Sun/Shade at The Bentway

Discover 9 art installations exploring how sun and shade shape urban spaces, offering new perspectives on climate, comfort and creativity

The Gardiner Expressway casts the city’s largest shadow, offering protection from heat while optimizing daylight. This summer, The Bentway, beneath the Gardiner Expressway, presents nine unique art showcases exploring how sun and shade create adaptable, comfortable urban spaces.

In light of public health objectives, The Bentway has curated artists, designers, and researchers that highlight shade as both a practical and creative resource. The Sun/Shade exhibition’s innovative approach not only redefines urban comfort but also fosters a deeper connection between art, design, and the environment as we navigate warmer climates.

Sun/Shade Opening Night Party – May 23

Dance your way into summer with Fashion Art Toronto and Canada’s Drag Race’s, Jada Shada Hudson, for a Sunglasses at Night fashion show; along with local DJs, food trucks, bar service and artwork premiering the Sun/Shade exhibition.

Sun/Shade Curators’ Tours – May 24 & 25, 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM. June 19, July 17, August 21, September 18, 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM

Join The Bentway’s curators for an exclusive tour and discover the inspiration behind the theme, the creation of each artwork, and how they come together.

Open Gallery Modal

Seeing Celsius by LeuWebb Projects – May 23 to October 5

LeuWebb Projects presents thermal viewfinders, revealing how heat signatures influence our interaction with urban environments.

Second Shade by Mary Mattingly – May 23 to October 5

Mary Mattingly’s abstract sculptural installation blends greenery and reclaimed construction materials to explore layered systems that sustain urban life and the environment.

Open Gallery Modal

Sand Flight by Ingri Fiksdal and Jonas Corell Petersen – June 12 to June 15

Internationally renowned choreographer, Ingri Fiksdal premieres a striking new work where eight dancers and a 50-person choir transform a sand dune into a stage, imagining a future shaped by climate change.

Open Gallery Modal

Moving Forest by NL Architects – May 23 to July 20

Over eight weeks, 50 maple trees in shopping carts form mobile canopies, underscoring the need to balance green infrastructure with urban growth in our warming, densifying city.

Open Gallery Modal

la sombra que te cobija / the shadow that shelters you by Edra Soto – May 23 to October 5

Inspired by the sun-filtering façades of Puerto Rican bungalows, this geometric installation explores the role of heat-responsive design in shaping public space and cultural identity.

Open Gallery Modal

Declaration of the Understory by Tania Willard – May 23 to October 5

Declaration of the Understory, named after a Secwépemc statement on post-wildfire plant recovery in British Columbia, uses floral motifs, iridescent materials, and bold slogans to reflect on shade as a vital, life-giving force.

Open Gallery Modal

Casting a Net, Casting a Spell by Celeste – May 23 to October 5

Join Mexico City-based artist duo Celeste for sun-inspired art activities beneath their quilted canopy.

Open Gallery Modal

Bathed in Strange Light by Natalie Hunter – May 23 to October 5

Using layered, translucent photographs captured between winter and spring around Canoe Landing Park, this sun-activated installation reflects on how shifting sunlight shapes out the city’s light, shadow and rhythms in a new way.

Feature Photo by Matthew Monteith