KATE WILSON
Celestial Botanics
April 12 - May 10, 2025
In Celestial Botanics, Kate Wilson merges botanical forms with cosmic imagery, exploring the connection between nature and the universe. Wilson uses luminous colours to create oil paintings with floral compositions that seem to bloom within celestial landscapes, blurring the line between the earthly and the ethereal. Inspired by cosmic patterns and organic rhythms, her work reflects the harmony between the fleeting and the infinite.
Kate Wilson, based in Toronto, seamlessly navigates between site-specific large-scale wall drawing installations, painting, and digital applications. She has garnered both national and international recognition. Her work has been showcased at the Kelowna Art Gallery in British Columbia, Saint Mary's University Art Gallery in Halifax, The Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, Union Gallery at Queens University, Judith & Norman Alix Art Gallery, and The Doris McCarthy Gallery alongside works by Doris McCarthy. Her participation in group exhibitions spans global institutions including the Canadian Cultural Centre in Paris, University at Buffalo Center for the Arts, HeK (House of Electronic Arts) in Basel, Carnegie Museum of Art in Pittsburgh, and the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York. Wilson’s work is included in numerous collections, including the Whitney Museum of American Art, BMO Financial Group, TD Bank and the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria.
LYLA RYE
Slash and Burn
April 12 - May 10, 2025
Slash and Burn, a series of walnut ink paintings were inspired by images of clearcuts which were sent to the artist from tree planters. Lyla Rye created 85 works in varying sizes over the course of one year.
Lyla Rye is a Toronto-based artist working in installation, sculpture, video, and photography to explore architectural space and perception. With a background in architecture, she creates immersive encounters that engage viewers physically, optically, and conceptually. Rye holds a BFA from York University and an MFA from the San Francisco Art Institute. She has exhibited across Canada and internationally including at The Whitney Museum of American Art, Karachi Biennale in Pakistan, The Power Plant, Koffler Gallery, Mercer Union, The Textile Museum of Canada, TRUCK Contemporary and Prefix Institute of Contemporary Art. Her work is included in noteworthy private and public collections such as The Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, The Robert McLaughlin Gallery, Cadillac Fairview Corp and The Tom Thomson Art Gallery.
variable sizes: 4 x 6 inches – 12 x 12 inches; 85 drawings, 2024 - 2025
The artist wishes to thank John Dickson and Connie Chisholm for their support.
Tree Poems, a new video series by Lyla Rye, will be screened in our Project Space.
HD Video 60fps, 18 minutes 41 seconds
This series of eight short videos centres on a Black Willow tree situated between a pedestrian walkway and a construction site. With its twisted trunk, scars, and persistent signs of life, the tree embodied themes of aging, regeneration, and resilience. Each video, conceived like a poem—concise and lyrical—illuminates a different facet of the tree.
Composers were invited to interpret each video, exploring how sound might alter our perception of the imagery. Seven of the videos feature original sound compositions, shaping the experience through audio, while one remains intentionally silent. As the tree was lost during the course of the project, the videos now stand as odes to its presence.
Composers: Pianist Eve Egoyan, percussionist and composer Debashis Sinha, sculptor John Dickson, musician Max Turnbull, artist and creative technologist Dan Tapper, and songwriter/vocalist, Meg Remy.
We would like to thank The Toronto Arts Council for their support.
