Doors open on 10 exciting new shows

From brand new galleries to familiar favourites, these dynamic shows are worth checking out

Some people book haircuts. Others run to their local drinking holes. But for many of us, getting back into galleries after a long lockdown marks the return to normal life. If you’re excited to get up close to art again or need a boost of beauty, here are 10 galleries with open doors worth visiting.

Run Gallery

One of the city’s most dynamic new galleries has a show of paintings and architectural cardboard sculptures by Elicser Elliott, whose murals will be familiar to many Torontonians. “Mitigated Dwelling” features intimate domestic scenes and portraits with bold organic strokes of colour that feel both personal and universal in their themes. therungallery.com

Stackt Market

There’s plenty to see at Canada’s largest outdoor shipping container market, but keep your eyes open for Alex Garant’s new series of large-scale paintings, “Dream of Dreams.” Known for optical-art portraits of subjects who appear to be shaken out of reality (Pictured: “Beyond”) Garant’s paintings are as gorgeous as they are unnerving. alexgarant.com/ stackt

Museum of Contemporary Art

Set aside some time to wander through five exhibitions happening now at MOCA and don’t skip the stairwells, where you’ll find Florence Yee’s and Joy Wong’s sound installation “” (yeet nao). The field recordings celebrate returned togetherness with the collaged sounds of clicking mah-jong tiles. Former anthropologist Kapwani Kiwanga’s continued series “Flowers for Africa” examines the continued legacy of colonialism by recreating the floral arrangements used at diplomatic events heralding the independence of various African countries. Pictured: “Uganda, 2014.” moca.ca

Gallery 1313

The month-long DocNOW Documentary Media Festival launches Aug. 5 with three multimedia installations by Toronto-based artists Neal Rockwell (Pictured: a still from his doc, “Property Standards”), Ubaid-ur-Rehman and Roya Biazar, who share personal perspectives on migrant and refugee experiences. g1313.org

Evergreen Brickworks

It’s no coincidence that “Lowland,” a touring show from Dutch activist and photographer Jason van Bruggen, is hosted in the city’s main floodplain. Brought to Toronto as part of the Contact Photography Festival, the massive prints illustrate some of the Netherlands’ history and innovations in dealing with ever rising water levels while asking questions about how we will live and adapt to the effects of climate change. evergreen.ca

Corkin Gallery

Thirty years after the Corkin Gallery’s first show of Diane Arbus’s work, and on the 50th anniversary of her death, a new exhibition returns to the iconic photographer’s work from the 1960s, much of which she shot in New York parks. With Toronto in the midst of a tumultuous relationship with its own public spaces, it’s a timely reminder of how Arbus’s portraits of the disenfranchised gave a vital voice to those whose stories often still go unwitnessed. Pictured: “Two friends in the park, N.Y.C. 1965.” corkingallery.com

Harbourfront Centre

There is always a lot to see Harbourfront Centre, both inside and out, and this weekend is no exception. In addition to the outdoor installations, be sure to check out the art hub’s large-scale collaboration with Bombay Sapphire, curated by Ashley McKenzieBarnes. Inspired by “self-care Sundays,” artists William Ukoh and Raquel Da Silva use sculpture and multimedia to examine nostalgia through nature and community. harbourfrontcentre.com

Gardiner Museum

To celebrate its reopening, this gem of a museum is offering free admission and outdoor activities all summer. There are several exhibitions on offer in addition to the permanent collection of ceramic arts, including an opportunity to be the first to witness a new generation of talent from Sheridan College (Pictured: “At Least we Have Netflix,” 2021, by Rob D'Orante). gardinermuseum.on.ca

Aga Khan Museum

The Aga Khan kicks off its season with several must-see shows, including “State of Play,” which celebrates the universality of classic childhood pastimes that don’t involve video controllers. The stunning centrepiece of “Dissolving Order,” by Baku-based artist Faig Ahmed, features a handmade carpet that appears to melt onto the floor in a swirling pool of colours. agakhanmuseum.org

Mayten’s Projects

The city’s newest gallery shines a light on the Iranian diaspora with its first group show, “Who Am I?” The 12-artist exhibition raises money for the Iranian Artist Relief Fund, with 80 per cent of sales returning to the participants. It’s an opportunity to check out politically inspired works in a variety of media, including Abby Masoumi’s delicate portraits embroidered on paper doilies. maytens.com