Skip to Main Content
Advertisement
Advertisement

Future Proof 2024 runs May 2 – May 9

Since 1970, Open Studio has offered subsidized studio rent, educational access and free print-based exhibitions to Toronto’s arts community — establishing itself as one of the oldest and largest print studios in Canada. To support its efforts, the centre hosts a virtual auction every year that features a juried selection of prints alongside a collection of contemporary art available for purchase. But in 2024, Future Proof is more than just a charitable auction. It represents the next crucial step in securing Open Studio’s future as the organization approaches its 55th anniversary amidst funding cuts and escalating operational costs.

In anticipation of Future Proof 2024, we’ve rounded up some of the incredible work up for grabs.

Future Proof 2024
Future Proof 2024

Political Fabric, 2022

ArtistSylvat Aziz
Medium: Image transfer, block print & oil paint
Starting Bid: $213

Toronto Art Fair - Whiteout by E.J. Howorth
Toronto Art Fair - Whiteout by E.J. Howorth

Whiteout, 2017

Artist: E.J. Howorth
Medium: Screenprint
Starting Bid: $275

Future Proof 2024 - PFA, 2003 by Eric Glavin
Future Proof 2024 - PFA, 2003 by Eric Glavin

PFA, 2003

ArtistEric Glavin
Medium: C-print on pexiglass
Starting Bid: $700

Future Proof 2024 Art - 10392 by Walter Procska
Future Proof 2024 Art - 10392 by Walter Procska

10392, 2023

ArtistWalter Procska
Medium: Screenprint
Starting Bid: $425

Open Studio, Toronto, Designlines - The Entheogenic Dance by Kelby Paquette-Anderson
Open Studio, Toronto, Designlines - The Entheogenic Dance by Kelby Paquette-Anderson

The Entheogenic Dance, 2024

Artist: Kelby Paquette-Anderson
Medium: CMYK Screenprint
Starting Bid: $225

Indigenous Art Toronto, Canada, Designlines - Snapshot by Kudluajuk Ashoona
Indigenous Art Toronto, Canada, Designlines - Snapshot by Kudluajuk Ashoona

Snapshot

ArtistKudluajuk Ashoona
Medium: Lithograph
Starting Bid: $200

Abstract Art
Abstract Art

Magnetica, 2018

ArtistJaime Angelopoulos
Medium: Screenprint
Starting Bid: $1,300

More Details

What to Expect at Future Proof 2024:

  • Virtual Auction Dates: From May 2nd to May 9th, 2024, art enthusiasts can participate in this online event.
  • Prints and Contemporary Art: The auction will feature a juried selection of prints alongside a curated collection of contemporary art by Toronto-based artists who wholeheartedly support Open Studio.
  • Awards and Sponsors: Notable awards, including the $1,000 Best in Print Award sponsored by Assurart, await deserving artists. Other prizes include a deluxe room stay at Hotel Victoria, gift certificates, and more.
  • Supporting the Future of Print: By bidding on artworks, participants of Future Proof 2024 contribute to Open Studio’s mission of making printmaking accessible to artists from diverse backgrounds. Their generosity ensures that printmaking endures for generations to come.
Advertisement
Advertisement

Okay, but it clearly is

For the first 16 years of my life, the bat cave at the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM)—a reconstruction of an actual cave in Jamaica—was among my favourite places in the city. The cave was decorated with cast stalactites and wax bat models, which hung from the ceiling and threw jagged shadows on the walls. A few other features imbued it with spooky verisimilitude: the drip-drip-drip sound effects, the mirrors arranged to create the illusion of infinite depth, the strobe lights strategically placed to make the shadows flutter. When I visited as a five-year-old, the bat cave scared me. When I visited as a stoned fifteen-year-old, it scared me even more. Then came the renovation.

Advertisement

Newsletter

Your Weekly Dose of Modern Design

Sign up for the Designlines weekly newsletter to keep up with the latest design news, trends and inspiring projects from across Toronto. Join our community and never miss a beat!

Please fill out your email address.

The Magazine

Get the Latest Issue

From a sprawling family home in Oakville to a coastal-inspired retreat north of the city, we present spaces created by architects and interior designers that redefine the contemporary.

Designlines 2024 Issue