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Art Toronto 2009
TIAF: Toronto International Art Fair 2009

October 22 to 26, 2009

The tenth annual Toronto International Art Fair, called Art Toronto 2009 was held October 22 to 26, 2009 at the Toronto Convention Centre in exciting downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. TIAF " ... is a discriminating showcase of Canadian and International works that continues to attract the attention and participation of every top gallery and cultural institution in Canada." [taifair.com] TIAF 2009 featured 100 galleries from 14 countries which included not only famous Toronto galleries which TorontoArtsandEvents appreciates and loves but also galleries from Austria, Denmark, Germany, Spain and the United States. I noted that very few art pieces were priced in U.S.dollars! According to this art fair, art worth more than $ 20,0000,000 was sold during the 2008 fair! TIAF also advised that over 18,000 visitors had viewed the collection of art works presented by the participating galleries.

TIAF 2009 presented a series of special projects contributing to the dialogue on contemporary art:

  • Heartland: To celebrate its tenth year, TIAF presented Canadian art personality Jeffrey Spalding on the ambitious flagship exhibit Heartland that created its entrance: “The title Heart land is inferential and poetic rather than defining a specific theoretical point of view. In this period of intense globalization of art dialogue and international exchange many Canadian artists have risen to international attention and prominence. Nevertheless, much extraordinary Canadian talent remains under the radar and out of view of the international scene. Heartland intends to reflect upon the growing strength of Canadian art and to advocate on behalf of its diversity, vitality and pertinence for inclusion within this context.” [www.tiafair.com]
  • The News at Five: The series of rotating exhibitions curated by Canadian Art magazine editor Richard Rhodes.
  • Power Talks: Lecture series organized in partnership with The Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery and led by prominent figures in today's international art world.
  • T at Three: An insightful and stimulating interview series conducted by Border Crossings magazine senior contributing editor Robert Enright. Each day at 3pm, Enright engaged artists, curators, critics and dealers in exclusive one-on-one live interviews about their work and its place in the world of contemporary art.

Opening Night Previews to Benefit AGO

Special Collectors' Preview
October 22, 2009

The Special Collectors' Preview was held from 4:30-6:30 pm and offered a limited number of guests exclusive early access to the Fair. This preview was ideal for serious collectors who were given a champagne reception and granted the very first opportunity to view and purchase art at Art Toronto 2009.

Opening Night Preview
October 22, 2009

The Opening Night Preview ( with a ticket price of $ 290 ) was held from 6:30-10:00 pm on October 22, 2009 and was the celebratory launch of the Art Fair and a benefit for the Art Gallery of Ontario. Guests enjoyed not only cocktails and hors d'oeuvres but also the first chance to preview and purchase works of art before the Art Fair opened to the public. TorontoArtsandEvents loved this event! - not only were prominent gallery owners and artists present but also international gallery owners were there.

Photographs by G. C. Eyre and Article by C. Smith © 2009 All Rights Reserved