Intangible Experiences: Honouring Abstract Painter Gwen Tooth
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This March, Propeller Art Gallery in Toronto is hosting a group art exhibit to pay tribute to the late Canadian painter Gwen Tooth (1945–2025). To celebrate Gwen’s talent for expressive, experimental painting, the Intangible Experiences exhibition explores how abstract art communicates what is not easily done with words.
The featured artists created their pieces in the spirit of intuitive layered abstraction—an exploratory process that reflects Gwen’s own belief that painting evolves through curiosity, play, and attentive observation. I’m honoured to be part of this diverse event, which presents a selection of Gwen’s paintings alongside over 175 pieces from 128 artists.
A Tribute to Gwen Tooth
A long-time member of the Propeller collective (2013–2025), Gwen Tooth was known for her deep commitment to experimentation. Working primarily in acrylic and mixed media, she explored gesture and colour to evoke the sensations of nature—particularly the power and rhythm of water.
Gwen described her paintings as being “as much outer landscapes as the inner scapes of my mind and soul.” Her work often emerged through an intuitive process of layering materials, allowing each piece to evolve organically. You can learn more about her legacy on the gallery’s In Memoriam Tribute and the artist’s website.
Featured Artwork: Loving Our Earth — I
Loving Our Earth – I emerged through an intuitive process of layering marks, colour, and texture within a subtle grid structure that gently holds the composition together. The painting invites viewers into a playful visual space where transparency, gesture, and rhythm interact across the surface.
Rather than depicting a literal subject, the work explores an emotional response to the natural world—the sense of connection, vitality, and creative possibility that arises through attentive presence. Each layer reveals traces of the painting’s evolution, allowing viewers to sense both movement and stillness within the surface.
This approach reflects the spirit of intuitive abstraction that artists like Gwen Tooth championed: allowing materials, colour, and process to guide the work toward something felt rather than strictly defined.
Price: $450
Collectors may inquire directly at info@debchaney.com or contact the gallery.
Exhibition Details
🏢 Propeller Art Gallery (in-person)
🗓️ March 25–April 12, 2026
📍 30 Abell Street, Toronto, ON
🕒 Wed to Sat: 1–5:30 PM | Sun: 12–4 PM or by appointment
🍷 Opening Reception
🗓️ Saturday, March 28, 2026
⌚ 2:00 PM–5:00 PM
🖼️ 3:00 PM: Presentation honouring Gwen Tooth
🗣️ Artist Talks
🗓️ Sunday, April 12, 2026
⌚ 2:00 PM
🌐 Online Exhibition
🗓️ March 25–May 25, 2026
🔗 propellerartgallery.com/intangible
Contact Propeller Art Gallery
propellerartgallery.com
416-504-7142 | info@propellerartgallery.com