WorldPride may be over, but Toronto’s LGBTQ arts community is still celebrating.
For Parkdale artist Ashley McKenzie-Barnes, that meant expressing her story in two paintings at the Liberty Village gallery show: Untitled // The Practise of Identity showcasing five queer painters that premiered Wednesday night, June 25.
"My pieces were heavily focused on feminine sexuality and the representation of females," McKenzie-Barnes said.
The designer by trade and curator for Toronto’s popular Manifesto festival said her two portraits gave the audience a piece of herself.
"I had a chance to showcase who I am, a black, African-Canadian who is very in tune with her sexuality," she said.
McKenzie-Barnes hopes the show will draw a range of audiences and give them a chance to "indulge" in the theme and messages presented in the pieces.
"Identity is something that we can all open our minds to and there are so many different takes," she said. "I want them to enjoy what they’re seeing and what they’re feeling."
Pride in Toronto, she said, is very communal. "I think we need to keep continuing that community that celebrates itself and move forward unified," she said.
The show’s curator, Mia Raicevic, said the show’s opening night was more of a "big community event."
Raicevic, who collaborated with gallery owners Jonathan Girard and Alexandre Legault, put the show together in under a month.
"We thought, let’s do something that’s close to our heart," she said.
"This is a big year for queer Torontonians and it’s a chance to show everybody how inclusive and creative we are."
She said the artists featured "all fall between the spectrum" and their works brought the right "energy" to the space.
"You will be so overwhelmed by the power of some of these paintings," Raicevic said. "There is frustration, sensuality and their own personal struggles and how they persevered in the work."
"All the artists are open books. So many people really connected with them," Raicevic said.
Raicevic also hopes to give back to the community, and will donate a portion of the proceeds of any art sales to the 519 Church Street Community Centre.
"My favourite thing about Pride is not the parties but just standing on the street and watching the people – people that aren’t even locals being excited about Toronto, and the city becoming colourful and being proud of what we have achieved," she said.
The show runs until July 15 at Gallery NeXt, 219 Dufferin St. unit 102b.