Our Favorite Artists

Well, some of them at least! It’s impossible to pick a favorite, but we wanted to share some more behind-the-scenes with you, so we asked each of our teaching artists to pick an artist that inspires them.

Cara: Edward Burtynsky

Burtynsky is a Toronto-based photographer who captures spectacular, yet terrifying images of landscapes that are created through the intersection of nature and the impact of human industrialization. His work is showcased through large-scale prints of his photographs, which evoke both awe at the sublime scale of these landscapes, and contemplation of our changing environment.

Omelie: Salvador Dali

Dali was a Spanish artist of many mediums, and was an influential member of the Surrealist movement of the 1920s-1950s. Dali's obsession with the subconscious and the inner world of the human psyche manifested in an unmistakably dreamlike and bizarre style in his paintings, films, sculptures, photography and fashion. He was inspired by religion and religious art, psychologists such as Sigmund Freud, and the movements of Impressionism and Cubism. His public persona was often criticized, as he was known for pulling strange stunts and wearing ostentatious outfits, accessorized with his signature upturned mustache and often accompanied by exotic animals. 

Ale: Fernando Botero

Botero was a famous Colombian artist known for his unique style called “Boterismo,” where he painted and sculpted figures with exaggerated, rounded shapes. His work includes paintings, sculptures, and drawings depicting everyday life, political statements, and human emotions. 

Kate: Bridget Riley

Bridget Riley is a British artist best known for her striking geometric patterns and optical illusions. Born in 1931, she became a leading figure in the Op Art movement, using shapes, lines, and color to create the illusion of movement and depth. Her work plays with perception, making viewers see shifts and changes in the images as they look at them. Riley’s art is celebrated for its meticulous precision and the way it challenges how we experience visual space.