Artists in the 6ix is an annual showcase as part of Toronto Youth Week featuring the hidden talent of youth artists from across the city—many of whom have never shown their work in public before.
Overview
Each May, Youth Week Toronto (May 1 to 7), celebrates youth engagement and showcases the abilities and talents of youth in the areas of civic engagement, recreation, arts and sports in diverse communities across Toronto.
A key part of this celebrations is Artists in the 6ix, an annual event showcasing the hidden talent of young artists from across Toronto. Artists in the 6ix has transformed into a highly anticipated event, shining a bright spotlight on the City’s most promising up-and-coming artists.
This year’s event will take place in-person at Hart House with the art on exhibit on Thursday, May 4.
A Gala and Marketplace will take place on Thursday, May 4 from 4:00 to 6:00 PM, offering the chance to meet and connect with the artists, view the artwork, ask questions and potentially purchase an original piece of art.
Light refreshments will be available.
Meet the Artists
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'Witches' ArtistAleah Sadler
Artist in the 6ix Artist
Hello, my name is Aleah Sadler (she/they). I'm 21 years old, born and raised in Toronto, Ontario. I'm a multi media artist, with an empahsis on narrative oil painting. My works typically depict themes of alternative femininity, inspired by my own life experiences.
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'Alana' ArtistChristopher Jr. Paul-Martin
Artist in the 6ix Artist
Christopher Jr. Paul-Martin is a self-taught artist at a very young age. His works mostly focus on Dystopian Surrealism and figures from life and imagination using graphite and charcoal. He spends most of his days trying to get the most creative ideas into his drawings.
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'Fortified fire, glass bed' ArtistCILLA
Artist in the 6ix Artist
CILLA is a 1st generation Canadian of Carribean descent. They are a femme, non-binary, queer, disabled, neurodivergent, chronic migraine and chronic pain surviving individual. CILLA is a master crafter - they are a makeup artist and body painter, as well as currently focusing on their work as a metal/silversmith. They use metals to encase raw stones and earth materials to showcase their unique beauty.
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'You Looking at Me?' ArtistClayton Fraser
Artist in the 6ix Artist
Clayton Fraser is an Afro-Indigenous photographer who is inspired by nature and the city around him, he spends his time exploring and looking for images that stand out to him.
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Glamma Spence
Artist in the 6ix Artist
A renaissance woman of many talents, Glamma is a dynamic speaker and storyteller drawn to perspectives that are seldom heard. Glamma's multidisciplinary artistic approach is informed by Black culture, traditional First Nation teachings and her multi-cultural upbringing.
Ecstatic to be a part of Artists in the 6ix, this proud Torontonian will be sharing her photography, visual art and handmade beadwork.
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'Who's In Charge?' ArtistHadley Bean Raymond
Artist in the 6ix Artist
Hadley Raymond is currently a student attending Father John Redmond's Regional Art program. Her work takes a look at who is truly in charge of people's daily lives. She spends her afternoons experimenting with new art styles and mediums.
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Jadyn Hardie-Bardy a.k.a. "Machinegunfunk"
Artist in the 6ix Artist
Jadyn “machinegunfunk” Hardie-Bardy, is a queer Mohawk and Jamaican poet, beader and youth advocate living in Tkaronto. Her work explores culture and land reconnection, destigmatizing monoliths and overcoming socioeconomic adversity faced while navigating colonial institutions.
Since opening professional doors in 2020, Jadyn has been featured across stages such as Poetry Inprint's In These Streets, La Raza’s open mic courtesy of Spin El Poeta, JAYU's Kuumba Black futures and Central Neighbourhood Housing’s National Day of Rememberance & Action to Stop Violence Against Women. In March of 2022 Jadyn self published her first poetry book entitled, i am a wandering spirit, highlighting her experiences navigating identity and culture.
Jadyn uses her art to connect with youth navigating judicial and child welfare systems, advocating through cultural arts and lived experience speaking. Jadyn guest taught at the University of Toronto's Faculty of Social Work and continues to speak at conferences across Ontario to advocate amongst stakeholders and child welfare workers. In 2023 she has been apart of VIBEARTS Desire Lines with art showcased at Bathurst Station and R.I.S.E Edutainment's Legal Artivism, featured as an artisvist.
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'War and Peace' ArtistJiongchen Yu
Artist in the 6ix Artist
Jiongchen Yu is a student at Bishop Allen Academy. Her work uses the technique of contrast and comparison. She mainly creates watercolours, advertising design, handwork, and photography.
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'Eye of the Tiger' ArtistLauren Mancini
Artist in the 6ix Artist
Lauren Mancini is a student of Bishop Allen Academy. She is a creative photographer and passionate young artist. Her work emphasizes a dynamic, mixed-medium style and is often inspired by the beauty of nature.
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'Crazy' ArtistLucas Milanovich
Artist in the 6ix Artist
Lucas Milanovich is a student of Bishop Allen Academy. His work is inspired by street art/graffiti. When he's not painting he's using his graffiti style to make clothes for his brand Xtra Medium.
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'ideas & doodle' ArtistMayhoose
Artist in the 6ix Artist
Mehad "Mayhoose" Muhammad is a visual artist and graphic designer from Mississauga in the Peel region. His work is centred around abstract thoughts and psychedelic ideas while exploring the relationships between texture, colour and spacing. Mayhoose's art displays clashes of powerful hues interlocking with vibrant tones to create "images I see when I close my eyes" as he puts it.
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'Ultraviolet Dark Matter' ArtistReka G Banfi
Artist in the 6ix Artist
Reka Banfi is a student at Seneca studying to be an art therapist. As an individual with ADHD, she uses art as a means of expression; drawing and painting gives her the opportunity to conceptualize ideas, thoughts and feelings in a more tangible way. Her passion for art has helped her overcome hardships by allowing her to release negative emotions through illustration. Her style can be categorized as assemblage with found/natural objects, morbid surrealism and watercolour illustration. She's very passionate about the environment so it's always a priority for her to create with things that can be repurposed; taking something that was once "worthless" and making it new again.
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'Dungeons and Dragons Miniatures' ArtistSam Paboudjian
Artist in the 6ix Artist
Sam Paboudjian is a queer and trans/non-binary artist based in Toronto. Their work blends fantasy with experiences of mental health/illness using a variety of mediums. They have a big imagination and will work with any material they can get their hands on.
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'Disposed and Discarded' ArtistSophia Hanseul Kim
Artist in the 6ix Artist
Sophia Hanseul Kim is a Grade 12 student at Bishop Allen Academy. She enjoys working digitally but also likes exploring different mediums. Her free time is spent experimenting with the many different aspects of art.
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'Spring Rhapsody 2022' ArtistSophia Leopold-Muresan
Artist in the 6ix Artist
Sophia Leopold-Muresan is a student at Bishop Allen Academy. In her art, she combines her imagination with the whisper of her beloved masters like Juan Miro, Paul Klee, and Alred Pellan for over a decade. She has displayed her art work in over twenty-five exhibitions in Canada and Europe.
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'Teamwork' ArtistSophie Hay
Artist in the 6ix Artist
Sophie Hay is a student at Michael Power St. Joseph SS. Her work is done in a traditional, semi-realistic style. She likes focusing on perspectives and emotions when creating her work. In her free time, she swims and sketches.
Partners
