New Partnership Brings ECU Students to Toronto Outdoor Art Fair
Third-year BFA student Lisa Anderson works in the woodshop at ECU on paintings destined for the Toronto Outdoor Arts Fair, an event in which Lisa and eight fellow students are participating via a partnership with the TOAF, Audain Faculty of Art, Jake Kerr Faculty of Graduate Studies and Shumka Centre for Creative Entrepreneurship. (Photo by Perrin Grauer)
In recognition of ECU’s centennial and TOAF’s 65th anniversary, nine ECU students are bringing their outstanding practices to Canada’s longest-running outdoor art show.
Nine students from Emily Carr University of Art + Design (ECU) have been selected to show in the 2026 edition of the Toronto Outdoor Art Fair (TOAF).
Four students from Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) and Master of Fine Arts (MFA) programs will travel to exhibit in Toronto in July, while five more will show at TOAF’s online exhibition.
“I adore the Toronto Outdoor Art Fair; it’s one of my favourite places, so when I saw the call for submissions, I thought, ‘What an amazing opportunity,’” says Lisa Anderson, a third-year BFA student who will be exhibiting in person at the event. Lisa grew up in Toronto and attended TOAF as a teenager and young adult. This year will be her first time participating as an artist.
Lisa Anderson, ‘Monotonous Green and the Anthropocene,’ 2026. (Photo by / courtesy Lisa Anderson)
Recognizing ECU’s centennial and TOAF’s 65th anniversary, TOAF x ECU brings ECU talent to Canada’s largest outdoor art fair and provides crucial professional development opportunities for emerging artists. The initiative was made possible in partnership with TOAF, the Audain Faculty of Art, the Jake Kerr Faculty of Graduate Studies, and the Shumka Centre for Creative Entrepreneurship.
“This partnership represents an enormous win for both our students and the university more broadly,” says Diyan Achjadi, Provost and Vice-President Academic at ECU. “Showcasing the work of our outstanding students at one of Canada’s most important and best-loved art fairs during ECU’s centennial year and TOAF’s 65th anniversary is a superb way to honour the legacies of our respective organizations. That our students have access to mentorship and professional development opportunities in addition to their public exhibition ensures this collaboration will be transformative for these incredible emerging artists.”
Sara Wiens, ‘Flight Paths VII.’ Mixed media on board. (Photo by / courtesy Sara Wiens)
In addition to Lisa, ECU students Rin Wanchen Yu (MFA), Sara Wiens (MFA) and Jiaoyu Wu (BFA) will show in person. Each will receive a travel bursary, a booth along Queen Street West and an online shop through spring 2027. Meanwhile, Clara Vardal Bintner (BFA), Etanda Elliott (BFA), Emilie Fantuz (MFA), Brigitta Kocsis (MFA) and Anissa Peterson (BFA) have been awarded spots in the online fair, with online shops active through spring 2027.
After receiving her award, Lisa organized an informal weekly gathering with fellow participants to exchange tips and troubleshoot challenges. Meanwhile, ECU and TOAF have provided the group with workshops and experts to advise on everything from overland shipping and accommodations to expectations around interacting with the public.
These resources have allowed Lisa to push herself artistically while feeling prepared to exhibit in Canada’s largest city
Lisa Anderson, ‘Monotonous Green and the Anthropocene’ (detail), 2026. (Photo by / courtesy Lisa Anderson)
“The painting I’m showing in my booth is the largest I’ve ever done,” she says of the 16.5-foot by four-foot Monotonous Green and the Anthropocene. “And everyone has been very supportive, which has made for a good synergy between ideas I wanted to explore and a wonderful opportunity becoming available.”
Low-Residency MFA student Sara Wiens will show a series of paintings that mark a turning point in her practice, opening the door for her current, research-based methodologies.
While she has never attended TOAF before, Sara has shown at the Lake Country Art Fair several times and knows firsthand how valuable such events can be.
Sara Wiens. (Photo by Cindy Ursulak / courtesy Sara Wiens)
“I’ve always made new connections with artists and curators who share great information on the art world or other opportunities,” she says. “And I’ve always sold work, but the most important thing is the relationships and new possibilities that emerge. An event like this allows you to develop professional connections that could be important to your career.”
She says the event itself is also an ideal way to build professional skills.
“This is a chance to practice talking about my work with confidence in a real-life situation,” she continues. “And we’ve had so much support beyond financial sponsorship — which is so helpful — like training and teaching. It’s been an amazing experience so far and I can’t say enough how thankful I am for this opportunity.”
The TOAF takes place at Nathan Phillips Square in downtown Toronto from Jul. 10 to 12, 2026. Visit the TOAF x ECU webpage for details on exhibiting artists and links to their online shops.
You can find this article also on Emily Carr News