’s Baldwin Village. The gallery’s mission is to curate a safe space for everyone, make art accessible, and inspire others to #questioneverything.

About Renaissance

Renaissance is a self-taught, underground artist from earth. Renaissance creates groundbreaking work that builds connections between us that informs our coexistence in the city of Toronto. By inscribing artwork that is imbued with messages across the city, their work creates interventions that center community by occupying space for themselves and others. With an Afro Tone that echoes off of every wall in the city, they draw attention to the ways organizations and systems do not recognize the contributions and talents of people who do not follow their script towards acceptance. Renaissance\’s imagery is replete with coded symbols. From the creation of impromptu art galleries in the streets, subway stations & subway cars of Toronto, to organizing interventions in art galleries and museums such as their recent work ‘Dear AGO’, Renaissance’s work provokes and demands attention.