Best Spring Exhibits in Toronto

If you’re hungry for stimulation after months of hibernation, check out this list of incredible exhibits that will be visiting Toronto throughout the spring…

From Geisha to Diva: The Kimonos of Ichimaru
The Textile Museum of Canada, January 29th to May 25th
Ichimaru was one of the most famous geishas of the 20th century before rising to fame as a celebrated recording artist. But even after this drastic change in lifestyle, she continued to wear full geisha regalia. This collection allows you to ogle her exquisitely handcrafted kimonos while learning about how she balanced the pressures of globalization with an adherence to century-old traditions.

This is Not a Toy
The Design Exchange, February 7th to May 19th
Guest curated by musician and producer Pharrell Williams, This is Not a Toy is a playful exhibit taking guests through the world of conceptual toys – objects made solely to express an aesthetic, concept or idea. The first of its kind in the world, the collection boasts contemporary sculptures, figurines and artworks created by artists including Takashi Murakami, KAWS, FriendsWithYou, Coarse, Huck Gee, and Frank Kozik.

Misled by Nature: Contemporary Art and the Baroque
MOCCA, February 8th to April 6th
By showcasing recent works that emphasize material excess, emotion and bravado, this exhibit explores the emergence of a neo-baroque movement in Canadian and international contemporary art.

The Forbidden City: Inside the Court of China’s Emperor
The ROM, Opens March 8th
Once ushered into the luxurious quarters of the Imperial Palace you’ll meet the emperors, their families, court officials, concubines and eunuchs who lived within the Forbidden City and learn that everyone paid a price to sustain this decadent existence.

Francis Bacon and Henry Moore: Terror and Beauty
The AGO, April 5th to July 20th
Although these two twentieth-century art legends were neither friends nor contemporaries, this exhibit explores their shared obsession with themes of suffering, struggle and survival through depictions of bodily contortions and their own experiences with conflict and violence.

Out of the Box: The Rise of Sneaker Culture
The Bata Shoe Museum, April 25th to June 1st
The first of its kind in North America, this exhibit features 120 pairs of shoes that trace the origins of the sneaker in the 19th century to its current status as a symbol and icon of urban culture. Walk through blasts of colour in this vibrant showcase while learning trivia such as how the term ‘sneaker’ was first coined and how its cultural position changed so drastically throughout the past century.

Planning on visiting one of these exhibits? Let us know in the comments below or tweet us @ViewTheVibe.