Style Highlights From Opening Night at Artist Project 2026
Guests at the Opening Night party of Artist Project, which was held this year at the Enercare Centre at Exhibition Place.
Even a steady spring rainfall couldn’t stop Toronto’s style set from stepping out in their finest for the opening of Artist Project 2026. This year, the fair was set in the Enercare Centre instead of its previous digs in the Better Living Centre; the expanded footprint offered even more of a runway for artists and revellers alike. I and Opaloma editorial intern, Hana Lang, were dressed as opposites – which prompted my favourite artistic discovery of the evening, paper artist Seden Li, to remark on the oppositional outfit effect.
A few creatives who had booths and installations featured at this year’s Artist Project fair really went for it outfit-wise: self-taught painter Sclocco was a standout in a fabulous pastel fringed hat worn with a suit embellished by affixed painted pieces that reflected his work’s colour palette. Multi-media artist Briony captivated the crowd with her “Pantone” series of photo-led works, and showed up wearing a sporty ensemble by upcycling-focused local brand AB.0.
Curator and creative director Ashley Mackenzie-Barnes wore a quirky Tecuan bag by Mexican label Carla Fernandez, and a host of other attendees donned eye-catching catch-alls including Biko jewellery designer Corrine Anestopoulos and her turf-covered purse. Continuing on her advocacy for brooches being the accessory of the season, DMPR founder Deanne Moser donned a vintage hand-painted slip dress with a Fear of God jacket, which was accented by an Alysi fringed brooch.
Given the weather, there were some other lovely outerwear moments courtesy of Gardiner Museum’s SMASH co-chair Liam Randhawa in a mustard yellow leather coat from Kensington Market as well as multi-hyphenate designer Casey Marques Pereira, who wore a see-through trench.
I caught a glimpse of many friends as I crossed the fair’s floor on Thursday night, and below are a couple of candid snaps of favourite outfits.
Indigenous fashion professor Riley Kucheran (left) wore another of the evening’s most fun accessories, a “Daddy” slogan cap, with pieces all procured in Mexico City: a shirt by Almaro Studio and pants by Vabad, both from Cardon; the boot charm is from Ikal and looked amazing with Riley’s chrome manicure. Riley’s friend, product manager Adam Dyrda, wore a jacket by Mosma Moda (another CDMX brand) and a bag by Audette.
My pal Chad Burton, the fashion and still life stylist/interior designer, wore a jacket by California Arts with a vintage shirt and tie, pants from COS, shoes from Gucci, and a Sézane bag.
Peruse the gallery below to see more of the Artist Project Opening Night’s Style Highlights.
Photography by Ryan Emberley, Kennedy Pollard, and Matt Tibbo.
