From Form to Expression July 7, 2011

Emerging Toronto artists Andrea Katz and Emily Millar come from a place of emotion in the structured world of design.

Yorkville’s Leonardo Galleries present emerging Toronto artists Andrea Katz (uses fabrics, textiles) and Emily Millar (works in acrylic, oil) in their first exhibition together. “From Form to Expression” opens with a public reception on Thursday, July 7 (6:30-9:00 p.m.), in conjunction with the monthly Yorkville Art Gallery Walk, and runs to July 28, 2011.

Artists Katz (also an architect) and Millar (whose paintings are based on her interior design background) strive to reinsert expression back into the world of design, using emotion to order their art, rather than engage in the arbitrary translations of design. Both focus on emotional insight, without forgetting the allegiance to proportion, form and craftsmanship.

The robustness of their crafts emanates from their work and brings the viewer into the soulful world from which the artists draw their inspiration.

Katz (who lives in mid-town at Avenue and St. Clair) influences for her work come from the proportions and geometries found in her everyday life as an architect. Many of her pieces are soft interpretations of city maps, farmland grids and geometric plans. Andrea uses found materials encoding each piece of art with a rich and personal history.

Katz recently participated in AxD (Art by Designers) at the Denison Gallery, Toronto.

Prior to studying at the International Academy of Design and Technology, where she became interested in the space surrounding the figure, Emily Millar (who lives in the east-end in the Beaches) studied at the Toronto School of Art and became fascinated with the human form.

Most of Millar’s earlier works involved the human figure representing love and belonging. Subsequently, she wanted to create the same energy and momentum as with the human figure, but allow the space to become the object.

Millar’s prior exhibitions include gallery shows in Toronto (Jane Roos Gallery, O'Connor Gallery) and Edmonton (The Agnes Bugera Gallery).

For more exhibit information visit; http://www.leonardogalleries.com.

As a member of the Yorkville Art Galleries Collective, Leonardo Galleries participates in the free monthly Yorkville Art Gallery Walk, which is held the first Thursday of each month and coincides with exhibition openings.

Leonardo Galleries, Toronto is devoted to the promotion of contemporary art. The gallery represents local and international artists and has a significant collection of works of art in painting, print-media, sculpture and photography. Leonardo Galleries also specializes in conservation framing and expert art restoration.

Official Website: http://www.leonardogalleries.com