A massive gallery for artists of colour has opened in downtown Toronto

A massive gallery and workshop for emerging artists of colour has opened its doors in downtown Toronto.

The Gift Shop, located inside the experimental makerspace known as The Combine, is purpose-built to showcase the artistry of those who fall under the Queer, Trans, Black, Indigenous, People of Color (QTBIPOC) umbrella.

The public space is scheduled to run from Feb. 7 to Feb. 27.

Originally launched in the Square One Shopping Centre in Mississauga in 2023, The Gift Shop has since ingrained itself as a celebrated pop-up in Ontario.

Imani Busby, curator of The Gift Shop, created the space to remove artists from the isolation that can come with being an artist of colour just arriving on the scene.

Specifically by providing the tools required to navigate the industry.

“I was thinking to myself that artists need to know this material. Unless you went to school for business administration, worked in creative industries, or have an in-depth network of mentors — odds are — you won’t be able to advocate for yourself in the way you should be able to,” Busby told YourcitywithIN.com.

Now in its fourth incarnation, Busby has re-launched The Gift Shop in Toronto’s downtown core as a hub for artists to learn what the world of art commerce can and should be.

A massive community gallery for artists of colour has debuted in downtown Toronto

“I thought it would be perfect because of all the creativity already existing here [The Combine]. It pairs with the need to provide black artists a space that isn’t heavy, laborious, or emotionally draining — it’s fun and free,” says Busby.

For Eric Black, photographer and curator of The Combine, allowing The Gift Shop to utilize the facility’s resources was an easy sell, as numerous organizations already use the location as a collaborative office space and meeting hub.

“It gives [artsists] the opportunity to relax and create in a stress-free environment. I think that’s the greatest synergy it has with this space because we are not flipping The Combine into something that it’s not. Imani is utilizing the space for how it was made,” Black told YourcitywithIN.com.

Upon visiting The Gift Shop, guests can access studio spaces and supplied materials to collaborate and network with other QTBIPOC artists. Operating alongside the main studio are speaking events and the ‘Living Room Concert’ series — performances that highlight local musicians, spoken word artists, and more

However, one of The Gift Shop’s greatest highlights is the main lobby which features works from artists of numerous disciplines, truly lending to The Gift Shop’s namesake, as all presented works are available for purchase.

Eric Black and Imani Busby at The Gift Shop’s ‘Art of the Pitch’ event. Photo credit, YourcitywithIN.

“I feel like what Imani is doing here is setting up a foundation and the blueprint for people who want to have these types of spaces, connect with artists, and be able to show their work. But, it’s not just about showing the work, it’s about the sessions and creative developments on display,” Ehiko Odeh, one of The Gift Shop’s featured artists told YourcitywithIN.com.

Odeh has several paintings on display at The Gift Shop, all of which function as an artistic scrapbook interpreting hair products used by people across the African diaspora, a project that’s especially personal to Odeh, as she told Yourcitywithin.com

“These are the products my mom used in the house when I was a kid, and this project has kind of grown into me collecting them and learning as much as I can about them.”

In Control, 2024 Acrylic paint by Ehiko Odeh in The Gift Shop’s lobby. Photo credit, Nautica Simone.

For Busby, not only is The Gift Shop a place where she hopes QTBIPOC artists can network and create and showcase personal works but also be a space where they can feel at ease.

“There’s studio space and art equipment that is all available, there’s a cafe, there’s couches, it really is a great area and we can’t wait to see how it gets utilized over the next month,” she says.

For more information, including a full programming list and a complete catalog of works available for sale, visit The Gift Shop’s official website.