Outdoor Exhibitions
Public art installations in urban settings, music festivals and rural landscapes.
Site specific installation by Bryce Wymer for the Drake Devonshire, 2019
Rather than a traditional mural, NYC-based artist, Bryce Wymer created a series of painted objects, creating a graphic installation that broke up the line of the fence. As guests walked the path, the paintings acted like a slow animation, offering interest, detail and playful colour as they passed.
Site specific installation by Lady Aiko for the WayHome music festival, 2016
The exhibition program for the VIP section of the WayHome music festival brought together local, national and international artists to transform the rural location. The barn (the only permanent structure on the grounds) played host to murals by NYC-based, Japanese street artist, Lady Aiko. At night, the frosted windows acted as a projection screen for local video collective Analog Preservation Network who mixed live footage from the stage through a series of analog video technologies, creating glitchy, painterly live images that could be seen across the festival grounds.
Mural by Insa, text piece by Micah Lexier for The Drake Hotel, 2016
Days after the untimely death of Prince, UK artist Insa arrived to paint a mural for the Drake with an entirely new concept than that which had been proposed. As a result, the artist painted a series of flying doves set against a patterned background of upside down rainbow hearts. The entire piece was set in motion with the artists’ GIF-ITI viewer encouraging visitors to interact with the piece and take a closer look. Below the mural, Lexier’s pithy text piece implied that audiences were either in the know or utterly unaware.
Site specific installation by Trevor Wheatley and Cosmo Dean for the Drake Devonshire, 2015-2019
These Canadian artists had been developing a practice of leaving text-based sculptures in remote landscapes when they were tapped for the inaugural outdoor show for the Devonshire. ‘New shade’ a term that refers to a trend that is just about to gain wide recognition was suggested by the artists to refer to the growing interest in Prince Edward County as a vacation destination. The piece was so popular with guests that it stayed in place for years, giving the natural landscape a pop art edge in all seasons.
Light Cave by FriendsWithYou for Nuit Blanche, 2015
In 2015. Toronto’s all-night art festival celebrated 10 years of wonderment. In celebration, the City partnered with 10 longtime collaborators to present special installations. Nielsen was tapped to produce FriendsWithYou’s Light Cave sculpture, over 60ft long and 25ft tall, the piece drew huge crowds and has been used for years as an example of an iconic Nuit Blanche installation.
Sculpture by Letha Wilson for the Drake Devonshire, 2019
Commissions are often the best way to present art outside, in public space. But sometimes works come along that are perfect for outdoor settings. This photo-printed, corten steel sculpture rose 12ft from the ground, making it akin to a lighthouse overlooking the water. Featuring imagery of Bryce Canyon, it spoke to the changing nature of landscape - how a sea can transform into a desert over millennium, as well as the current climate crisis that is hastening that process. With the center portion cut out, the piece both framed and was framed by the expanse of Lake Ontario.
Site specific video installation by Alex McLeod for Nuit Blanche, 2013
Presenting public installations can be a challenge on a busy street, but this video projected on the façade of the saw crowds gather all night long to take in the hour-long digital animation.