Art Blog

Explore Motherhood Unbound: A Mother’s Day Show, a new solo exhibition featuring Toronto artist Rachael Grad’s powerful motherhood‑inspired series Mommy Mayhem and Motherhood Hit Me Like a Train. These contemporary paintings explore the chaos, movement, identity shifts, and emotional depth of modern motherhood through expressive colour, layered compositions, and innovative materials. This collection highlights the beauty and intensity of family life, offering a fresh perspective on motherhood in contemporary art.

An art studio is supposed to be where the “serious” work happens—but anyone who’s ever made anything knows the truth is much funnier. In the spirit of Self‑Portrait as a Coffee Pot, the studio becomes a place where creative chaos, questionable ideas, and accidental brilliance all collide. Think talking to your coffee pot like it’s a trusted assistant, making warm‑up drawings that look like confused stick figures, or setting up a still life that collapses the moment you turn around. These so‑called “stupid” moments aren’t mistakes—they’re the fuel that keeps creativity alive.

Discover how vibrant contemporary art can brighten the winter season through my large‑scale painting After the Plague Party in Technicolour. This expressive artwork bursts with bold hues and dynamic brushwork, offering a visual antidote to the grey chill of winter. The piece celebrates rebirth after difficult times—inviting viewers to find warmth and creative energy in colour itself. Explore how contemporary art transforms cold months into a season of inspiration. From rich pigments to sweeping gestures, After the Plague Party in Technicolour embodies the power of colour therapy and emotional expression. 

As an artist, inspiration often arrives in unexpected ways. Sometimes it’s a color in nature, other times it’s a story that lingers long after the last page. Books open doors to new ideas, emotions, and perspectives—and for me, they often spark the beginnings of a painting. Stories that explore time, identity, and human connection have a way of staying with us long after we finish the final page. These novels bend timelines, blur memory, and reveal the quiet emotional threads that shape our lives. In this reading list, I highlight books that use inventive structures, layered characters, and lyrical writing.

Find unique Toronto art studio gifts for the holidays, including original artwork, prints, and creative presents handmade by artist Rachael Grad. Discover meaningful, locally made gift ideas for art lovers this season.

Toronto-based artist Rachael Grad interviews collector Ian Garrett about living with a painting from her After the Plague Parties series. In this candid conversation, Ian reflects on how the artwork captures the layered emotions of post-pandemic family life—and how it’s become a meaningful part of his home and daily routine. Discover how one abstract painting continues to evolve in significance over time.

My first open art studio at Wychwood Barns this May 2025.